Actress Maggie Smith, known for her roles in “Harry Potter” and “Downton Abbey,” has died at the age of 89, her sons announced.
23:38 – Beverley Cross, the greatest love of Maggie Smith’s life
END OF DIRECT – After divorcing in 1974 from her first husband, with whom she had two sons, due in particular to his alcoholism problems, Maggie Smith remarried in 1975 to the British playwright Beverley Cross. He was the greatest love of her life. “I don’t think I would find anyone who could compete with Bev,” she once told CBS News. A romance abruptly ended after 23 years of marriage in 1988 when the screenwriter suddenly died of an aneurysm.
23:09 – Maggie Smith was considered one of the best actresses of her generation
Born on December 28, 1934, Maggie Smith was considered one of the best British actresses of her generation, and more broadly of the 20th century. Indeed, the actress has distinguished herself in all media, particularly in theater and cinema, but also on television, with a career of impressive longevity. She has been regularly rewarded during her career, as Maggie Smith has won two Oscars, three Golden Globes, six BAFTAs, three Emmy Awards and a Tony Award. She has played in independent author productions, but also in very popular films, such as the saga Harry Potter and the series Downton Abbey. She thus demonstrated her impressive versatility which earned her the respect of her peers and the public.
22:37 – These films that marked Maggie Smith’s career
For many, the Harry Potter saga constitutes, for sure, the series of films which marked the career of the actress who died this Friday. But Maggie Smith has made many other feature films, including The Beautiful Years of Miss Brodiefor which she received the Oscar for best actress, and California Hotelfor which she also won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Sister Act, Room with a view, Death on the Nile, Clash of the Titans or even Hook or Captain Hook’s Revenge also come to mind when we talk about his filmography.
22:04 – “I thought she would live forever,” reacts author JK Rowling
The mother of the Harry Potter books, who could also have influenced the choice of Maggie Smith to play Professor Minerva McGonagall in the films, according to rumors, in turn reacted to the announcement of the actress’ death. “Somehow I thought she would live forever. RIP Dame Maggie Smith,” said JK Rowling.
21:33 – This hilarious anecdote from Daniel Radcliffe about his first meeting with Maggie Smith
“The first time I met Maggie Smith, I was 9 years old and we were reading scenes for David Copperfield, which was my first job,” the Harry Potter actor recalled. Daniel Radcliffe says that at the time his parents were amazed that their son was playing with her, but that he did not know who she was, only that she was “Lady”, since she had been raised to the rank of lady commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II. “So the first thing I asked him when we met was, ‘Do you want me to call you ‘Lady’?’ She laughed and said something like, ‘Don’t be ridiculous!'” explains the actor, who says he was immediately put at ease by Maggie Smith.
21:06 – King Charles III and Queen Camilla “deeply saddened”
In a statement released by Buckingham Palace, we learned this evening that King Charles III and his wife Queen Camilla were “deeply saddened” to learn of the death of Maggie Smith. “As the curtain falls on a national treasure, we join with all those across the world in remembering with the deepest admiration and affection his many great performances,” the statement said.
20:31 – Maggie Smith, “a wonderful woman and a brilliant actress”, for Whoopi Goldberg
The actress who played alongside him in Sister Actin 1992, paid tribute to his partner on social networks. “Maggie Smith was a wonderful woman and a brilliant actress. I still can’t believe I had the chance to work with this one of a kind person. My deepest condolences go out to the family…RIP” , said Whoopi Goldberg.
20:02 – Maggie Smith, a “true legend of her generation”
At the microphone of the BBC this Friday, the actor Hugh Bonneville, famous for his interpretation of Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham in the series Downton Abbeyalso paid tribute to Maggie Smith, not hesitating to describe her as “a true legend of her generation”. “Anyone who has ever shared a stage with Maggie will attest to her keen eye, quick wit and tremendous talent,” he said.
19:35 – Star Trek actor George Takei’s beautiful tribute to Maggie Smith
“A great star of screen and stage is gone,” responded Star Trek actor George Takei on in the Harry Potter films, has passed away at the age of 89. “She will be greatly missed by fans young and old,” he added.
19:08 – This distinction received by Maggie Smith from Queen Elizabeth II
In 1990, the actress was elevated to the rank of Lady Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II for “services to the performing arts”. Maggie Smith was also made a companion of honor ten years ago, in 2014.
18:36 – Who are Maggie Smith’s two sons?
They announced the death of Maggie Smith via press release. Her two sons, Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens, were respectively born in 1967 and 1969 from the union of the famous actress with the actor Robert Stephens. Both are also actors. Chris Larkin is particularly known for having played Hermann Göring in the TV film Hitler: The Birth of Evilwhile Toby Stephens starred in a James Bond (Die another day), but also in the series Napoleon And Jane Eyre.
18:07 – “Working with Maggie Smith has been the greatest privilege of my career”
Tributes are starting to pour in to pay tribute to Maggie Smith, who died this Friday at the age of 90. Julian Fellowes, creator and screenwriter of the series Downton Abbeywanted to have a thought for the British actress in the columns of Variety: “Maggie Smith was truly a great actress and we considered ourselves lucky to have been able to be part of the last act of her stellar career. It was a happiness to write for her, she was subtle, capable of several levels of play, intelligent, funny and devastating Working with her was the greatest privilege of my career, and I will never forget her.
5:45 p.m. – Where to watch Harry Potter and Downton Abbey in streaming?
The death of Maggie Smith may be an opportunity to revisit some of her greatest roles. While most of these films are available for purchase or rental on VOD, know that you can rediscover the franchise Harry Potter on the Max streaming platform (also accessible via the Canal+ Ciné Séries subscription), while Downton Abbey can be seen in full on Netflix. Sister Actfor its part, is available on Disney+.
17:31 – Daniel Radcliffe pays tribute to “one of the most talented women who ever lived”
After a first meeting on the set of David Copperfield in 1999, Daniel Radcliffe played ten years opposite Maggie Smith in the franchise Harry Potter. The actor who played the scarred wizard logically wanted to pay him a vibrant tribute on social networks, saying he was “truly devastated”. “She was one of the most talented women who ever lived. She leaves an incredible legacy and will continue to be remembered.”
17:12 – What are Maggie Smith’s biggest roles?
Maggie Smith obviously became known to the general public internationally for her role as a metamorphosis teacher in Harry Potter and for that of the cantankerous but hilarious Dowager Countess of Downton Abbey. But we should definitely not reduce Maggie Smith’s six-decade career to these two roles alone. She won her first Oscar, for best actress, for The Beautiful Years of Miss Brodie, and a second (best supporting actress) nine years later for California Hotel. Maggie Smith also starred in Room with a view And Gosford Parkbut also in larger productions, such as Sister Act Or Hook or the Revenge of Captain Hook. Throughout her career, she has proven that she is capable of great versatility and has demonstrated a wide range of play.