King Charles, Paul McCartney, Viola Davis, More Pay Tribute to Maggie Smith: ‘A National Treasure’
In the hours following the news of Maggie Smith’s death at age 89, numerous of the two-time Oscar winner’s friends, including King Charles, Whoopi Goldberg, Viola Davis, and the actress’ Harry Potter castmates, have shared touching tributes to the performer on social media.
Her sons Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin revealed her death in a statement to Rolling Stone Friday, saying she died in the hospital with “friends and family” at her side, who were “devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother.” No cause of death was given.
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In a statement posted to the Royal Family’s X account, King Charles wrote that he and Queen Camilla were “deeply saddened” by Smith’s death. “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 screen,” the King of England wrote.
Whoopi Goldberg — who starred alongside Smith in two Sister Act films and previously said she’d only reprise that film role with Smith — called her “one of a kind” on Instagram. “Maggie Smith was a great woman and a brilliant actress. I still can’t believe I was lucky enough to work with the ‘one-of-a-kind,’” Goldberg wrote. “My heartfelt condolences go out to the family…RIP.”
Viola Davis commended Smith for “defying the expectations of age” in a touching tribute. “The end of an era of the sheer definition of what it means to be an actor. You created characters that clung to us, moved us, entertained us……made us look within,” she wrote in part. “You were greatness personified Dame Maggie Smith.”
Harry Potter protagonist Daniel Radcliffe issued a sweet statement, remembering the first time she met the actress well before the wizard film franchise, saying he would “always consider myself amazingly lucky to have been able to work with her.”
“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,” he wrote, later adding, “The word legend is overused but if it applies to anyone in our industry then it applies to her. Thank you Maggie.”
Another Harry Potter co-star, Bonnie Wright, who portrayed Ginny Weasly in the franchise, posted a statement on her Instagram, writing, “Our dearly loved and revered head of Gryffindor house ?? you will be so missed by the Harry Potter community.”
Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter that “Maggie Smith was a truly great actress, and we were more than fortunate to be part of the last act in her stellar career. She was a joy to write for, subtle, many-layered, intelligent, funny and heart-breaking. Working with her has been the greatest privilege of my career, and I will never forget her.”
George Takei remembered the actress’ roles as Dowager Countess in Downtown Abbey and Professor McGonagall in Harry Potter, calling her a “grand star of screen and stage.” In a brief post, Mia Farrow called the actress “irreplaceable, magnificent,” and Piers Morgan called her a “magnificent lady” who was “entertaining, sharp and witty off screen as she was [on] it.”
Rob Lowe also described his experience working with the actress on the TV adaptation of Suddenly, Last Summer as an “unforgettable experience.”
“Sharing a two-shot was like being paired with a lion. She could eat anyone alive, and often did. But funny, and great company,” he added. “And suffered no fools. We will never see another.”
Paul McCartney also paid tribute to Smith Saturday on social media, “She was a great person with a wicked sense of humour whom over the years it has been my pleasure to know.”
Smith received Damehood for her contribution to the British stage and screen in her lifetime and won the Academy Award two times during a career that spanned over 70 years. Following her first Best Actress in a Supporting Role Oscar nomination in 1966 for Othello, Smith won Best Actress in a Lead Role four years later for 1969’s The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.
Smith would receive four more Oscar nominations over the ensuing decades, winning once more for Best Supporting Actress for 1978’s California Suite. Her final Oscar nod came in that same category for 2001’s Gosford Park.
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