Dame Maggie Smith, the two-time Oscar-winning actress best known for her roles as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter film series and the sharp-tongued Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess on Downton Abbey, passed away on Friday, as confirmed by her publicist and children. The iconic actress was 89 years old.
Smith's professional acting career began in the 1950s, and she won Academy Awards for her performances in 'The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie' and 'California Suite.' She was also nominated an additional four times for roles in classic Hollywood films such as 'A Room With A View' and 'Gosford Park.'
Both of Smith's sons, Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens, issued a joint statement honoring their mother. 'It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith. She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning,' they wrote (via The Guardian). '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.'
They also expressed their gratitude to the staff at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their care and kindness during her final days. No specific cause of death was provided.
To many, Smith was the quintessential grandmother figure from her roles in 'Sister Act' and 'Hook,' a role she embraced. In a 2016 interview with NPR, Smith discussed how, as a character actor rather than a 'dish,' she was able to age into roles as mothers and grandmothers while continuing to develop her talents rather than losing roles.
