Dame Maggie Smith's last public appearance just one year before devastating death

Dame Maggie Smith passed away on Friday at the age of 89 - and her last public appearance was more than a year before at one of the world's biggest sporting events

Dame Maggie Smith made her final public appearance just one year before her death.

The iconic British actress passed away on Friday at the age of 89 - with her family announcing she had died in Chelsea and Westminster Hospital while surrounded by family and friends. The Downton Abbey actress made her last public appearance over a year before her death at the 2023 Wimbledon Championships tennis competition where she sat in the stands alongside her daughter-in-law Suki Stephens.

The actress delighted fans at the event as she smiled and waved - and wore a patterned blue dress and a blue overcoat. It marked her final public appearance, just weeks before the release of her most recent film, The Miracle Club, which was released in October last year.

On Friday, Dame Maggie's family announced she had passed away in a public statement which read: "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."

The statement added: "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."

Downton Abbey co-star, Hugh Bonnerville, was among the first to pay tribute to her passing, saying: “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.”

Last month, filming wrapped on a third big screen outing of Downton Abbey - however, Dame Maggie was not part of the cast. Her character, Lady Violet Grantham, was killed off at the end of the second film version of the hit ITV show - which was released back in 2022.

Hugh had previously expressed his concern that fans of the franchise would feel the absence of the acting legend. He told Yahoo! news in June last year: "People who've watched the show over the years and have loved it will miss Maggie Smith's presence. She doesn't step out of the shower and it's all been a dream, she is gone.

"But, I think there's so much warmth and fun to enjoy, and new elements as well — which I won't spoil — that I think it'll certainly be the best iteration of the film versions yet."

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