Harry Potter star Dame Maggie Smith dead at 89

Beloved UK actor Dame Maggie Smith, best known for the Harry Potter films and Downton Abbey, has died at the age of 89.

The news was confirmed by her family in a statement earlier today. Her sons Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin 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. 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."

Dame Maggie Smith had a long and illustrious career spanning film, stage, and television, with her very first film appearance dating back to 1955 in. But she was perhaps best known to a generation as Transfiguration expert Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter films, a role she embodied for well over a decade.

Smith also played Violet Crawley in the hit series Downton Abbey, and starred in a number of critically acclaimed and popular films over the years, including Hook, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Death On The Nile, and Clash Of The Titans.