Connect with us

Published

2 years ago

on

By

Dame Maggie Smith Oscar-winning Harry Potter and Downton Abbey Star Dies, Aged 89—-In the Harry Potter films, Dame Maggie played the acerbic Professor Minerva McGonagall, famous for her pointed witch’s hat and stern manner with the young wizards at Hogwarts.

In hit ITV drama Downton Abbey, she played Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham, the grand matriarch who excelled at withering one-liners through the show’s six series.

A statement from 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.”

They thanked “the wonderful staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their care and unstinting kindness during her final days”.

They added: “We thank you for all your kind messages and support and ask that you respect our privacy at this time.”

Tributes were also paid by her co-stars.

Hugh Bonneville, who appeared in Downton Abbey, said: “Anyone who ever shared a scene with Maggie will attest to her sharp eye, sharp wit and formidable talent.

“She was a true legend of her generation and thankfully will live on in so many magnificent screen performances. My condolences to her boys and wider family.”

Dame Maggie also reprised her role for the two Downton Abbey films.

In 2022’s Downton Abbey: A New Era, her character died of the illness she revealed at the end of the 2019 film, to the huge upset of her family and friends.

Downton followed the success of 2002 period drama Gosford Park, which earned Dame Maggie both Oscar and Bafta nominations for playing Dowager Countess of Trentham.

In his statement on Friday, the prime minister said Dame Maggie “introduced us to new worlds with the countless stories she acted over her long career”.

“Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones. May she rest in peace,” he wrote.

Dame Kristin Scott-Thomas, who starred alongside Dame Maggie in 2005’s Keeping Mum and 2014’s My Old Lady, said she “took acting very seriously but saw through the nonsense and razzmatazz”.

“She really didn’t want to deal with that,” Dame Kristin added.

“She had a sense of humour and wit that could reduce me to a blithering puddle of giggles. And she did not have patience with fools. So you had to be a bit careful. I absolutely adored her.

“The last time I saw her, she was very cross about being old. ‘Maddening’ I think she said. Much loved, much admired and irreplaceable.”

A National Theatre spokesperson said her career “spanned the theatrical, film and television world without equal”.

Praising her stage performances, the statement added: “She will forever be remembered as one of the greatest actors this country has had the inestimable pleasure of witnessing.”

Bafta added that she was a “legend of British stage and screen”, praising her five competitive Bafta wins, plus the special award and fellowship she received from the organisation.

Dame Maggie’s career spanned eight decades, with early acclaim coming when she gained her first Bafta nomination for Nowhere to Go in 1958.

In 1963, she was offered the part of Desdemona in Othello at the National Theatre by Laurence Olivier, and two years later it was made into a film and Smith was nominated for her first Oscar.

The actress’s other memorable roles included 1985 Merchant Ivory film A Room With a View, in which she played the chaperone Charlotte Barlett, accompanying Helen Bonham Carter’s Lucy Honeychurch to Italy.

The role earned her another Oscar nomination and a Bafta.

And along with another national treasure, Dame Judi Dench, she appeared as an English woman living in 1930s Italy in the film Tea with Mussolini, which was released in 1999.

The two dames also shared screen time in A Room With a View and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

Dame Maggie played the firm but fair Reverend Mother in the two Sister Act films, starring Whoopi Goldberg as nightclub singer Doloris Wilson, who takes refuge from the mob in San Francisco by posing as a nun in a local convent.

Goldberg called Dame Maggie “a great woman and a brilliant actress”, adding: “I still can’t believe I was lucky enough to work with the ‘one-of-a-kind’.”

Rob Lowe, who starred with Dame Maggie in 1993’s Suddenly, Last Summer, recalled “the unforgettable experience of working with her”.

“Sharing a two-shot was like being paired with a lion,” he said.

“She could eat anyone alive, and often did. But funny, and great company. And suffered no fools.

“We will never see another. God speed, Ms Smith!”

The veteran actress also played the old woman who spent 15 years living in a van outside Alan Bennett’s house in a film adaptation of the writer’s The Lady in the Van in 2015.

Her final roles included 2023’s The Miracle Club, which follows a group of women from Dublin who go on a pilgrimage to the French town of Lourdes, co-starring Kathy Bates and Laura Linney.

thecloudngr
0Shares
Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Entertainment

BREAKING: From Words to Ring: Lizzy Anjorin Accepts Iyabo Ojo Boxing Challenge

Published

2 days ago

on

May 4, 2026

By

Lizzy Anjorin Accepts Iyabo Ojo Boxing Challenge

BREAKING: From Words to Ring: Lizzy Anjorin Accepts Iyabo Ojo Boxing Challenge—–Nollywood stars Iyabo Ojo and Lizzy anjorin set for potential showdown as rivalry takes new turn

Actress Lizzy Anjorin has accepted the boxing ring challenge issued by her colleague Iyabo Ojo, adding a new turn to their long running public dispute.

The development began after Iyabo Ojo shared a video of herself training and challenged Lizzy Anjorin to a boxing match. She also called on businessman Emeka Okonkwo, known as E-Money and music executive Soso Soberekon to sponsor the proposed fight.

Lizzy Anjorin responded by accepting the challenge and criticised Iyabo Ojo in her post, questioning public support and describing her as a certified failed actress with zero achievements.
ADVERTISEMENT

She also asked Iyabo to set a date for the fight and insisted she was ready.

“ABEG MK WE START BETTING NOW
TEAM LAWAL OR TEAM SISI MAMA ???

“PAULO SIS MAMA AMBASSADOR BABY OIL I CHALLENGE YOU AND IYABO OJO SEPETERI THE CERTIFIED FAILED ACTRESS WITH ZERO ACHIEVEMENTS TO PICK A DATE FOR THE FIGHT
NA THAT RING FIGHT FIT GIVE ME THE REAL JUSTICE WEY I DEY LOOK FOR
NA WHY I NO DRAG U GO COURT THAT TIME
BUT I’M READY ANYWAY NOW
DOCTOR KAN
AMBULANCE KAN
POSI MEJI,” she said.

In another post, Lizzy Anjorin also reacted to Iyabo Ojo’s partner Paulo Okoye, over his suggestion that their disagreement should be settled in a boxing ring. She challenged him to a 10 round fight with her husband before any match involving her and Iyabo Ojo.

The latest exchange adds to a long running dispute between both actresses, which has played out publicly on social media over the years, with repeated back and forth comments and accusations.

At different points in the conflict, Iyabo Ojo had shared a video mocking Lizzy Anjorin, which escalated tensions between both sides. Lizzy later made allegations against Iyabo, leading to further public exchanges and legal threats.

Iyabo Ojo had demanded a public apology and threatened legal action over alleged defamatory statements, including a compensation claim.

In 2024, a Lagos court dismissed a 1 billion naira defamation suit filed by Iyabo Ojo against Lizzy Anjorin, marking a legal setback in one of their cases. The public disagreement between both actresses has however continued to resurface through online exchanges.

thecloudngr
0Shares
Continue Reading

News

Odumodublvck Mocks Blaqbonez Over Suggested Boxing Match

Published

3 days ago

on

May 3, 2026

By

Odumodublvck Mocks Blaqbonez

Odumodublvck Mocks Blaqbonez Over Suggested Boxing Match—-Nigerian rapper Odumodublvck has mocked fellow artist Blaqbonez after content creator Nasboi suggested a potential boxing match between the two.

The idea emerged shortly after the recent celebrity bout involving Portable (Habeeb Olalomi), who suffered defeat in a widely discussed clash that has since sparked fresh interest in entertainment boxing matchups.

Riding on the momentum, Nasboi floated the idea of another high-profile bout—this time between Odumodublvck and Blaqbonez—prompting reactions across social media.

Odumodublvck, however, appeared to brush off the suggestion, responding with mocking and sarcastic remarks aimed at Blaqbonez. His comments, delivered in his usual bold style, quickly gained traction online and added a humorous edge to the conversation.

While Blaqbonez is known for his witty online persona and may yet respond, the exchange so far has been largely playful, with fans treating the idea more as entertainment than a serious sporting contest.

The situation highlights the growing trend of celebrity boxing in Nigeria’s entertainment space, where viral moments and online banter can quickly evolve into headline-grabbing narratives.

For now, the proposed fight remains speculative—but if recent trends are anything to go by, fans won’t rule anything out just yet.

thecloudngr
0Shares
Continue Reading

Trending

0Shares