Oscar-winning British actress Maggie Smith, known for her legendary performances on stage and screen, passed away on Friday in a London hospital. Her sons, Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens, shared the news, expressing their deep sorrow over the loss of their mother.
“It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Dame Maggie Smith. She died peacefully in the hospital this morning,” the statement read.
Smith, celebrated for her long and illustrious career, gained international recognition in her later years for playing the sharp-tongued Dowager Countess, Violet Crawley, in the popular TV series Downton Abbey. Throughout her career, she earned numerous accolades, including two Oscars, a Tony Award, three Golden Globes, and five Baftas.
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta) shared their condolences, calling her “a legend of British stage and screen.” Prime Minister Keir Starmer also paid tribute, describing her as a “true national treasure.”
Born in 1934 in Oxford, Maggie Smith began her acting journey in 1952 with the Oxford University Dramatic Society. Her talent quickly shone, and in 1969, she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and later took home another Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Desdemona in Othello.
Her sons, both actors themselves, shared that Maggie was surrounded by friends and family at the time of her passing. “She was an intensely private person. Her two sons and five loving grandchildren are heartbroken by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother,” they said, expressing gratitude for the outpouring of love and support.
Maggie Smith’s career was marked by her incredible presence and commanding performances, from her early days in London’s West End to Broadway and on screen. Her breakout roles alongside Laurence Olivier in Othello and her work in the 1960s with the National Theatre brought her widespread acclaim.
Smith’s personal life saw its share of ups and downs. Her marriage to actor Robert Stephens, with whom she had her two sons, ended in 1973. She later married screenwriter Beverley Cross, who passed away in 1998.
In recent years, Maggie Smith delighted audiences with films like Gosford Park (2001), The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012), and The Lady in the Van (2015). Her roles in Downton Abbey and the Harry Potter series introduced her to a new generation of fans, making her an enduring figure in pop culture.
Reflecting on her fame in 2017, Smith shared that her role in Downton Abbey had changed her life, saying, “I led a perfectly normal life until Downton Abbey. Now, I can’t go anywhere without being recognized.”
Hugh Bonneville, who played her on-screen son in Downton Abbey, praised her immense talent: “Anyone who ever worked with Maggie will attest to her sharp wit, her sharp eye, and her remarkable talent. She was truly a legend of her time, and we are fortunate to have so many of her brilliant performances to remember her by. My condolences to her family.”
Maggie Smith was honored as a Dame of the British Empire in 1990 by Queen Elizabeth II, a recognition of her lasting impact on the arts.
