Dame Maggie Smith dead: Harry Potter and Downton Abbey acting legend dies aged 89

Beloved actress Maggie Smith has died , according to her publicist and family.

The actress best known for her roles in Harry Potter and Downtown Abbey passed away at the age of 89, three months shy of her 90th birthday. Her sons Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens have released a statement sharing the news.

"She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday 27th September," it read, "An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end."

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It continued: "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 ended: "We thank you for all your kind messages and support and ask that you respect our privacy at this time."

Fans have taken to social media to mourn the star. "Rip maggie smith one of the undeniable greats of her time," One fan wrote on X, formally known as Twitter.

Another fan was in disbelief, writing: "NOT MAGGIE SMITH DON'T YOU F-----G DARE." A third added: "dame maggie smith has died what’s the point anymore."

A fourth emotionally stated: "The great Dame Maggie Smith has passed away, aged 89. She was such a significant part of my childhood and adult life too. A brilliant actress, a wonderful human being. May she rest in peace. Thank you, Maggie, for the wonderful talent you shared with us all."

Maggie has had an extensive career in stage productions and Hollywood. Throughout her life she's won two Academy Awards, five BAFTA Awards, four Emmy Awards, three Golden Globes and a Tony Award.

Her first award-winning role was Jean Brodie in the 1969 drama film The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. For her role, she won the Academy Award for Best Actress. She was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in 1990 for services to the performing arts.

Maggie will always be remembered as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter film series. She resiliently filmed the sixth movie in the series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, while battling breast cancer. She was reported to have made a full recovery from the cancer in 2009.

The Dame was revered for her role in Downton Abbey as Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham. The hit show aired from 2010 to 2015 and Maggie returned to the role in 2019 and 2022 for film continuations of the show.

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