Dame Maggie Smith, the beloved actress whose career spanned more than seven decades, passed away peacefully on the morning of Friday, 27th September, at the age of 89. Her sons, Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin, confirmed the news in a statement.
Dame Maggie was best known for her roles as Violet Crawley in Downton Abbey and Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter series. Her career, which began in the 1950s, earned her numerous awards, including two Academy Awards—Best Actress for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969) and Best Supporting Actress for California Suite (1978).
Dame Maggie Smith and Alan Rickman in Harry Potter: The Chamber of Secrets (2002)
In addition to her Oscars, she received five BAFTA Awards, three Golden Globes, four Primetime Emmy Awards, five Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Tony Award, making her one of the few performers to achieve the Triple Crown of Acting, which honors achievements in film, television, and theater.
Dame Maggie was scheduled to reprise her role in A German Life for a film adaptation directed by Jonathan Kent. The status of the production has not yet been confirmed.
