Dame Maggie Smith, the acclaimed actress renowned for her roles in the “Harry Potter” films and “Downton Abbey”, has passed away at the age of 89, her family confirmed on Friday.
Her sons, Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens, released a statement saying, “She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday, September 27.”
Describing her as an “intensely private person,” they noted that she was surrounded by friends and family in her final moments. She leaves behind two sons and five beloved grandchildren, all of whom are heartbroken by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother.
The family expressed gratitude to the dedicated staff at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their compassionate care during her last days.
Among her many memorable performances, Smith is celebrated for her role as Charlotte Bartlett in the 1985 Merchant Ivory film “A Room With a View”, where she accompanied Helena Bonham Carter’s Lucy Honeychurch to Italy. This role earned her nominations for both an Oscar and a Golden Globe.
Smith’s illustrious career began in theatre, leading to her first BAFTA nomination for the 1958 melodrama “Nowhere to Go”. By 1963, she was cast as Desdemona by Laurence Olivier, starring alongside him in “Othello” at the National Theatre.
