Dame Maggie Smith has died aged 89

by Mick the Ram

Actress Dame Maggie Smith, possibly best known – recently at least – for her roles in the Harry Potter films and TV drama Downton Abbey, has died in hospital at the age of 89.

Her sons Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin announced the sad news earlier today (27 September),  and tributes are expected to pour in for one of the UK’s most popular performers. 

She was legend of British stage and screen, winning two Oscars and being nominated four other times, as well as receiving eight Bafta awards.

Statement by sons

In a statement jointly released by her sons, they said it was with great sadness that they had to announce the death of their mother, who it emerged had passed away peacefully in hospital.

They continued: “An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end. She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother. 

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their care and unstinting kindness during her final days.

“We thank you for all your kind messages and support and ask that you respect our privacy at this time.”

National treasure

Margaret Natalie Smith was born in Ilford, Essex, on 28 December 1934, the daughter of a pathologist. She made her acting debut in 1952 and was still working 70 years later, having moved from aspiring star to national treasure.

Her first film role was an uncredited part in the 1956 production Child in the House, but two years later she was nominated for a Bafta as the best newcomer for her performance in the melodrama, Nowhere to Go, in which she played a girl who shelters an escaped convict.

Deserving of honour

However, the role which brought her international fame came in 1969 when she played the determinedly non-conformist teacher in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie – a part which won her a best actress Oscar.

A year later she was appointed a CBE in the New Year Honours and was made a Dame (DBE) 20 years later, for services to the performing arts.

Potter’s professor

In later life she won over a whole new audience of fans, firstly with her role as Professor McGonagall in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, a role she would reprise in all of the subsequent Potter movies. It is believed that she was the only performer that the author JK Rowling specifically asked for when casting was being done.

In 2007, while filming Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Princeshe was diagnosed with breast cancer, but thankfully was given the all-clear after two years of treatment.

Despite being left feeling weak after her illness, she went on to star in the final Harry Potter film and received a Bafta nomination for her role in the 2012 film, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

Downton Abbey’s dowager

It is possibly that it is the hugely successful costume drama Downton Abbey where many will relate to her the best though. Playing the formidable Dowager Countess of Grantham, she regularly became star of the show, even without trying.

“It’s true I don’t tolerate fools, but then they don’t tolerate me, so I am spiky,” she once said. “Maybe that’s why I’m quite good at playing spiky elderly ladies.”

She remained part of the award winning show’s cast until 2015, when the series finally came to an end, reprising the role for two films in 2019 and 2022.

Early tributes

Fellow Downton star, Hugh Bonneville paid tribute, calling her a “true legend of her generation”. He added: “Anyone who ever shared a scene with Maggie will attest to her sharp eye, sharp wit and formidable talent; her magnificent screen performances will live on.”

Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley in Harry Potter, marked Maggie’s death by updating his Instagram profile picture to the late actress kissing him on the cheek.

Always modest despite outstanding success

Despite her success she was always modest about her achievements, stating simply that “One went to school, one wanted to act, one started to act, and one’s still acting.”

When asked to define the appeal of acting, she replied: “I like the ephemeral thing about theatre, every performance is like a ghost – it’s there and then it’s gone.”

She may now sadly have gone, but she will certainly never be forgotten.