In a statement from her sons as shared by Smith’s publicist, Clair Dobbs: “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. 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.”

In 1979, Dame Maggie was awarded a second Academy Award, this time for Best Supporting Actress, for her performance in Neil Simon’s California Suite. She has also received British Academy Film Awards for her work, including for her roles in 1985’s A Room with a View and 1987’s The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne.

Photo: JPI

Smith was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1990, and from then on was widely known as “Dame Maggie Smith”  Audiences got to see the widely-acclaimed actress in the US and the UK, once again when she took on the role of Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham in Downton Abbey. The acclaimed period drama about the British aristocracy ran for six seasons, 2010-2015 in the UK and into the beginning of 2016 in the US. She received three Primetime Emmy Awards for the role, and returned to reprise the part for the Downton Abbey 2019 feature-length film.

Photo: BBC

Several of Smith’s Downton Abbey co-stars have shared their grief, including Michelle Dockery (ex-Lady Mary Crawley) who expressed,”There was no one quite like Maggie. I feel tremendously lucky to have known such a maverick. She will be deeply missed and my thoughts are with her family.”

Hugh Bonneville (ex-Robert Crawley) who played Smith’s on-screen son in the series, wrote, “Anyone who ever shared a scene with Maggie will attest to her sharp eye, sharp wit and formidable talent. She was a true legend of her generation and thankfully will live on in so many magnificent screen performances. My condolences to her boys and wider family.”

Throughout her life, Smith was married twice. Once to Robert Stephens, and later to playwright Beverley Cross, from 1975 until his death in 1998. She is survived by her two sons, Toby and Chris.

Share your remembrances and your condolences for the great Dame Maggie Smith via the comment section below.

Finally, Downton Abbey fans get a preview of the upcoming motion picture that is set for release in theatres on September 20th.

What we know is that the The film is set in 1927 and the plot revolves around the King and Queen of England coming to the estate for a visit and so … the Crawleys must prepare their arrival.  In fact, they have to bring back Mr. Carson to help!

Featured in the trailer are series stars, who are also back for the film: Hugh Bonneville, Laura Carmichael, Michelle Dockery, Matthew Goode, Joanne Froggatt, Jim Carter and Maggie Smith.

Series creator Julian Fellowes wrote the script and Michael Engler will serve as director. Engler directed the two-hours series finale.

As fans know, Downton Abbey ran on PBS Masterpiece for six seasons here in the U.S.

Check out the trailer, and then let us know if you are excited to see the movie? Comment below.

Now here’s a huge teaser that will get you wanting to see more!  Those of us who loved the British period soap opera, Downton Abbey, which came to a conclusion after its sixth season on PBS here in the United States, will finally get their wish when the film version hits in 2019.

As previously reported, the series executive producer Gareth Naeme said about the film,  “We aim to deliver everything that one would hope for as Downton comes to the big screen.”

Look for the film to land in movie theatres on Friday, September 20th, 2019, with it debuting internationally the week prior on Friday, September 13th.

Most of the cast is intact including: Hugh Bonneville, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter, Brendan Coyle, Michelle Dockery, Kevin Doyle, Joanne Froggatt, Matthew Goode, Harry Hadden-Paton, David Haig, Geraldine James, Robert James-Collier, Simon Jones, Allen Leech, Phyllis Logan, Elizabeth McGovern, Sophie McShera, Tuppence Middleton, Stephen Campbell Moore, Lesley Nicol, Kate Phillips, Maggie Smith, Imelda Staunton and Penelope Wilton.

Julian Fellowes once again writes the script for the film for the characters he created for the TV series.

Now check out the first trailer below, when just hearing that memorable opening theme song, it brought us back to the drama and the romance of Downton Abbey.

Let us know if you are thrilled to know that the movie is set for release …. and if you are looking forward to seeing what happens to the Crawleys and others in the next chapter of their story when the movie comes your way via the comment section below.