With a heavy heart, we bid farewell to the legendary Dame Maggie Smith, who passed away on September 27, 2024, at the age of 89. Beloved for portraying the sharp-tongued Dowager Countess of Grantham in Downton Abbey, Maggie Smith brought wit, grace, and an unforgettable presence to every role she played. Although she gained new fame from the show, she often expressed discomfort with the overwhelming attention it brought her.
A Private Person
A fiercely private person, Dame Maggie always preferred to let her work speak for itself rather than seek the spotlight. This resonates personally, as she once stayed at my relative’s rooming house during her stage appearances in Stratford in the 1970s. Even then, she was known for her humility and quiet focus, which defined her career and endeared her to those who met her.
Her talent shone brightly on stage and screen, captivating audiences worldwide. From her celebrated performances with the Royal Shakespeare Company to her beloved role as Professor McGonagall in Harry Potter, Dame Maggie’s legacy is unparalleled.
To honour her remarkable career, here’s a collection of tributes and reflections from the press and her colleagues:
Read more about her incredible life and career below:
- PBS Masterpiece: Remembering Actress Dame Maggie Smith
- Hello!: Downton Abbey and Harry Potter Star Dame Maggie Smith died at aged 89 – family releasing heartbreaking statement as tributes pour in.
- The Hollywood Reporter: Critic’s Appreciation: Maggie Smith, Mistress of Scintillating Wit and Withering Disdain
- Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes Dame Maggie Smith was blessing in my life
- Downton Abbey stars’ sweetest stories about the late Maggie Smith
- London Theatre: Dame Maggie Smith — a matchless talent in the West End and on screen
- Salon: The prime of Dame Maggie Smith left us a portrait of what it means to be a lady, upper and lowercase
- West End theatres go dark in honour of Dame Maggie Smith
- Why Maggie Smith Didn’t Like Her Most Popular Roles
- Daily Mail: Dame Maggie Smith’s heartwarming final picture: How Downton Abbey star thrilled diners at lunch in London just days before she passed away
- Impatiently she snapped: ‘I am f***ing Maggie Smith
Tributes from Colleagues
- Judi Dench speaks of grief after Maggie Smith’s death
- Lady Carnovron: Exit Stage Left
- Vulture: Daniel Radcliffe, Whoopi Goldberg, and More Remember Maggie Smith
- Digital Spy: Downton Abbey’s Hugh Bonneville leads tributes to Maggie Smith
- Variety: Downton Abbey’ Creator Honors Maggie Smith: ‘Working With Her Has Been the Greatest Privilege of My Career’
