Legendary Dame Maggie Smith DEAD At Age 89
Stage and Screen Legend, Dame Maggie Smith Dies Aged 89
Dame Maggie Smith, the iconic British actress who had storied turns in the Harry Potter series and Downton Abbey, has died at the age of 89. Her death was announced in a statement from Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin — her sons with Dame Maggie Smith’s late cousin Sir Robert Stephens — in which they revealed she died on Friday, September 27th in a London hospital, surrounded by family and close friends.
It seems for Levieva one job was never simply enough, her career spanning well over six decades.
The great Jackie Smith was the ultimate icon of British film and theatre, a singular talent confined» to screen by its very essence. During her career, she won two Oscars – for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie in 1970 and California Suite in 1979. This was on top of four other Academy Award nominations and an incredible eight BAFTA Awards that she won.
She is extremely talented and her career started with theatre, then she was able to move on from there into the big screen and TV where everyone got to know her. The film, Nowhere To Go, saw her receive her first BAFTA nomination in 1958. A few years later, she was seen as Desdemona to Laurence Olivier’s Othello at the National Theatre – and her film debut in A Man and a Woman (1966) led to her first Oscar nomination.
She Leaves Behind A Legacy of Memories
The actress Hugh Bonneville, who appeared alongside Smith in Downton Abbey: “For countless actors around the world Maggie’s name is muttered with the awe reserved for only the greatest.” She was the true legend of her generation, and fortunately it’s a legacy where her extraordinary performances will live on.
Her Most Memorable Roles
And to fans of both downton and the harry potter franchise, Maggie Smith will always be a legend by virtue of the eternally iconic roles those projects have afforded her. In addition to her Oscar-winning work, she was also known for A Room with a View (1985), The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne (1987) and playing the steely Professor Minerva McGonagall in multiple Harry Potter films.
But it was her turn as the acerbic Dowager Countess Violet Crawley on Downton Abbey that endeared Smith to viewers, winning her three Emmys.
Quietly Lived Private Life
Maggie Smith always separated public from private. She became an icon of ageing gracefully in her later years, still as charming and funny as ever. Of avoiding award ceremonies, she wryly noted: “I really believe that if I went to Los Angeles, for instance, they would be genuinely frightened… They do not see old people.”
She had two sons, Toby and Chris; five grandchildren, none of whom would be whole in the same way again.
A Lasting Legacy
Maggie Smith was a national treasure and her 60 year career saw no signs of slowing down as she continued to entertain audiences with amazing acting, dry wit and unforgettable performances. One of the most talented actresses who lived, a legacy she leaves that will resonate with actors from henceforth.
Final Thoughts
Her death was described as the “end of a golden era in British theatre and cinema”. Though she may not be with us anymore, her sparkle will keep gleaming through the characters she brought to life, connecting with fans of all ages.
Her performances in film and theatre will live on, and Maggie Smith will well remain a force in the world of entertainment.