King Charles leads tributes to 'national treasure' Dame Maggie Smith after 'true legend' dies aged 89

27 September 2024, 17:18 | Updated: 28 September 2024, 01:03

Oscar winner Dame Maggie Smith died in hospital on Friday, her sons said in a statement.

The legendary actress's career spanned several decades, first appearing on the stage as a girl of 18 in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.

She emerged as an international star with an Oscar-winning performance as the fanatical teacher Jean Brodie in The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie.

King Charles shared a touching message remembering the actress, saying: "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."

Dame Maggie's Downton Abbey co-star, Hugh Bonneville, branded her a "true legend of her generation".

He added: "Anyone who ever shared a scene with Maggie will attest to her sharp eye, sharp wit and formidable talent."

Downton Abbey actor Dan Stevens, who played Matthew Crawley in the TV drama, said Dame Maggie was "truly one of the greats" on Instagram.

Read more: Dame Maggie Smith dies aged 89: Tributes to legendary Harry Potter and Downton Abbey star

Read more: From Hollywood to Hogwarts: The seven-decade career of legendary actress Maggie Smith

Daniel Radcliffe remembered her as a "fierce intellect" with a "gloriously sharp tongue".

"The first time I met Maggie Smith I was nine years old and we were reading through scenes for David Copperfield, which was my first job.," he said in a statement.

"I knew virtually nothing about her other than that my parents were awestruck at the fact that I would be working with her.

"The other thing I knew about her was that she was a dame, so the first thing I asked her when we met was 'would you like me to call you Dame?', at which she laughed and said something to the effect of 'don't be ridiculous!'.

"I remember feeling nervous to meet her and then her putting me immediately at ease."

Radcliffe said Dame Maggie was "incredibly kind to me on that shoot, and then I was lucky enough to go on working with her for another 10 years on the Harry Potter films".

He continued: "She was a fierce intellect, a gloriously sharp tongue, could intimidate and charm in the same instant and was, as everyone will tell you, extremely funny.

"I will always consider myself amazingly lucky to have been able to work with her, and to spend time around her on set.

"The word legend is overused but if it applies to anyone in our industry then it applies to her. Thank you Maggie."

Emma Watson, who played Hermione Granger opposite Dame Maggie as Professor McGonagall, said: "When I was younger I had no idea of Maggie's legend, the woman I was fortunate enough to share space with.

"It is only as I've become an adult that I've come to appreciate that I shared the screen with a true definition of greatness.

"She was real, honest, funny and self-honouring.

"Maggie, there are a lot of male professors and by God you held your own."

Whoopi Goldberg said she felt "lucky" to have worked alongside her in Sister Act, where Dame Maggie played Reverend Mother Superior.

The US actress shared an old picture on Instagram of the two on set, dressed as nuns, describing her as a "great woman".

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Rob Lowe, who appeared with Dame Maggie in 1993 drama Suddenly, Last Summer, referred to his late co-star as a "lion".

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he wrote: "Saddened to hear Dame Maggie Smith has passed. I had the unforgettable experience of working with her; sharing a two-shot was like being paired with a lion.

"She could eat anyone alive, and often did. But funny, and great company. And suffered no fools. We will never see another. God speed, Ms. Smith!"

Kristin Scott Thomas said Dame Maggie "saw through the nonsense and razzmatazz" of acting, and "had a sense of humour and wit that could reduce me to a blithering puddle of giggles".

She starred opposite the actress in the 2014 drama My Old Lady and wrote on Instagram: "So very, very sad to know she has gone. She was a true inspiration. She took acting very seriously but saw through the nonsense and razzmatazz.

"She really didn't want to deal with that. She had a sense of humour and wit that could reduce me to a blithering puddle of giggles. And she did not have patience with fools."

Thomas added that you "had to be a bit careful", but she "absolutely adored her", called her comedic timing "perfection" and vulnerable roles "heartbreaking".

She added: "The last time I saw her she was very cross about being old. 'Maddening', I think she said."

TV presenter Gyles Brandreth described her as "wise, witty, waspish, wonderful".

Arts charity BAFTA have also paid tribute, saying she was a "legend of British stage and screen".

"It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith," her family's statement read.

"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."