Dame Maggie Smith, national treasure and star of Hollywood films including Sister Act and the Harry Potter series, has died aged 89.
In a statement, the Oscar-winning actor’s family said she “passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning” – but could not confirm the cause of death.
The Downton Abbey star enjoyed an incredible 70-year career on stage and screen.
But the beloved star was no stranger to health issues, having lived a life riddled with illnesses that she candidly discussed.
During her professional career, she faced two major health problems, one of which left her in a “fog of despair.”
Dame Maggie Smith, national treasure and star of Hollywood films including Sister Act and the Harry Potter series, has died aged 89
In a statement, the Oscar-winning actor’s family said she “passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning” – but could not confirm the cause of death. Depicted in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
The Downton Abbey star enjoyed an incredible 70-year career on stage and screen
Grave’s disease
In January 1988, Dame Maggie was diagnosed with Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disease that mainly affects young and middle-aged women.
It occurs when the immune system produces antibodies that cause the thyroid gland to produce too much thyroid hormone, according to the NHS.
It is believed that about 80 percent of people with an overactive thyroid have it.
The cause is unknown, but often runs in families. Smoking can also increase your risk of getting it.
Symptoms may include irritability and fluctuations in emotions, nervousness or anxiety, weight loss, palpitations and sweating or feeling hot.
Shaking and shaking, poor sleep, muscle weakness, and difficulty getting up from a chair or climbing stairs are other major symptoms.
In women, periods may also become light or stop altogether.
In a 1990 New York Times interview, she revealed that her eyes became irritated and bags protruded around them, which she said looked “absolutely scary.”
Speaking about the onset of the condition, which followed a cycling injury that broke her arm, she said: ‘It was basically a fog of despair.
‘It was horrible to have a broken arm, horrible to play, to let everyone down and on top of that I looked absolutely terrifying and didn’t know which way to go.’
Dame Maggie underwent radiotherapy and optical surgery to treat her condition – and was kept in isolation for 12 months during recovery.
Breast cancer
In 2007, while filming Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
She was given the all-clear after two years of treatment.
One in seven women in Britain will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime – around 56,000 per year – making it the most common form of cancer in Britain.
In the US the figure is about 300,000 per year.
Between 85 and 90 percent of women diagnosed with primary breast cancer survive more than five years.
Dame Maggie Smith attends the Wimbledon Tennis Championships on July 15, 2023
Symptoms of breast cancer to look out for include lumps and swellings, dimpling of the skin, color changes, discharge and rash or crusting around the nipple
Checking your breasts should be part of your monthly routine so that you notice any unusual changes. Simply rub and feel from top to bottom, in semi-circles and in a circular motion around your breast tissue to identify any abnormalities
However, secondary breast cancer – or stage four – which accounts for around 16 percent of all breast cancers in Britain and the US, is much more difficult.
It means that the cancer, which started in the breast, has spread to another part of the body, usually the liver, lungs, brain, or bones.
In 2009, after revealing her diagnosis, she admitted that the disease had “knocked her aside.”
She said: ‘It kind of takes the wind out of your sails a bit, and I don’t know what the future holds.
“I don’t think there’s much of it, because of my age; that’s just not there. It’s all over. I have no idea what will be there.”
Speaking about the treatment she received, she said she was left ‘hairless’ and felt ‘terribly ill’ from the chemotherapy.
Heart problems
In November 2012, Dame Maggie was forced to resign rumors that she was the center of attention of a passion.
She was reportedly admitted to a specialized cardiac unit complaining of severe pain.
But the actress underwent a series of emergency tests at the private Wellington Hospital in London and was discharged later the same day, according to the Sunday Mirror.
It is believed the reports emerged after Dame Maggie visited her doctor for a routine medical procedure.
Her spokeswoman said at the time: “She is doing well and is home.”
Dame Maggie Smith is appointed to the Order of the Companions of Honor by Queen Elizabeth II during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on October 17, 2014
Dame Maggie Smith and Dame Judi Dench during rehearsals for their play ‘The Breath of Life’ at the Theater Royal Haymarket in London on October 9, 2002
Glaucoma
At the age of 77, Dame Maggie became a patron of the International Glaucoma Association, now known as Glaucoma UK.
Around the same time, it turned out that she herself had the condition.
Glaucoma is usually caused by fluid slowly accumulating in the front part of the eye, causing pressure to increase.
As a result, the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain, becomes damaged.
About 700,000 people in Britain and more than 2 million in the US live with glaucoma, which is usually symptomless in its early stages.
It mainly affects people in their 70s and older, but people of any age can get it.
Eye pain, blurred vision and vomiting are all telltale signs of an incurable condition known as the ‘silent thief of sight’.
However, the symptoms of glaucoma, which affects two percent of over-40s in Britain, can vary considerably.
They can range from blurred vision and watery eyes to vomiting.
Glaucoma, which in most cases develops slowly over many years, can lead to vision loss if not treated promptly.
Treatment aims to lower this pressure through prescription eye drops, oral medications, laser treatment, surgery, or a combination of these options.