Dame Maggie Smith: Legendary icon of stage and screen passes away at age 89. The British star was known for prominent roles as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter franchise and as Violet Crawley in TV series Downton Abbey.
READ MORE:. Follow MailOnline's live blog for latest updates on Dame Maggie Smith's deathMaggie Smith has been remembered by her former co-stars and described as 'wise, witty, waspish, wonderful' in tributes after her death on Friday.
'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.' Downton Abbey's Hugh Bonneville also paid tribute, saying: 'Anyone who ever shared a scene with Maggie will attest to her sharp eye, sharp wit and formidable talent'
'She was a truly great actress, 'one of the greats' & simply the best company: wise, witty, waspish, wonderful.He also paid tribute on Times Radio, saying she was 'a uniquely towering acting talent. I was just reflecting that one of the qualities that we have as a country is our history with theatre.
'And she wouldn't have regarded herself as either a comic actress or a classical actress. She could just do it all. She lacked personal vanity in the sense that she was able to play parts like The Lady in the Van, based on Alan Bennett's play, turned into a movie, which was not a glamorous role. But she could also be incredibly glamorous... She was just a wonderful star. She had star quality, and she had the highest standards.
American actress Whoopi Goldberg paid tribute to Dame Maggie Smith and said she felt 'lucky' to have worked alongside her in Sister ActPiers Morgan posted: 'RIP Dame Maggie Smith. Magnificent actress, magnificent lady. As entertaining, sharp and witty off screen as she was off it. A very very sad loss for Britain'
Rob Lowe, who worked with Dame Maggie in 1992's Suddenly, Last Summer, reflected on their time together. 'She was beloved by so many for her great talent, becoming a true national treasure whose work will be cherished for generations to come. Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones. May she rest in peace.'
'Dame Maggie was a legend of British stage and screen, winning five BAFTAs as well as a BAFTA Special Award and BAFTA Fellowship during her highly acclaimed career.' And in 2010 she was central to the success of ITV series Downton Abbey, in her Emmy-award winning role as the acerbic Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham, which she continued to play in the films.
'We thank you for all your kind messages and support and ask that you respect our privacy at this time.' Dame Maggie Smith arriving for a Royal Film Performance of Ladies In Lavender at the Odeon Leicester Square in London on November 8, 2004 '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.
Truly professional and as near a perfectionist as she could be, she treated these roles with as much detailed and careful attention as she did her major parts. Margaret Natalie Smith was born in Ilford, Essex, on December 28, 1934. She was educated at Oxford High School for Girls and later the Oxford Playhouse School, and first appeared on the stage as a girl of 18 in Twelfth Night.
As a 'rep' actress, she was able to develop her incredible range, skill and talent among some of Britain's best actors, including Robert Stephens, who was to become her first husband. They married in 1967 but divorced in 1974.Dame Maggie Smith rehearsing for Peter Pan with Dave Allen in an undated photograph
Dame Maggie Smith arriving for the world premiere of Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 on July 7, 2011But she first emerged as an international star with her virtuoso performance as the fanatical teacher Jean Brodie in The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie. But she later told ES Magazine: 'I am deeply grateful for the work in Potter and indeed Downton but it wasn't what you'd call satisfying.Dame Maggie Smith kisses Rupert Grint as they arrive for the world premiere of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince at the Odeon Leicester Square in London on July 7, 2009
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