Dame Maggie Smith latest: Tributes flood in for Harry Potter and Downton Abbey star following death aged 89

Dame Maggie Smith did not hold back when in came to discussing her role in the popular TV drama Downtown Abbey.

The 89-year-old actress, who passed away today, admitted in 2015 she had never actually watched a single episode of the show.

Eventually though she did get round to it after she got a bit more time on her hands.

Let’s take a look at some photographs from Dame Maggie’s illustrious career which started on stage as a teenager in the 1950s right the way up through to 2023.

Dame Maggie Smith rehearsing for Peter Pan with Dave Allen in 1973

Taken in 1997 at the Evening Standards Drama Awards

She was presented with a best supporting actress Bafta by Ralph Fiennes in 2000 for her role in the film Tea With Mussolini

Dame Maggie arriving at the New York premiere of Gosford Park in 2001

Dame Maggie posed for pictures 12 days before she turned 87 in December 2015

The former prime minister Rishi Sunak has posted his condolences on social media, describing Dame Maggie as ‘icon’ of the stage and screen.

Gyles Brandreth was among the first to pay tribute to Dame Maggie describing her as ‘one of a kind in every way’ following her death with a post on X.

The saddest news: the death of Dame Maggie Smith marks the end of a golden era and a quite extraordinary life.

She was a truly great actress, ‘one of the greats’ and simply the best company: wise, witty, waspish, wonderful. One of a kind in every way and consequently irreplaceable.

Born in Ilford, Essex, on December 28, 1934, Dame Maggie was an internationally recognised actress for much of her life after playing the fanatical teacher Jean Brodie in The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie.

She also won over Harry Potter fans later in life, when she appeared in the film series as the quick-witted, kind and formidable Professor McGonagall.

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.

She was nominated six times at the Academy Awards, two for a leading role and four for supporting, and won twice for her portrayals of Jean Brodie and Diana Barrie in the 1978 film California Suite.

Dame Maggie Smith at the Oscars

• 42nd Academy Awards: Best Actress in a Leading Role, win, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969)
• 51st Academy Awards: Best Actress in a Supporting Role, win, California Suite (1978)

• 45th Academy Awards: Best Actress in a Leading Role, nomination, Travels with My Aunt (1972)
• 38th Academy Awards: Best Actress in a Supporting Role, nomination, for Othello (1965)
• 59th Academy Awards: Best Actress in a Supporting Role, nomination, for A Room with a View (1986)
• 74th Academy Awards: Best Actress in a Supporting Role, nomination, for Gosford Park (2001)

Dame Maggie Smith has died in hospital, her sons Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens said.

In a statement issued via their publicist, they said:

It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith.

She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday 27th 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.

Oscar-winning actress Dame Maggie Smith died in hospital this morning aged 89, her sons Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens have revealed.

In a statement issued via their publicist, they said: ‘It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith.

‘She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday 27th September.

Hello and welcome to MailOnline’s live coverage following the death of Dame Maggie Smith at the age of 89.

The Harry Potter and Downton Abbey star passed away peacefully at hospital early today surrounded by her family.

The two-time Academy Award winner was one of Britain’s most illustrious actresses with a career on stage and screen spanning seven decades.

Stick with our coverage as we bring you the latest tributes to Dame Maggie