Actress Maggie Smith died shortly before her 90th birthday. As her sons Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens announced, the two-time Oscar winner died on Friday (September 27th) at the age of 89 in a London hospital.
More than 60 years of success in front of the camera
Maggie Smith’s theater career began in 1952 at the age of 17 as a member of the Oxford University Dramatic Society. She made it to Broadway with her talent in 1956 and made her film debut in the same year.
The British-born actress had one of her greatest successes with the title role in Ronald Neame’s drama “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie”, for which she was awarded an Oscar for best actress in 1970. Almost ten years later, she won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in “California Suite.” Many other awards followed, such as the Golden Globe and a BAFTA Award.
World famous thanks to “Harry Potter” and “Downtown Abbey”.
The actress finally became world famous for her role as the eccentric Professor Minerva McGonagall in the “Harry Potter” films – and at an age when other actors have long since retired.
She was similarly celebrated for her role as the widowed Countess Violet Crawley in the series “Downtown Abbey” – and was ultimately awarded three Emmys and a Golden Globe for it.
The last time before her death Maggie Smith was seen on the big screen as Lily Fox in “Miracle Club” in 2023.
The stars react so touchingly
How much Maggie Smith was revered among her colleagues can be seen in the loving reactions of her co-stars such as Whoopi Goldberg and Rob Lowe. It is above all the memories of her “Harry Potter” colleagues that are moving.
Daniel Radcliffe remembers in the magazine Variety of working with an impressive personality:
She was one of the most talented women to ever walk this world. She left an incredible legacy and will always be remembered.
He was impressed by his first encounter with the actress when he was nine years old: “She was incredibly nice to me during filming, and I was lucky enough to work with her on the ‘Harry Potter’ films for another 10 years. ”
Rupert Grint aka Ron Weasley was also still a child when he met Maggie Smith. He posted a sweet dance photo from the “Harry Potter” filming and wrote: “She was so special, always funny and always kind. I feel incredibly lucky to have shared a set with her and especially lucky to have shared a dance “I’ll miss you, Maggie.”[…]”