Veteran British actor Maggie Smith dies aged 89: family / Photo: © AFP
-
Wolff says Russell will be at Mercedes next season
-
Keys beats Maria to clinch third Eastbourne title
-
Djokovic inspired by Serena as he targets history at Wimbledon
-
Thousands ride through Rome as Vespa celebrates 80 years
-
Stokes falls cheaply as England collapse in New Zealand decider
-
Sinner ready for Wimbledon defence despite lack of time on grass
-
Russell bounces back to beat Antonelli in final practice
-
Records tumble as European heatwave moves east
-
Iran says US violated peace deal as both sides trade fire
-
England, Portugal eye top spots as World Cup group stages wrap up
-
Injured Australian pair Leckie, Italiano out of World Cup
-
US, Iran trade strikes putting new strain on Middle East truce
-
Farmers fear drought as Italy's longest river runs dry
-
Thousands expected as Vespa celebrates 80 years in Rome
-
Budapest Pride to push for equality after reversed ban
-
Pino, Williams injuries mar Spain's World Cup progress
-
World Cup fans get taste of American life -- at the mall
-
'Struggle continues' in Bolivia's Morales heartland
-
World Cup turns New York's Times Square into global fan hub
-
Bielsa accepts blame for World Cup exit, but says Uruguay deserved more
-
Lebanon, Israel and US sign trilateral framework pact
-
Uruguay crash out of World Cup as Spain avoid Argentina clash
-
Cape Verde extend World Cup fairytale to set up Argentina meeting
-
Swiss glaciers facing drastic loss from heatwave: expert
-
Messi to start dead-rubber World Cup group match on bench
-
Trump unveils new US passport -- with picture of himself
-
US and Iran trade strikes putting new strain on Mideast ceasefire
-
Hat-trick hero Dembele displays Ballon d'Or brilliance for France at World Cup
-
Maple Leafs make teen McKenna top pick in NHL Draft
-
Injured England defender James to miss Panama game at World Cup
-
California appeals court orders Weinstein resentencing for sex assault
-
Norway coach defends decision to leave out Haaland, Odegaard against France
-
Scheffler fires 60 to grab 36-hole PGA Travelers lead
-
Movie theaters are allies for streamers like us, Apple exec says
-
Austria's Rangnick shuts down conspiracy talk ahead of Algeria World Cup clash
-
DR Congo must take risks to keep World Cup 'dream alive', says Desabre
-
Should we fear an AI bubble bust?
-
Jangoo, Chase keep West Indies in touch against Sri Lanka
-
US strikes Iran sites after cargo ship attack
-
Dembele hat-trick as France swat Norway, Senegal stay alive
-
Gueye double keeps Senegal's World Cup hopes alive
-
Dembele hits hat-trick as France thrash second-string Norway at World Cup
-
US stocks recover from tech tremors as oil prices fall
-
Globalization isn't dead, just 'transformed,' says IMF chief economist
-
OpenAI restricts limited release of new model to US only
-
Israel and Lebanon hail Washington deal, rejected by Hezbollah
-
Scheffler fires 60 to grab early PGA Travelers lead
-
Usyk -- pugilist who kept Ukrainian spirits high in darkest days
-
Trump blasts 'godless' Democrats in incendiary speech to evangelicals
-
Orange wave: Dutch World Cup dream gathers pace
Veteran British actor Maggie Smith dies aged 89: family
Oscar-winning British actor Maggie Smith, a star of stage and screen for more than seven decades, died in hospital in London on Friday, her sons announced.
"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," Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens said in a statement.
Smith -- a legend of British film and theatre who won a Tony, two Oscars, three Golden Globes and five Baftas -- achieved late-career international fame for her depiction of the Dowager Countess of Grantham Violet Crawley in the hit television series "Downton Abbey".
Born on December 28, 1934, the daughter of an Oxford professor of pathology, Smith made her stage debut in 1952 with the Oxford University Dramatic Society.
She won a best actress Oscar for "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" in 1969 Oscars and for best supporting actress for her depiction of Desdemona in "Othello" in the same year.
"An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end," her sons said.
"She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother," they said, adding their thanks for all the "kind messages and support" they had received.
F.Fehr--VB
