Oscar award-winning actress Dame Maggie Smith has died in hospital at the age of 89.

The much loved star was best known for playing Violet Crawley in TV series Downton Abbey and Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter film series. 

Her sons Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens said she died in hospital this morning (Friday, September 27).

In a statement issued via their publicist, they 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, September 27.

“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.

“We thank you for all your kind messages and support and ask that you respect our privacy at this time.”

Maggie Smith he was nominated for six Academy Awards and won Best Actress for the title role in the 1969 film The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and Best Supporting Actress for playing Diana Barrie in the 1978 film California Suite. 

She also picked up three Supporting Actress Primetime Emmy Awards in 2011, 2012 and 2016 for her role in Downton Abbey. 

In 2014, she was made a Dame by Queen Elizabeth II in 1990 for contributions to the Arts and a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour for services to drama.