Maggie Smith, Star Of 'Harry Potter,' Passes Away After Spending Days In Hospital

Maggie Smith, known for her role as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the "Harry Potter" film series, has passed away.

Smith began her acting career in the 1950s with stage roles in London. She trained at the Oxford Playhouse, and her theater work helped her gain recognition as a prominent actress. In the 1960s, she became a member of the National Theatre Company, where she worked alongside Sir Laurence Olivier.

Maggie Smith’s death was confirmed by her sons Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin.

“She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday 27th September," they said in a statement shared with UK media. “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," the statement added. "We thank you for all your kind messages and support and ask that you respect our privacy at this time.”

Maggie Smith was one of the most distinguished British screen icons of her generation, celebrated for her roles in iconic films and TV series like "Harry Potter" and "Downton Abbey."

She portrayed Professor McGonagall in the "Harry Potter" films, leading Gryffindor House and serving as deputy headmistress under Albus Dumbledore.

Smith also gained immense recognition for her role as Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham, in the period drama "Downton Abbey." Her sharp wit and memorable one-liners made her one of the most popular characters on the show, earning her numerous awards, including three Primetime Emmy Awards.

Hugh Bonneville, who co-starred in "Downton Abbey" with Dame Maggie, released a statement after hearing the news.

“Anyone who ever shared a scene with Maggie will attest to her sharp eye, sharp wit and formidable talent," Bonneville wrote. "She was a true legend of her generation and thankfully will live on in so many magnificent screen performances. My condolences to her boys and wider family.”

“She can capture in a single moment more than many actors can convey in an entire film,” Nicholas Hytner, who directed Smith in Alan Bennett’s "The Lady in the Van," said. “She can be vulnerable, fierce, bleak and hilarious simultaneously, and she brings to the set each day the energy and curiosity of a young actor who’s just started out.”

After attending Oxford High School for Girls, which she reportedly didn’t enjoy, Smith went on to train at the Oxford Playhouse School of Theatre, where her talent quickly stood out. At just 17, while playing Viola in "Twelfth Night," she caught the eye of playwright Beverley Cross, who would eventually become her husband 23 years later.

“She was totally unique in not speaking that kind of Oxford theatrical voice in the days when everyone was impersonating Olivier,” he recalled. “I thought, There you go, that’s someone very special; that’s someone worth watching. She was very striking with that red hair, very thin, very tall.” She was also “very vulnerable, and very, very funny.”

Her marriage to Cross was her second. Her first marriage was to actor Robert Stephens, with whom she had two sons, actors Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin.

In addition to her screen career, Smith continued to work in the theater. She has won multiple Olivier Awards, Britain's most prestigious theater honor, for her performances in plays like "The Private Ear/The Public Eye" and "Three Tall Women."

Smith won two Academy Awards over her decades-long career. She earned her first Oscar in 1970 for "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie," and secured her second nine years later for "California Suite."

The actress once said she didn’t spend much time dwelling on her legacy. “It doesn’t last,” she remarked in the same Telegraph interview, reflecting on the lives of her friends Lauren Bacall and Robin Williams. “The world is replenished all the time. I don’t think people remember.”

Rest in peace.