Maggie Smith, renowned for her performances in Harry Potter and Downton Abbey, has passed away at the age of 89, as confirmed by her sons.

Maggie Smith, the actress died in a hospital, according to her children, Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens. In their statement, they expressed: "An intensely private individual, she was surrounded by friends and family in her final moments. She leaves behind two sons and five cherished grandchildren who are heartbroken by the loss of their remarkable mother and grandmother.

"We would like to extend our gratitude to the exceptional staff at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their compassionate care and unwavering kindness during her last days. "We appreciate all the kind messages and support we have received and kindly request that our privacy be respected during this difficult time."

Smith commenced her theatrical journey as a student at the Oxford Playhouse in 1952, subsequently making her professional Broadway debut in New Faces of '56. Throughout the ensuing decades, she emerged as a prominent figure in British theatre, alongside Judi Dench, performing with esteemed institutions such as the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company. On Broadway, she garnered Tony Award nominations for her performances in Noël Coward's Private Lives (1975) and Tom Stoppard’s Night and Day (1979), ultimately winning the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her role in Lettice and Lovage (1990).

In addition to her stage accomplishments, she received Academy Awards for Best Actress for her performance in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969) and for Best Supporting Actress in California Suite (1978). She was also nominated for an Oscar for her roles in Othello (1965), Travels with My Aunt (1972), A Room with a View (1985), and Gosford Park (2001).

From 2010 to 2015, Smith portrayed the character of Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham, in the acclaimed British period drama Downton Abbey. The series achieved significant cultural impact, and her portrayal garnered widespread admiration from fans. This role earned her three Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, in addition to a Golden Globe Award and four Screen Actors Guild Awards. In a March 2015 interview with Joe Utichi published in The Sunday Times, Smith revealed that the sixth season of Downton Abbey would mark her final appearance on the show, which indeed was the last season produced.