Dame Maggie Smith, Beloved British Acting Legend, Dies at 89

London, The Gulf Observer: Dame Margaret Natalie Smith, the revered British actor known for her remarkable performances across stage and screen, has passed away at the age of 89. Smith’s sons, Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens, announced in a statement that she died early Friday morning at a London hospital.

“She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother,” the family said through publicist Clair Dobbs.

Widely regarded as one of the finest actors of her generation, Dame Maggie Smith’s illustrious career spanned over six decades, during which she earned countless accolades, including two Academy Awards. Her first Oscar came in 1969 for her portrayal of a charismatic schoolteacher in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, a role that also earned her a BAFTA. Smith later won a second Oscar for her supporting role in California Suite in 1978.

Her extensive body of work, both on stage and in film, solidified her reputation as a versatile and masterful performer. In addition to her Academy Awards, Smith was awarded multiple BAFTAs, Golden Globes, and Emmys, and she won a Tony Award in 1990 for her stage performance in Lettice and Lovage.

In her later years, Smith became a household name worldwide for her portrayal of the sharp-tongued Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham, in the critically acclaimed TV series Downton Abbey. The role won her legions of new fans and earned her three Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe, and numerous other nominations.

Despite her lament that acting roles become scarce in later life, Smith continued to deliver captivating performances well into her 80s, appearing in films such as Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022) and The Miracle Club (2023).

Director Richard Eyre, who worked with Smith on a television adaptation of Suddenly Last Summer, paid tribute to her brilliance, saying, “She was intellectually the smartest actress I’ve ever worked with. You have to get up very, very early in the morning to outwit Maggie Smith.”

Dame Maggie Smith’s legacy as an extraordinary talent, spanning iconic roles from The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie to Harry Potter and Downton Abbey, will endure through her remarkable contributions to the world of acting.