News
Remembering Actress Dame Maggie Smith | Masterpiece
![Photo of Dame Maggie Smith in her role as the Dowager Countess in Downton Abbey as seen on MASTERPIECE on PBS.](https://recentlyheard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1727470278_Remembering-Actress-Dame-Maggie-Smith-Masterpiece.jpg)
![Photo of Dame Maggie Smith in her role as the Dowager Countess in Downton Abbey as seen on MASTERPIECE on PBS.](https://i0.wp.com/recentlyheard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Remembering-Actress-Dame-Maggie-Smith-Masterpiece.jpg?resize=740%2C416&ssl=1)
ALAMY/Carnival Movies/Album
Acclaimed British actress Dame Maggie Smith died on September 27, 2024. Smith was 89 years outdated.
Born in 1934 in Ilford, England, Smith grew up in Oxford, England, and made her stage debut in an area theater as a young person. Smith went on to a have an unparalleled profession that earned her Oscar, Tony, Golden Globe awards and extra. Smith received 3 Emmy awards for her function as Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham in Downton Abbey.
Smith was well-known for an array of celebrated initiatives throughout stage, tv and movie, together with her Oscar-winning performances in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, and California Suite, roles in Gosford Park, A Room with a View, Tea with Mussolini, the Harry Potter movies, and Downton Abbey, amongst many others.
In 1990, Smith was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
Her sons Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin launched an announcement which learn: “It’s with nice unhappiness we have now to announce the demise of Dame Maggie Smith.
“She handed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday twenty seventh September. An intensely personal particular person, she was with family and friends on the finish. She leaves two sons and 5 loving grandchildren who’re devastated by the lack of their extraordinary mom and grandmother.
“We wish to take this chance to thank the fantastic employees on the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for his or her care and unstinting kindness throughout her closing days.
“We thanks for all of your sort messages and assist and ask that you simply respect our privateness at the moment.”
Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes wrote in an announcement, “Maggie Smith was a really nice actress and we have been greater than lucky to be a part of the final act in her stellar profession. She was a pleasure to put in writing for, refined, many-layered, clever, humorous and heart-breaking. Working together with her has been the best privilege of my profession, and I’ll always remember her.”
Hugh Bonneville, Lord Grantham in Downton Abbey, provided an announcement saying, “She was a real legend of her technology and fortunately will stay on in so many magnificent display performances. My condolences to her boys and wider household.”
Michelle Dockery, who performed Woman Mary Crowley, advised Deadline in an announcement: “There was nobody fairly like Maggie. I really feel tremendously fortunate to have identified such a maverick. She can be deeply missed and my ideas are together with her household.”
Allen Leech, Tom Branson in Downton Abbey, advised Folks, “Maggie was a grasp of the craft and a delight to be round. As a world viewers we have now misplaced one of many best, my condolences to her sons and grandchildren, her household and dearest and closest buddies. It was an honor to know and work with a real legend of the display.”
Joanne Froggatt who portrayed Anna Bates within the sequence posted on Instagram partially, “She actually was a trailblazer, with the sharpest wit, the best expertise, the naughtiest sense of humour, she was a drive to be reckoned with. She had a charisma that you simply felt would stay ceaselessly (in some ways it’s going to) and beneath all of that an enormous coronary heart.”
Susanne Simpson, MASTERPIECE Govt Producer, mentioned, “All the MASTERPIECE and PBS household are terribly unhappy to listen to the information of Maggie Smith’s demise. She was an icon and can be deeply missed by us personally, and by our viewers who got here to like her in Downton Abbey. She can be remembered by all of us for many years of memorable performances.”
View a slideshow that includes some highlights of Smith’s profession.
![Black and white photo from 1966 of Queen Elizabeth II being presented to Dame Maggie Smith by Sir Laurence Olivier.](https://i0.wp.com/recentlyheard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1727470273_529_Remembering-Actress-Dame-Maggie-Smith-Masterpiece.jpg?w=740&ssl=1)
![Black and white photo from 1966 of Queen Elizabeth II being presented to Dame Maggie Smith by Sir Laurence Olivier.](https://i0.wp.com/recentlyheard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1727470273_529_Remembering-Actress-Dame-Maggie-Smith-Masterpiece.jpg?w=740&ssl=1)
Queen Elizabeth II being offered to Dame Maggie Smith by Sir Laurence Olivier in 1986. Credit score: PA Pictures.
![Black and white photo of Maggie Smith starring in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, 1969.](https://i0.wp.com/recentlyheard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1727470273_226_Remembering-Actress-Dame-Maggie-Smith-Masterpiece.jpg?w=740&ssl=1)
![Black and white photo of Maggie Smith starring in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, 1969.](https://i0.wp.com/recentlyheard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1727470273_226_Remembering-Actress-Dame-Maggie-Smith-Masterpiece.jpg?w=740&ssl=1)
Smith in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, 1969. Credit score: Pictorial Press Ltd.
![Black and white photo of Maggie Smith in 1970 with her first husband Robert Stephens celebrating her Oscar winning award for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.](https://i0.wp.com/recentlyheard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1727470273_733_Remembering-Actress-Dame-Maggie-Smith-Masterpiece.jpg?w=740&ssl=1)
![Black and white photo of Maggie Smith in 1970 with her first husband Robert Stephens celebrating her Oscar winning award for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.](https://i0.wp.com/recentlyheard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1727470273_733_Remembering-Actress-Dame-Maggie-Smith-Masterpiece.jpg?w=740&ssl=1)
Smith in 1970 together with her first husband Robert Stephens celebrating her Oscar successful award for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. Credit score: Trinity Mirror / Mirrorpix.
![l-r: Joan Plowright (Lady Wishfort), Maggie Smith (Mrs Millament) 1984’s THE WAY OF THE WORLD by William Congreve at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, London](https://i0.wp.com/recentlyheard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1727470273_673_Remembering-Actress-Dame-Maggie-Smith-Masterpiece.jpg?w=740&ssl=1)
![l-r: Joan Plowright (Lady Wishfort), Maggie Smith (Mrs Millament) 1984’s THE WAY OF THE WORLD by William Congreve at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, London](https://i0.wp.com/recentlyheard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1727470273_673_Remembering-Actress-Dame-Maggie-Smith-Masterpiece.jpg?w=740&ssl=1)
Joan Plowright (Woman Wishfort), Maggie Smith (Mrs Millament) in The Method of the World by William Congreve on the Theatre Royal Haymarket, London, 1984. Credit score: Donald Cooper.
![](https://i0.wp.com/recentlyheard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1727470274_459_Remembering-Actress-Dame-Maggie-Smith-Masterpiece.jpg?w=740&ssl=1)
![](https://i0.wp.com/recentlyheard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1727470274_459_Remembering-Actress-Dame-Maggie-Smith-Masterpiece.jpg?w=740&ssl=1)
Dame Maggie Smith and Dame Judi Dench in a scene from 1986’s A Room with a View. Credit score: TCD/Prod.DB
![Color photo from 2002 of (left to right) actors Maggie Smith, Miriam Margolyes, Richard Harris and Alan Rickman starring as Minerva MacGonagall, Professor Sprout, Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape in the movie “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.”](https://i0.wp.com/recentlyheard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1727470274_329_Remembering-Actress-Dame-Maggie-Smith-Masterpiece.jpg?w=740&ssl=1)
![Color photo from 2002 of (left to right) actors Maggie Smith, Miriam Margolyes, Richard Harris and Alan Rickman starring as Minerva MacGonagall, Professor Sprout, Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape in the movie “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.”](https://i0.wp.com/recentlyheard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1727470274_329_Remembering-Actress-Dame-Maggie-Smith-Masterpiece.jpg?w=740&ssl=1)
Actors Maggie Smith, Miriam Margolyes, Richard Harris and Alan Rickman starring as Minerva MacGonagall, Professor Sprout, Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape within the film “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and techniques,” 2002. Credit score: PA Pictures.
![Dame Maggie Smith (left) and Dame Judi Dench arrive for a screening of Ladies in Lavender at the Odeon Leicester Square London, 2004.](https://i0.wp.com/recentlyheard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1727470274_845_Remembering-Actress-Dame-Maggie-Smith-Masterpiece.jpg?w=740&ssl=1)
![Dame Maggie Smith (left) and Dame Judi Dench arrive for a screening of Ladies in Lavender at the Odeon Leicester Square London, 2004.](https://i0.wp.com/recentlyheard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1727470274_845_Remembering-Actress-Dame-Maggie-Smith-Masterpiece.jpg?w=740&ssl=1)
Dame Maggie Smith (left) and Dame Judi Dench arrive for a screening of Girls in Lavender on the Odeon Leicester Sq. London, 2004. Credit score: PA photographs.
![Color photo of the then Prince of Wales speaking with Dame Maggie Smith at the Prince’s Trust reception at the 2016 Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards.](https://i0.wp.com/recentlyheard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1727470274_934_Remembering-Actress-Dame-Maggie-Smith-Masterpiece.jpg?w=740&ssl=1)
![Color photo of the then Prince of Wales speaking with Dame Maggie Smith at the Prince’s Trust reception at the 2016 Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards.](https://i0.wp.com/recentlyheard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1727470274_934_Remembering-Actress-Dame-Maggie-Smith-Masterpiece.jpg?w=740&ssl=1)
Then Prince of Wales with Dame Maggie Smith on the Prince’s Belief reception on the 2016 Day by day Mirror Delight of Britain Awards. Credit score: PA Pictures.
![Joanne Froggatt (left), Michelle Dockery (center) and Dame Maggie Smith attending the Downton Abbey cast photocall from August 2015 held at the Mayfair Hotel, London.](https://i0.wp.com/recentlyheard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1727470274_782_Remembering-Actress-Dame-Maggie-Smith-Masterpiece.jpg?w=740&ssl=1)
![Joanne Froggatt (left), Michelle Dockery (center) and Dame Maggie Smith attending the Downton Abbey cast photocall from August 2015 held at the Mayfair Hotel, London.](https://i0.wp.com/recentlyheard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1727470274_782_Remembering-Actress-Dame-Maggie-Smith-Masterpiece.jpg?w=740&ssl=1)
Joanne Froggatt (left), Michelle Dockery (middle) and Dame Maggie Smith attending the Downton Abbey forged photocall from August 2015 held on the Mayfair Lodge, London. Credit score: Ian West/PA Wire.
![Color photo of Dame Maggie Smith starring as the Dowager Countess in Downton Abbey on MASTERPIECE on PBS.](https://i0.wp.com/recentlyheard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1727470274_36_Remembering-Actress-Dame-Maggie-Smith-Masterpiece.jpg?w=740&ssl=1)
![Color photo of Dame Maggie Smith starring as the Dowager Countess in Downton Abbey on MASTERPIECE on PBS.](https://i0.wp.com/recentlyheard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1727470274_36_Remembering-Actress-Dame-Maggie-Smith-Masterpiece.jpg?w=740&ssl=1)