Summary
The beloved actress Dame Maggie Smith has passed away at age 89. Smith has starred in countless roles over the past seven decades, including Professor Minerva McGonagall in theHarry Pottermovies and Countess Violet Grantham inDownton Abbey.
Born in 1934 in Ilford, England, Maggie Smith is known by many as one of the greatest actresses to hail from the United Kingdom. Starring in dozens of movies and TV series since her debut in 1952, Smith had an incredibly lengthy and storied career in the industry. Some of her well-known movie appearances includeThe Prime of Miss Jean Brodie,California Suite,A Room With a View,Gosford Park, andtheHarry Pottermovies. Her final role was that of Lily Fox in the 2023 movieThe Miracle Club.
On September 27, Smith died at age 89 in a London hospital,as reported by the BBC. According to the report, Smith passed away peacefully, leaving two sons and five grandchildren. Soon after the announcement, celebrities such as Maggie’sDownton Abbeyco-star Hugh Bonneville paid tribute to her work, calling her a “true legend of her generation” due to her countless magnificent performances. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also praised Smith’s performances, noting that she had great talent and would be cherished for generations.
Maggie Smith Starred in Harry Potter, Downton Abbey, and Countless Other Projects
During her long and successful career, Maggie Smith earned two Oscars, including one for Best Actress forThe Prime of Miss Jean Brodiein 1969 and one for Best Supporting Actress forCalifornia Suitein 1978. Many fans will remember her for her work asProfessor McGonagall inHarry Potter, with the actress appearing in every film in the franchise except forHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1.
In 2018, Smith reprised her role as the voice of Minerva McGonagall inHarry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, marking her only appearance in a video game.Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mysterywas a mobile RPGdeveloped by Jam City and Portkey Games and was set at Hogwarts many years before Harry Potter was a student.
Another one of Smith’s recent high-profile roles was that of Countess Violet Grantham inDownton Abbey. She played the character in the wildly popular TV series from 2010 to 2015, also appearing in standalone movies released in 2019 and 2022. Smith will be missed by many, with fans oftheHarry Potteruniversequick to post tributes to the actress on social media.
Harry Potter
When Harry Potter learns that he is a wizard, he enters a world beyond belief. Aside from continuing his studies at Hogwarts with best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, Harry must also face Voldemort and his dark wizarding forces. The Harry Potter franchise is a worldwide phenomenon, spanning seven books, eight movies, three spinoff movies, a stage play, and numerous video games.
