Actress Dame Maggie Smith has passed away at the age of 89.

BBC News says this was confirmed in a statement from her sons Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin which 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.”

Considered one of the UK’s most recognisable and prolific actresses, she is best known for her roles as Professor McGonagall in the “Harry Potter” films and Violet Crawley in “Downton Abbey”.

Over the course of her career on stage and on screen, she received numerous accolades including two Academy Awards, five BAFTA Awards, four Emmy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and a Tony Award.