Dame Maggie Smith's health struggles and candid reflections on mortality
dailyrecord.co.ukDame Maggie Smith, the iconic theatre and acting legend, had come to terms with her mortality before her peaceful passing. Th e Downton Abbey star, who passed away today at the age of 89, first gained fame for her performance in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie in 1969, which earned her her first Academy Award.
Over the decades, she became a beloved national treasure in the UK, particularly known for her portrayal of Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter series, reports the Mirror.
Her sons, Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin, announced her death, sharing that she passed away peacefully in a hospital. "We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the wonderful staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their care and unwavering kindness during her final days," they said in a statement. "Thank you for your messages of support, and we kindly ask for privacy during this difficult time." Maggie had been open about her health struggles over the years, notably her diagnosis of breast cancer at the age of 74.
She once described chemotherapy as a "hideous" ordeal, saying it made her feel worse than the illness itself. "I used to go to treatment alone, while nearly everyone else had someone with them," she recalled. "I wouldn’t have liked that.
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