Sad news for fans of the Harry Potter saga... Maggie Smith, the British film and theater legend best known for playing the role of Metamorphosis teacher Minerva McGonagall in all eight films of the film franchise, died on September 27, 2024 at the age of 89. Her sons made the announcement to Skynews, while she was in hospital at London's Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.
"She leaves behind two loving sons and five grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother," they explain in a statement. An actress who won the hearts of audiences on stage and screen, with over six decades of performances to her credit.
Maggie Smith, born December 28, 1934 in Ilford, England. After studying at theOxford Playhouse School, the actress made her theatrical debut in 1952 and quickly became an icon of the British stage, not least thanks to her work with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Maggie Smith also enjoyed immense success on the silver screen, with landmark roles in films such as The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969), for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress, and California Suite (1978), for which she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. For more recent generations, she is best known for her role as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter saga, as well as the Dowager Countess Violet Crawley in the Downton Abbey TV series and films.
Maggie Smith has won numerous awards throughout her career, including three Golden Globes and several BAFTA Awards. Her outstanding contribution to the arts was also recognized by Queen Elizabeth II, who made her Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 1990.
An actress who will always be remembered.
