British stage and screen icon Maggie Smith has died at 89 years old.

Her sons Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin broke the news in a statement to the BBC: “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.”

Maggie Smith was best known for ‘Downton Abbey’ as Violet Crawley and Professor Minerva McGonagall in all 8 ‘Harry Potter’ films from Warner Bros.

Over her incredibly diverse career, she was awarded two Oscars, three Emmys and countless stage awards.

In 1990, Smith was named Dame Commander of the British Empire, one of only a handful of her generation, including Judi Dench and Diana Rigg.

Maggie Smith was born Margaret Natalie Smith in Ilford, Essex, 1934, and attended the Oxford School for Girls before studying theater at the Oxford Playhouse School. She was part of many theatre productions including ‘On the Fringe’ before joining Broadway show ‘New Faces of 1956.’

In the 2000s, she developed more of her craft in films like ‘Gosford Park,’ ‘Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood,’ ‘Becoming Jane,’ and ‘Nanny McPhee Returns.’ She was introduced to global audiences with her iconic portrayal of J.K. Rowling’s book character Minerva McGonagall in the ‘Harry Potter’ movie series. At age 74, was diagnosed with breast cancer (during the Harry Potter series) and made a full recovery, soon returning to the screen.

She will forever be an icon and legendary artist of stage and screen.

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