Maggie Smith tributes: Downton Abbey and Sister Act co-stars pay respect to Harry Potter legend
‘Downton Abbey’ co-star Hugh Bonneville says Oscar-winning Harry Potter actor was a ‘true legend’
Your support helps us to tell the story
My recent work focusing on Latino voters in Arizona has shown me how crucial independent journalism is in giving voice to underrepresented communities.
Your support is what allows us to tell these stories, bringing attention to the issues that are often overlooked. Without your contributions, these voices might not be heard.
Every dollar you give helps us continue to shine a light on these critical issues in the run up to the election and beyond
Eric Garcia
Washington Bureau Chief
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.
Downton Abbey thanks ‘British icon' Maggie Smith for ‘everything’
The official Downton Abbey X account has shared a tribute to star Maggie Smith.
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.
Whoopi Goldberg shares Sister Act throwback in tribute to co-star Maggie Smith: ‘One of a kind’
Whoopi Goldberg has paid tribute to her Sister Act co-star Dame Maggie Smith following her death at the age of 89.
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.”
Read more:
Goldberg remembered the late actor as ‘a great woman and a brilliant actress’
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.
Read more:
Smith starred alongside ‘The View’ co-host Whoopi Goldberg in the Sister Act film series
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.
Harry Potter fans share favorite Professor McGonagall scenes
Maggie Smith called ‘one of the greats’ as hilarious Harry Potter story goes viral after her death
An amusing Dame Maggie Smith anecdote about Harry Potter and Downton Abbey fans recognising her in public has resurfaced following her death, aged 89.
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!’”
Read more:
‘It’s only since Downton that people seem to recognise me,’ the star once admitted
Maggie Smith shared brilliantly blunt reason she never watched Downton Abbey before her death
Dame Maggie Smith was often open about having never seen her performance as the Dowager Countess of Grantham in ITV’s hit period drama, Downton Abbey.
So open, in fact, that she once shared a hilariously blunt reason as to why she had never watched the series.
Read more:
Icon of British film and television famously admitted to having never seen the ITV period drama
Dame Maggie's most memorable scenes from acting career spanning 70 years
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments