Dame Maggie Smith was certainly one of the greatest actors of her generation. Whether you liked her because of Harry Potter or Downton Abbey, her absence will be felt.

Her sons Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin issued a joint statement saying, “It is with great sadness that we have to announce the d3ath of Dame Maggie Smith.”

It continued, “She sadly passed away quietly in hospital early this morning, Friday, September 27th. She was an exceedingly private person who passed away surrounded by friends and relatives. She leaves behind two sons and five adoring grandchildren who are crushed by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandma.

The statement expressed gratitude to the hospital and its workers, saying, “We would like to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful staff at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their care and unstinting kindness during her final days.”

The statement concluded with the family saying, “We thank you for all of your kind messages and support and ask that you respect our privacy during this time.”

The news of her passing is indeed surprising. The actress last appeared in public at the Wimbledon men’s singles championships last year. The actress dressed up for the occasion. She donned a navy blue shirt dress with a stylish dotted pattern. She completed the ensemble with black leather heels and a blue overcoat. She carried a navy leather bag on one shoulder.

She wore her bob cut in gentle waves. Pink lipstick finished her appearance!

Since public appearances by the actress were rare, fans were, of course, sh0cked to see her out and about.

When pictures of her outing were posted online, people were pleasantly surprised. One person commented on a picture of her from the event, “So elegant!” While one person wrote, “You [look] so beautiful” and another simply added, “Amazing.”