The world was saddened yesterday by the news of the death of Maggie Smith, the popular, Oscar-winning British actress who gained fanatical fans as the Countess of Grantham in “Downton Abbey” and was adored by children as a Harry Potter teacher.

Smith died aged 89 and Smith’s long career began on stage in the 1950s.

Her long career, which spanned about 60 years, has made her one of Great Britain’s most important actresses. Smith has won awards for her performances in both theater and film.

She won her first Oscar for her role as an Edinburgh schoolteacher in 1969’s The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.

She won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in the 1978 comedy California Suite, a performance that prompted her co-star Michael Caine to say, “Maggie didn’t just steal the show, she committed a grand theft.”

To many of her younger fans in the 21st century, she is best known for her role as Professor McGonagall in all seven “Harry Potter” films and Countess of Grantham Violet Crawley in the drama series “Downton Abbey”.

In addition to the Oscars, Smith has won five BAFTAs, 4 Emmys, 3 Golden Globes and a Tony, and has been nominated for Laurence Olivier Awards 6 times.

In recognition of her contribution to culture, Queen Elizabeth had made the actress a Dame.