Dame Maggie Smith "didn’t believe she was loved" - one of her sons has claimed.
The acting legend passed away in September at the age of 89 - leaving behind her two sons and five grandchildren. While Dame Maggie was beloved around the world thanks to roles in the Harry Potter and Downton Abbey franchises, it seems she did not ever "allow herself" to accept just how respected and admired she was.
Dame Maggie was married twice during her lifetime, and shares sons Christopher and Toby with first husband Robert Stephens - who she was married to from 1967 until 1975 and he passed away in 1995 at the age of 64. Her sons shared their devastation over the news of her death - asking for privacy while they mourned.
Now Toby, 55, has opened up about the memories of his late mother - and shared his mixed emotions over the way the public have responded to her death. He explained that his family have been warmed by the outpouring of love for the actress - but regrets she never allowed herself to accept the adoration she generated through her work on screens.
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WARNER BROS)He told The Telegraph: "It’s been incredibly moving for my family to see how universally loved and admired she was. That was something she never really allowed herself to believe. She was just like all of us, she didn’t have that self-confidence."
Reflecting on her final days and the family's progress in the shadow of her death, he continued: "It’s been tough. 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."
Toby and Chris announced the death of their mother through a statement at the time, revealing: “ 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 27 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.”
The star was laid to rest last month following an intimate funeral ceremony attended by family at Mortlake Crematorium in Kew. Tributes poured in from around the world after Dame Maggie's death - with Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe fondly remembered her "fierce intellect" and "gloriously sharp tongue".
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