Dame Maggie Smith’s Downton Abbey co-star Hugh Bonneville and Sister Act co-star Whoopi Goldberg have led tributes to the iconic actor after she died at the age of 89.
Bonneville, who starred alongside Dame Maggie in the ITV drama, remembered her as a “true legend of her generation” who had “sharp wit and formidable talent”.
Meanwhile, Goldberg called her a “one-of-a-kind” actor.
Dame Maggie played a number of iconic roles over the years, including Professor McGonagall in JK Rowling’s Harry Potter franchise and the fanatical teacher Jean Brodie in The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie.
Her sons Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens announced on Friday the Oscar-winning actress had died in Chelsea and Westminster hospital.
A statement from her children said: “She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday 27 September. 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.”
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their care and unstinting kindness during her final days.
“We thank you for all your kind messages and support and ask that you respect our privacy at this time.”
King Charles and Queen Camilla are ‘deeply saddened’ by the death of ‘national treasure’ Maggie Smith
King Charles has shared a message of condolence following the passing of Maggie Smith.
“My wife and I were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Dame Maggie Smith. As the curtain comes down on a national treasure, we join all those around the world in remembering with the fondest admiration and affection her many great performances and her warmth and wit that shone through both on and off the stage,” he said in a statement.
Inga Parkel27 September 2024 18:20
Downton Abbey thanks ‘British icon’ Maggie Smith for ‘everything’
The official Downton Abbey X account has shared a tribute to star Maggie Smith.
Inga Parkel27 September 2024 18:10
Maggie Smith fans remember actor’s ‘early years’ before Harry Potter and Downton Abbey
One Maggie Smith fan has shared an old clip from the actor’s 1975 appearance on The Carol Burnett Show.
“Everyone will be talking about Harry Potter and Downton, but early years Maggie Smith was so so good,” they praised.
Inga Parkel27 September 2024 18:00
Whoopi Goldberg shares Sister Act throwback in tribute to co-star Maggie Smith: ‘One of a kind’
Smith played Reverend Mother Superior in the hit 1992 comedy that starred Goldberg as a lounge singer who goes into witness protection in a convent.
On Instagram, Goldberg wrote: “Maggie Smith was a great woman and a brilliant actress. I still can’t believe I was lucky enough to work with the ‘one-of-a-kind’.
“My heartfelt condolences go out to the family… RIP.”
Goldberg remembered the late actor as ‘a great woman and a brilliant actress’
Inga Parkel27 September 2024 17:50
The View hosts pause show to pay tribute to ‘brilliant’ Maggie Smith
Whoopi Goldberg’s fellow The View co-hosts stepped in to pay tribute to her former Sister Act co-star Maggie Smith on the latest episode of the daytime talk show.
Smith starred alongside ‘The View’ co-host Whoopi Goldberg in the Sister Act film series
Inga Parkel27 September 2024 17:40
Rupert Grint’s Instagram profile picture takes on new meaning after Maggie Smith death
Since he first opened his Instagram account, Harry Potter star Rupert Grint’s profile picture has been a precious photo of Maggie Smith planting a kiss on his cheek.
Inga Parkel27 September 2024 17:30
Harry Potter fans share favorite Professor McGonagall scenes
Inga Parkel27 September 2024 17:20
Maggie Smith called ‘one of the greats’ as hilarious Harry Potter story goes viral after her death
Smith who played Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter series, told Norton in 2015 that she used to get noticed by a lot of “small people who said hello, which was nice”.
“A whole different lot of people know me because of it. It was like I’d never existed before,” she added. “One child asked me, ‘Were you really once a cat?’ and I heard myself say, ‘Pull yourself together, how could I have been!’”
‘It’s only since Downton that people seem to recognise me,’ the star once admitted
Inga Parkel27 September 2024 17:15
Maggie Smith shared brilliantly blunt reason she never watched Downton Abbey before her death
So open, in fact, that she once shared a hilariously blunt reason as to why she had never watched the series.
Icon of British film and television famously admitted to having never seen the ITV period drama
Inga Parkel27 September 2024 17:07
Dame Maggie’s most memorable scenes from acting career spanning 70 years
Alex Croft27 September 2024 16:57