Dame Maggie Smith, born Margaret Natalie Smith on December 28, 1934, in Ilford, Essex, England, was widely regarded as one of the most talented and versatile actresses of her generation.
Her illustrious career spanned over seven decades and encompasses a remarkable range of roles in theater, film, and television.
The cinema icon’s passing was confirmed in a statement by her sons, Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin.
Smith’s early life was marked by a deep passion for performance.
She grew up in Oxford, where her father was a pathologist and her mother a secretary.
She attended the Oxford High School for Girls, but her academic path soon gave way to her love of acting.
She began her career on stage in the early 1950s, making her professional debut at the Oxford Playhouse in 1952, joining the Royal National Theatre in 1963, where she worked under the direction of the legendary Laurence Olivier.
Smith’s stage performances, particularly her portrayal of Desdemona in ‘Othello,’ were highly acclaimed, earning her the first of many awards and solidifying her reputation as a leading actress of her time.
Smith’s transition to film was marked by her breakthrough role in the 1969 movie The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, for which she won her first Academy Award for Best Actress.
She won her second Oscar, this time for Best Supporting Actress, for her performance in California Suite (1978), where she played opposite Michael Caine.
In the 1990s and 2000s, Smith’s career took another significant turn when she took on the role of Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter film series.
In addition to her film and stage work, Smith has also found great success on television, most notably for her portrayal of the formidable Dowager Countess of Grantham in Downton Abbey.
Smith’s contributions to acting have been recognized with numerous accolades, including being made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 1990 and a Companion of Honour in 2014.
But now, it’s been confirmed that Smith has sadly died.
In a statement per the BBC, her sons Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin shared: “It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith.
“She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday 27th September. 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.”
Rest in peace.
