Harry Potter and Downton Abbey star Dame Maggie Smith dies aged 89

27 September 2024 , 14:35

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Harry Potter and Downton Abbey star Dame Maggie Smith dies aged 89

Dame Maggie Smith, the award-winning British acting legend whose work ranged from Downton Abbey to Harry Potter, has died at the age of 89.

The Oscar-winning actress died in hospital on Friday 27 September, her sons Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens said in a statement.

‘It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith,’ they began.

‘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.’

Born in 1934, Dame Maggie grew up in Oxford where she began acting as a teenager.

Before long she was appearing in a number of stage shows including the 1957 musical comedy Share My Lettuce alongside Kenneth Williams, before moving to the screen for thriller Nowhere to Go in 1958 – for which she was nominated for a Bafta.

Emma Davis