Dame Maggie Smith, the revered theatre and acting legend, has sadly passed away at the age of 89. The star of Downton Abbey, who became a household name following her Oscar-winning performance in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie in 1969, was also beloved for her portrayal of Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter series. She had previously come to terms with her mortality after a long and illustrious career that cemented her status as one of the UK’s most cherished national treasures.
Her sons, Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin, confirmed her peaceful passing in hospital. In a heartfelt statement, they expressed their gratitude: “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,” adding, “We thank you for all your kind messages and support and ask that you respect our privacy at this time.”
Dame Maggie had been candid about her health struggles, including her battle with breast cancer diagnosed when she was 74. She described undergoing chemotherapy as a ‘hideous’ ordeal, which she felt was worse than the cancer itself. Reflecting on her treatment experience, she shared, “I used to go to treatment on my own, and nearly everybody else was with somebody,” and added, “I wouldn’t have liked that. Why would you want to make anybody sit in those places?”
Maggie discovered a lump on her breast, leading to a swift diagnosis and treatment. She said the process was so rapid that she didn’t have ‘time to think about anything’. Fortunately, she received the all-clear from doctors and continued with her acting career. In fact, she filmed Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince during her treatment – and joked that getting the wig to fit was easy. “I was like a boiled egg,” she said.
In addition to her cancer battle, Maggie was diagnosed with Graves disease, an autoimmune disorder that can sometimes lead to serious complications including heart failure. At just 33 years-old while working on the play ‘Lettice’, the actress began to experience a range of unusual symptoms including irritated and bulging eyes that created a ‘frightening’ appearance.
According to the Express, Maggie said the condition, which developed after a cycling accident that broke her arm, left her feeling like she’d been in a “fog of despair”. She underwent radiotherapy and optical surgery for the condition, taking a year-long break from the public eye to recover.
Maggie came to terms with her mortality, reflecting in 2009: “I was relieved to be the age I was, because by now you feel like it’s all over anyway,” and added, “That’s why I hated seeing young people receiving treatment [at the Royal Marsden Hospital, London]. I couldn’t bear that, it didn’t seem fair. To be honest, you feel so ghastly you wouldn’t mind dying a lot of the time.”