British Actress Dame Maggie Smith has died at the age of 89, her family has announced. The Academy Award-winner, widely known for her roles in the Harry Potter films and the Downton Abbey series, is said to have died peacefully in hospital on Friday.
Smith’s sons, Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens, confirmed her death in a statement, noting that the actress was “with family and friends at the end.”
“She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother,” the brothers wrote, thanking the staff at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for caring for the actress in her final days.
“We thank you for all your kind messages and support and ask that you respect our privacy at this time.”
Born in 1934, Smith had an extensive career both in film and on stage, and was widely recognized for her wit in comedic roles. She was considered one of Britain’s most prolific and recognizable actresses.
Throughout her nearly seven-decade career, Smith received numerous accolades, including two Oscars – best actress in ‘The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie’ in 1969, and best supporting actress in ‘California Suite’ in 1978 – five BAFTA awards, four Emmys, and three Golden Globes.
In the 2000s, Smith also took on the prominent role of Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter film series, and played the Countess of Grantham Violet Crawley in the popular Downton Abbey TV series, reprising the role in two standalone films in 2019 and 2022.