Dame Maggie Smith has died aged 89.
Her heartbroken sons Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens, both actors, issued a statement as they said: “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.”
To celebrate her lengthy career, a Channel 5 programme looked back at all of her projects and touched upon personal life events, including the devastating loss of her second husband, Beverly Cross.
Fellow actress Miriam Margolyes described the impact of this sudden tragedy on Maggie as “awful”, stating that she was “utterly stricken” by grief.
After 23 years of marriage, Maggie’s husband, playwright Beverly Cross, passed away unexpectedly. During the insightful documentary, Miriam reflected on the profound effect this had on Maggie.
“I never met Beverly Cross, but I know that he adored Maggie,” she shared. She further added: “[I know] that he was wonderful to her, that he took care of her.”
“And that she loved him very much, and she was utterly stricken when she lost him.”
The Harry Potter star concluded with: “It was awful.”
Biographer Michael Coveney offered his perspective, saying: “She’s [Maggie] quite good with her own company, but she does find it odd to be living a life where you’re not doing it for somebody else, or you’re not number one in somebody else’s life.”
“She was used to that all her life, really, and needed it.”
The documentary also explored how Maggie coped with her grief by immersing herself in her work.
Maggie Smith’s illustrious career spans over six decades, with one of her notable roles being in Robert Altman’s Gosford Park, which inspired Julian Fellowes to create the hit series Downton Abbey, in which she also starred.
Reflecting on her portrayal of Constance Trentham in Gosford Park, Julian Fellowes noted: “Looking back, I’m quite surprised she did it, really.”
He added: “She can play a pretty unsympathetic character but she doesn’t really become unsympathetic herself.”
With a career beginning in the 1950s, Maggie, now 87, has become one of the most acclaimed actresses, boasting an impressive array of awards, including two Academy Awards, seven BAFTA Awards, and a Tony Award. She was also made a Dame by Queen Elizabeth II in 1990 for her contributions to the Arts.
In recent years, she is perhaps best known for her iconic role as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter film series. Actress Nina Wadia, a self-proclaimed fan of Maggie, revealed: “I didn’t take to the Harry Potter films instantly, I did because my kids did and so I kind of got into it.”
However, upon learning of Maggie’s involvement, she was immediately drawn in, praising Maggie’s performance and distinctive voice.
