December 22nd 2024.
According to reports, Dame Maggie Smith never quite believed just how cherished she was by fans and admirers. In a recent interview, her son Toby Stephens shared that his mother never allowed herself to fully embrace the love and admiration that surrounded her.
On September 27, at the age of 89, the beloved actress passed away after battling declining health for some time. Her sons announced the news, revealing that she passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones.
Despite her legendary status in British acting, with a career spanning decades and including iconic roles in Downton Abbey and Harry Potter, her son Toby admits that she never truly grasped just how highly regarded she was. "It's been incredibly moving for my family to see how universally loved and admired she was," he shared in an emotional interview with The Telegraph. "But that was something she never really allowed herself to believe. She was just like all of us, lacking in self-confidence."
For many younger generations, Dame Maggie Smith will forever be remembered as the fierce and wise Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter franchise. But to Toby and his family, she was simply their beloved mother. He revealed that while they knew she had lived a long and fulfilling life, her absence was still deeply felt. "It's been tough," he said. "She had been ill for a while and it was very hard to see that. But she was in her 90th year, she'd had a really good innings." He then added, "Purely on a selfish level, I miss having her in my life, being able to talk to her."
In November, the actress was laid to rest in a small, intimate ceremony attended by family. Toby, who was born in May 1969, is one of her two children and has followed in his mother's footsteps with a successful career in acting. He and his brother Chris Larkin announced their mother's passing in a joint statement, sharing their heartbreak and asking for privacy during this difficult time.
Toby is known for his roles in the James Bond film Die Another Day, the BBC adaptation of Jane Eyre, and the TV series Black Sails. He has also recently appeared in Netflix's Lost in Space and One Day. Despite his own successful acting career, Toby admits that he will deeply miss his mother's presence in his life. "She was an extraordinary mother and grandmother," he shared, "and we are devastated by her loss."
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