Harry Potter star Dame Maggie Smith has died in hospital, her family has confirmed.

Dame Maggie’s sons Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens confirmed that the “extraordinary mother and grandmother” passed away this morning aged 89.

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 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, who lived in Pulborough, is best known for her roles in the Harry Potter films and Downton Abbey TV series.

She played Violet Crawley on the TV series, and subsequent two films, of Downton Abbey and Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter film series. 

Smith was a celebrated actress having won the Triple Crown of Acting, a term used to talk about those who have won an Academy Award, Emmy Award and Tony Award.. 

For film she was nominated for six Oscars, winning 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. 

For theatre, she won a Tony for Best Actress in a Play for Lettice and Lovage in 1990, and for television, she picked up three Supporting Actress Primetime Emmy Awards in 2011, 2012 and 2016 for her role in Downton Abbey. 

Alongside that, she also won a Lead Actress Emmy as Mrs. Emily Delahunty for the miniseries My House in Umbria in 2003. 

Smith 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 in 2014.