Maggie Smith — a legendary actress who worked professionally for more than 70 years — has died … according to a statement from her family.
Her sons, Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin, released a statement … saying Smith passed away in the hospital peacefully early Friday morning. They did not give a cause of death.
Smith’s family thanked the staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their care and support during their mother’s finals days … and asked for privacy during this trying time.
Maggie got her start in professional acting in the early 1950s … kicking off her career with myriad stage appearances at some of the largest venues in England.
She transitioned to film acting … receiving tons of praise for her role as “Desdemona” on the stage and also playing her onscreen alongside Laurence Olivier. She received her first Academy Award nomination — though she wouldn’t win her first Oscar until “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” four years later.
Maggie played numerous iconic roles over the years … most nbotably Professor Minerva McGonagall in the ‘Harry Potter’ film and Violet Crawley in the “Downton Abbey” series.
She was 89.
RIP
