Subscribe
Follow Us
Dame Maggie Smith, who played Professor Minerva McGonagall in Harry Potter and Violet Crawley in Downton Abbey, has passed away at 89.
Her sons, Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin, announced her passing in a statement to BBC. “It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith,” their statement read.
“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,” the statement continued. “We thank you for all your kind messages and support and ask that you respect our privacy at this time.”
The Harry Potter and Downton Abbey star Maggie Smith was also an Oscar-winning actress. She started her career at the Oxford Playhouse, gaining notoriety at the same time as Judi Dench.
One of her final roles was in the second Downton Abbey movie, A New Era. She reprised her iconic role alongside Michelle Dockery, Jim Carter, and others. A third movie is in development — how they handle the late Smith's character remains to be seen.
Maggie Smith's movie career
Smith started her career acting at the Oxford Playhouse. Her first movie credit was Child in the House in 1956. She continued her career with Nowhere to Go, The Pumpkin Eater, and Death on the Nile.
Throughout the '80s and '90s, Smith had roles in A Room with a View, Romeo Juliet, Hook, Sister Act, Richard III, Curtain Call, and The Last September.
Her Harry Potter career began in 2001, starring in The Philosopher's Stone. She would reprise the role in six sequels, culminating in Deathly Hallows Part 2.
Outside of Harry Potter, Smith had roles in Gnomeo & Juliet, Sherlock Gnomes, A Boy Called Christmas, and The Miracle Club in recent years.
She began starring in Downton Abbey in 2010, playing Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham. Smith played the role throughout all six seasons and 52 episodes.
Additionally, she reprised the role in the movie series. The first Downton Abbey movie made nearly $200 million at the box office. A New Era grossed just under $100 million during its run.
Throughout her legendary career, Smith won two Oscars (and was nominated for six). Her first nomination came in 1965, garnering a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her performance in Othello.
A few years later, Smith won Best Actress for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. Smith would win another Oscar nearly a decade later, this time Best Supporting Actress, for California Suite.
