Dame Maggie Smith's heartbreaking plea to son eight years before death over health fears

Dame Maggie Smith made it clear she had no plans to slow down and retire just years before her death.

The British acting icon's death at the age of 89 was announced on Friday, leaving her family and fans in mourning. The acclaimed Oscar winner died peacefully in hospital on Friday morning, surrounded by her loved ones. Maggie's heartbroken son's were the one's to break the sad news.

Harry Potter actress Maggie shared two sons, actors Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens, with her first husband Robert Stephens. Speaking in 2016, Chris offered some insight into how his mother was handling ageing and revealed her wish for if she ever developed dementia.

Maggie suffered multiple health issues throughout her later years, including a heart scare in 2012, breast cancer in 2007 and having an autoimmune disorder that affected her eyes. But the award-winning Downton Abbey actress made sure her loved ones knew she'd rather head to Dignitas than languish in pain.

In Maggie Smith: A Biography, written by film critic Michael Coveney, Maggie's actor son Chris Larkin: "There's no chance of her ever going into a home. She's one of those who says, 'Take me to Switzerland if anything starts going south and I can't remember your names'."

Chris and his brother Toby thanked NHS staff at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their dedicated care and compassion as they announced their mother's death on Friday afternoon. Releasing a statement through their publicist, the siblings said: "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."

Praising their late mother's character, they added: "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."

Concluding, they requested privacy and communicated their appreciation for the outpouring of support, saying: "We thank you for all your kind messages and support and ask that you respect our privacy at this time.",

Throughout her illustrious career, Dame Maggie won numerous awards, including two Academy Awards for her roles in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and California Suite. She also received Oscar nominations for her performances in Othello, Travels with My Aunt, Room With A View, and Gosford Park.

Dame Maggie gained a massive following for her iconic roles as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter film series and Violet Crawley in the ITV period drama Downton Abbey. She reprised her role in the spin-off films released in 2019 and 2022. Despite her immense success, Dame Maggie remained private about her personal life and preferred to avoid the spotlight, often skipping awards ceremonies. She had not announced any plans to retire, and her last film, The Miracle Club, was released just last year, featuring an all-star cast, including Kathy Bates and Laura Linney.

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