Farewell to a legend.
Dame Maggie Smith, best known for “Harry Potter” and “Downton Abbey.” Died on Friday at the age of 89,
His sons, actors Toby Stephens, 55, and Chris Larkin, 57, announced the news the same day.
“He passed away peacefully in hospital this morning, Friday 27th September. An extremely private person, she was at last surrounded by friends and family,” he said in a statement.
He added, “She leaves behind two sons and five loving grandchildren, who are heartbroken by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother… We thank you for all your kind messages and support and requests.” We ask that you respect our privacy at this time.”
After some time, Smith's former co-stars pay tribute For a British icon.
“Downton Abbey” star Michelle Dockery told people On Friday, “There was no one like Maggie. I feel extremely fortunate to have found such a whimsical person. He will be greatly missed and my thoughts are with his family.”
Hugh Bonneville, 60, who stars as her onscreen son, told The Post in a statement, “Anyone who has shared a scene with Maggie will attest to her sharp eye, sharp wit and tremendous talent. She was a true legend of her generation and thankfully she will live on in so many great screen performances. My condolences to his boys and wider family.
“Harry Potter” star Bonnie Wright, 33, who played Ginny Weasley in the film franchise, paid tribute instagram on friday,
“Our beloved and revered Head of Gryffindor House ❤️ The Harry Potter community will miss you dearly,” Wright wrote next to a photo of Smith.
“My favorite scene with Maggie was when we were all learning to dance for the Yule Ball. She embodied that perfect balance of courage and loving care as McGonagall did. “He kept Gryffindors on their toes,” she continued. “My deepest condolences to Maggie's family at this time.”
Smith had a long and historic career As a theater actress, she acted in countless Shakespeare plays. He also won a Tony (for 1990's “Lettuce and Lovage”) and an Oscar (for 1969's “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie”).
But, Smith achieved the pinnacle of her fame later in life, with her roles as the stern Professor McGonagall in the “Harry Potter” film franchise and as Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham on the hit British show “Downton.” With role. Abbey.”
Smith starred in the PBS series from 2010 to late 2015, as well as two spinoff films, 2019's “Downton Abbey” and 2022's “Downton Abbey: A New Era.”
For this role, Smith was nominated for an Emmy five times for Best Supporting Actress, and won in 2011, 2012, and 2016.
In 2013, after the airing of the third season of “Downton Abbey”, Smith told “60 minutesCorrespondent Steve Croft said he had “never seen it.”
“I'll watch it when this is all over, probably, because it's depressing,” Smith said at the time. I always look back at things I wish I'd done differently, and think, 'Why in God's name did I do that?'”
During a 2015 appearance on “The Graham Norton Show”, Smith said he was “relieved” that the show was over.
“Because, honestly, by the time we finished, [Crawley] Must have been 110. I could go no further. I could not; It made no sense.”
In the 2018 documentary “Tea with the Dames”, Smith told Joan Plowright, Judi Dench and Eileen Atkins that she “was gifted the Downton Abbey box set, but she still hasn't gotten around to watching it.
“I've got to hurry,” she joked, “otherwise I won't last long to see that wretched thing!”
