Maggie Smith dead - Downton Abbey and Harry Potter legend dies in hospital
ok.co.ukDownton Abbey star Dame Maggie Smith has passed away aged 89.The acting icon's sons Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin confirmed in a statement that she died on Friday 27 September surrounded by friends and family. "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," they wrote. "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." The British actress is best known for playing Violet Crawley in ITV's Downton Abbey and Harry Potter's Professor Minerva McGonagall during her seven-decade career.The critically-acclaimed actress received two Academy Awards for her performances in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie in 1969 and California Suite in 1978.
Meanwhile, Maggie picked up three Emmy Awards for her role in Downton Abbey. Maggie began her acting career aged 17, landing her first film role in 1956 with Child in the House.
She went onto perform in 1965's Othello and other hit films such as A Room with a View, Sister Act, Richard III and Gosford Park.
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