A talent like the venerated Dame Maggie Smith is rare to come across, and it’s rarer to be able to see such craft carried out over the span of decades. An award-winning powerhouse of talent, she was known to many as an endless fountain of wit and authority through everything from the Harry Potter movies to Downton Abbey. It is with that sterling legacy in mind that we fondly bid farewell to Ms. Smith, as she has been reported dead at the age of 89.
The BBC reported the sad news this morning, as sons Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin share with them the following statement:
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. 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.
Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin – BBC
CinemaBlend would like to extend its deepest condolences to Dame Maggie Smith’s friends and family, as they navigate this time of grief and remembrance.
More to come…