Oscar-winning actress, Dame Maggie Smith is dead

Award-winning British acting legend, Dame Maggie Smith is dead.

She died in hospital on Friday 27 September at the age of 89.

Her sons Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens made the announcement in a statement today.

“It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith,” the statement partly read.

“She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday 27th September.”

Dame Maggie, who grew up in Oxford where she began acting as a teenager, won Oscar for “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” in 1969.

She gained new fans in the 21st century as the dowager Countess of Grantham in “Downton Abbey” and Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter films.