Maggie Smith, ‘Downton Abbey’ and ‘Harry Potter’ Actress, Dies at 89
Maggie Smith, the acclaimed British actress best known for her performances in Downton Abbey and the Harry Potter franchise, has died. She was 89.
Smith’s death was confirmed in a statement to the BBC from her sons Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin. 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.”
The statement continued, “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.”
Smith’s career was littered with numerous awards and other honors. She’s been nominated for six Academy Awards and won two Oscars. Her first Academy Awards win came in 1970 for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. Her second win came in 1979 for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance in California Suite.
Smith won four Primetime Emmy Awards in her career. The first came in 2003 for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie for her performance in My House in Umbria. Her three other Emmy wins came from her performance as Violet Crawley, Countess of Grantham in Downton Abbey.
Of course, before she made a name for herself in film and television, Smith’s career started as a stage actress at the Oxford Playhouse in 1952, and she made her Broadway debut in 1956. In 1990, she won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her performance in Lettice and Lovage. In her native U.K., she was nominated for six Olivier Awards, which is the British equivalent of a Tony Award. While never winning a competitive Olivier Award, she was honored in 2010 with The Society Special, a lifetime achievement award, which has also been bestowed to Judi Dench, Ian McKellen, Kenneth Branagh and other iconic British stage legends.
Smith’s acting resume is filled with memorable performances and beloved credits. In addition to Downton Abbey and the Harry Potter franchise, Smith delivered memorable performances in Gosford Park, A Room with a View, Othello, Sister Act, The First Wives Club, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Becoming Jane, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and many more.
In the UK, Smith received multiple Most Excellent Order of the British Empire honors from Queen Elizabeth II. First, she was named Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1970. Smith officially became a Dame in 1990 becoming a Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (DBE). Finally, Smith became a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) in 2014.
