Dame Maggie Smith dies aged 89 – Fans startled by her final public appearance

Dame Maggie Smith dies aged 89 – Fans startled by her final public appearance

Dame Maggie Smith, Downtown Abbey and Harry Potter star, died aged 89, her family confirms.

A two time Oscar winner and a legend of the stage and screen, Smith was regarded one of the greatest actors of her time. She started her acting career on stage at the Oxford Playhouse and went on to make a name for herself and remained under the limelight for a stunning number of years.

The news of her sudden passing was shared by her two sons, Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin.
“She died quietly this morning, Friday, September 27, in the hospital. A deeply private individual, she passed away surrounded by loved ones,” their joint statement read.

“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,” it continued.

“We thank you for all your kind messages and support and ask that you respect our privacy at this time,” Smith’s sons concluded.

Throughout her long and rich career, Smith appeared in feature films such as Sister Act, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and more recently Thaddeus O’Sullivan’s The Miracle Club.

Back in 2009, Smith disclosed with the public that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. She opened up about receiving treatments and filming scenes as Professor Minerva McGonagall in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince at the same time.

“I used to go to treatment on my own, and nearly everybody else was with somebody,” she told Tim Teeman. “I wouldn’t have liked that. Why would you want to make anybody sit in those places?”

She had also opened up about her own mortality. “I was relieved to be the age I was because by now you feel like it’s all over anyway.

“That’s why I hated seeing young people receiving treatment [at the Royal Marsden Hospital, London]. I couldn’t bear that, it didn’t seem fair. To be honest, you feel so ghastly you wouldn’t mind dying a lot of the time.”

Smith was married twice. Her second husband, screenwriter Beverley Cross, whom she considered the great love of her life, passed away in 1998, leaving her mourning his loss until her own passing.

She wasn’t known as someone who was spotted in public often, so her last public appearance left her fans startled.
It was at the Wimbledon men’s singles final that Smith was spotted in public. Dressed elegantly, in a navy blue shirtdress with a stylish dot pattern on it accessorized with a blue jacket and black leather heels, she stunned many.

The photos of her and her stunning choice of outfit, which she had completed with a pink lipstick, received plenty of comments. “So elegant!” one person commented. “You [look] so beautiful,” another added.

Following her passing, tributes came pouring in. Prime Minister Keir Starmer was among the first to share his condolences, saying Smith “was beloved by so many for her great talent, becoming a true national treasure whose work will be cherished for generations to come.”

Hugh Bonneville, fellow Downtown Abbey co-star, said: “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.”

Smith’s passing represents an immense loss for the acting world. May she rest in peace.

Meg Ryan’s Shocking Transformation: See How She Looks Now After Quitting Acting!

Meg Ryan was born in Fairfield, Connecticut, in 1961. Her parents got divorced when she was a teenager, which made life tough for her.

But Meg’s charm and talent shone through, and she became a big star in Hollywood. You might remember her from movies like Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail.

People loved Meg Ryan because she was both pretty and kind. She became known as “America’s sweetheart” because of her popularity.

After becoming famous, Meg Ryan chose to step back from acting and spend more time with her family. This decision came after her well-known relationship with actor Russell Crowe, which caused a lot of attention until they broke up for good.

Because of this, Meg decided to take a break from being in the public eye to avoid more issues.

Meg Ryan’s acting journey began while she was studying journalism at the University of Connecticut and New York University. She started acting in commercials.

Later, Meg starred in the movie Innerspace, where she met her future husband, Dennis Quaid.

Meg Ryan made her acting debut in the movie Top Gun, where she played the wife of Nick “Goose” Bradshaw, played by Anthony Edwards. Meg and Anthony had a romantic relationship while filming, which lasted for some time.

Director Joe Dante thought Meg’s success in Armed and Dangerous, where she starred alongside John Candy, was a big deal for her career. That’s why her role in Top Gun was important.

Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid, her co-star from Innerspace, felt an instant connection. They described it as feeling like a bolt of lightning. But after ten years of marriage, they got divorced.

There were rumors that Meg Ryan was dating her co-star Russell Crowe before her divorce. Meg said her marriage ended because of her husband’s affair, not because of Crowe.

Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid seemed like a perfect couple, but their marriage ended after eight years. In an interview, Meg talked about how her husband’s affair hurt her.

Even though Meg said Russell Crowe wasn’t to blame for her breakup, Dennis Quaid disagreed. He said he couldn’t believe she kept talking about their relationship in public.

While Meg Ryan said their marriage wasn’t healthy, Dennis Quaid said they still loved each other and had good memories of their 13-year marriage.

Even though they got divorced, they still support each other publicly. They also have a son named Jack, who’s now in the movie business. You might recognize him from The Hunger Games.

Meg Ryan has been acting for a long time and has been in many movies, like When Harry Met Sally.

In 2006, Meg Ryan decided to grow her family and adopted a 14-month-old girl from China named Daisy.

Meg said that even though adopting Daisy was different from having her son Jack, she still felt the same love and connection.

Meg Ryan hasn’t been in the spotlight much lately because she took a break from acting. But her friends say she’s thinking about coming back to Hollywood.

Even though she’s 60 years old, Meg still looks youthful and radiant. We’re excited to see her on the big screen again soon!