Dame Maggie Smith, the revered actress known for her roles as Professor McGonagall in 'Harry Potter', the Dowager Countess in 'Downton Abbey', and the lead in 'The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie', was honoured at a private funeral service in Richmond on Monday.
The beloved star passed away on September 27 at the age of 89, and her close friends and colleagues gathered at Mortlake Crematorium at 4pm to pay tribute to her "richly lived" life. As reported by Home | Daily Mail Online, one attendee reflected: "Such a beautiful goodbye to Maggie Smith today. It was warm and funny and full of love and brilliant eulogies, with the best hymns being belted out by all. It was poignant but not sad because hers was a life so richly lived."
"I knew her because of Robert's decades of working with her but I adored her."
"Molly was traumatised when she first met her as she knew her as the terrifying housekeeper Mrs Medlock in The Secret Garden! Maggie was as funny and sharp as it gets. One of the greats."
Her passing was confirmed by her sons, Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens, who said in a statement: "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."
Maggie's family expressed immense gratitude for the care shown at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, "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."
They also asked for privacy: "We thank you for all your kind messages and support and ask that you respect our privacy at this time."
After making a name for herself on stage, Maggie took the film world by storm. Her screen debut was in 1956 as a party guest in 'Child in the House', but it was 'Nowhere to Go' that clinched her first BAFTA trophy.
Tributes have flowed in including from King Charles, who said he was "deeply saddened" and 'Harry Potter' star Daniel Radcliffe, left "heartbroken", with whom she shared her screen experience from BBC's 'David Copperfield' through to the magical franchise.
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