Legendary actress Maggie Smith passed away this morning aged 87 – and it was her beloved sons who broke the devastating news to the world. The British star was known for prominent roles in Harry Potter and Downton Abbey, and her performance in The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie.Her sons, Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens, praised her as an ‘extraordinary mother and grandmother’ in their moving tribute to the acting icon.The message made it clear that they remained close to their mother throughout her dying days. And the family clearly had much in common, with both Chris and Toby going on to forge acting careers of their own – although they had little help from their mother in doing so.   Maggie Smith with her son Christopher Larkin. The acting legend passed away this morning aged 87 (pictured in 2010) English actress Maggie Smith (L) with her son, actor Toby Stephens, in a dressing room at the Barbican Theatre in May 1994They wrote in a statement this afternoon: ‘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.’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.’Maggie was close to her two children, and five grandchildren – and the family were united in their shared love for acting.  In the past, Chris starred as Richard Brown on Outlander, while Toby played John Robinson in Netflix’s Lost In Space, as well as a variety of stage roles.But the most famous role of all came when Toby starred as a James Bond villain in Die Another Day in 2002 – making a clear name for himself in his own right. Toby told The Guardian in 2013: ‘My parents didn’t particularly encourage me initially. They knew how hard the profession is: just because they’d been successful didn’t mean I would. English actress Maggie Smith with her two children, Chris Larkin (left) and Toby Stephens, at London Airport, March 1971‘They said, ‘You’re on your own.’ I’m really grateful: It made me get out there and hone my taste.’Maggie’s elder son, Chris, was born on June 19, 1967, and chose to drop ‘Stephens’ from his name to forge an acting career in his own right.Chris, 57, lives in London with his wife Suki and their children.Despite being born into a family of actors, he only decided to take it up him in his early 20s. But he’s clearly been successful, even joining the cast of Outlander in season five.Maggie’s younger son, Toby, was born two years later in 1969.His parents split up when he was only four, meaning he spent much of his childhood travelling round to where his mother was working.Toby told the Mail’s Weekend Magazine in 2012: ‘Growing up I went to many schools and I had to fit in to many different types of environments with totally different social groups.’He too began an acting career, graduating from LAMDA in 1991. In 1994, he played the title character in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s performance of Coriolanus.Despite his early promise, Toby was also known to struggle at times, previously admitting to going on 24-hour drinking benders.He admitted: ‘Giving up alcohol is the best choice I have ever made. If I had carried on drinking, I wouldn’t be here, I wouldn’t have my kids. I feel incredibly lucky.’Stephens is the youngest person to have played a Bond villain, starring as Gustav Graves in Die Another Day.He also won over fans as Jane Eyre’s lover Mr Rochester and the evil Prince John in Robin Hood.Toby has been married to Anna-Louise Plowman since 2001, and the couple share three children: son Eli Alistair and daughters Tallulah and Kura.The couple met during his time at LAMDA and got together when they both went up for the same voiceover part in New York.Oscar-winning actress Dame Maggie Smith died in hospital this morning aged 89. Dame Maggie Smith appears in the 2005 film Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Dame Maggie Smith arrives for the world premiere of Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 in London on July 7, 2011 Dame Maggie Smith played the Dowager Countess of Grantham in Downton Abbey Dame Maggie Smith attending the 2022 Wimbledon Championships on July 9, 2022Born in Ilford, Essex, on December 28, 1934, she was an internationally recognised actress for much of her life after playing the fanatical teacher Jean Brodie in The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie.She also won over Harry Potter fans later in life, when she appeared in the film series as the quick-witted, kind and formidable Professor McGonagall.And in 2010 she was central to the success of ITV series Downton Abbey, in her Emmy-award winning role as the acerbic Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham, which she continued to play in the films.Among the first to pay tribute was her friend Gyles Brandreth , who said: ‘The saddest news: the death of Dame Maggie Smith marks the end of a golden era and a quite extraordinary life.’She was a truly great actress, ‘one of the greats’ and simply the best company: wise, witty, waspish, wonderful. One of a kind in every way and consequently irreplaceable.’ Dame Maggie Smith attending the Royal and World Premiere of The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel at the Odeon in Leicester Square, London on February 17, 2015 Maggie Smith alongside Miriam Margolyes, Richard Harris and Alan Rickman in 2002 film Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Dame Maggie Smith is made a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour by Queen Elizabeth II during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on October 17, 2014 Dame Maggie Smith attends the 65th Evening Standard Theatre Awards at held at the London Coliseum on November 24, 2019  Dame Maggie Smith in the royal box at the Wimbledon Championships on July 11, 2019 Dame Maggie Smith at the Evening Standards Drama Awards in London on November 28, 1997 Dame Maggie Smith in a photocall for her play The Lady From Dubuque at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in London on March 12, 2007 Ralph Fiennes presents Dame Maggie Smith with a Bafra award for Best Supporting Actress for the film ‘Tea With Mussolini’ at the Odeon Leicester Square in London on April 9, 2000 Dame Maggie Smith and Dame Judi Dench during rehearsals for their play ‘The Breath of Life’ at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in London on October 9, 2002 Dame Maggie Smith arriving for a Royal Film Performance of Ladies In Lavender at the Odeon Leicester Square in London on November 8, 2004 Dame Maggie Smith rehearsing for Peter Pan with Dave Allen in an undated photograph Dame Maggie Smith and Dame Judi Dench arriving at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in London on December 9, 2001 Queen Elizabeth II being presented to Dame Maggie Smith by Sir Laurence Olivier, when the Queen attended the charity premiere of the film Othello at the Odeon Theatre in London, on May 2, 1966 Dame Maggie Smith and Paul Scofield at London’s Hilton Hotel where they picked up their awards from the Variety Club of Great Britain at it’s 35th Annual showbusiness awards luncheon on February 3, 1987 Dame Maggie Smith arriving for the world premiere of Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 on July 7, 2011 Dame Maggie Smith and her partner Beverley Cross on November 24, 1995 Dame Maggie Smith kisses Rupert Grint as they arrive for the world premiere of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince at the Odeon Leicester Square in London on July 7, 2009 Dame Maggie Smith arriving at the premiere of Gosford Park at the Ziegfield theatre in New York City n December 14, 2001  Jill Bennett, Tom Jones and Maggie Smith (left to right) with their silver hearts showbusiness awards from the Variety Club of Great Britain at the Savoy Hotel in London on March 11, 1969