Dame Maggie Smith dies aged 89 – Fans startled by her final public appearance

Dame Maggie Smith dies aged 89 – Fans startled by her final public appearance

Dame Maggie Smith, Downtown Abbey and Harry Potter star, died aged 89, her family confirms.

A two time Oscar winner and a legend of the stage and screen, Smith was regarded one of the greatest actors of her time. She started her acting career on stage at the Oxford Playhouse and went on to make a name for herself and remained under the limelight for a stunning number of years.

The news of her sudden passing was shared by her two sons, Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin.
“She died quietly this morning, Friday, September 27, in the hospital. A deeply private individual, she passed away surrounded by loved ones,” their joint statement read.

“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,” it continued.

“We thank you for all your kind messages and support and ask that you respect our privacy at this time,” Smith’s sons concluded.

Throughout her long and rich career, Smith appeared in feature films such as Sister Act, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and more recently Thaddeus O’Sullivan’s The Miracle Club.

Back in 2009, Smith disclosed with the public that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. She opened up about receiving treatments and filming scenes as Professor Minerva McGonagall in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince at the same time.

“I used to go to treatment on my own, and nearly everybody else was with somebody,” she told Tim Teeman. “I wouldn’t have liked that. Why would you want to make anybody sit in those places?”

She had also opened up about her own mortality. “I was relieved to be the age I was because by now you feel like it’s all over anyway.

“That’s why I hated seeing young people receiving treatment [at the Royal Marsden Hospital, London]. I couldn’t bear that, it didn’t seem fair. To be honest, you feel so ghastly you wouldn’t mind dying a lot of the time.”

Smith was married twice. Her second husband, screenwriter Beverley Cross, whom she considered the great love of her life, passed away in 1998, leaving her mourning his loss until her own passing.

She wasn’t known as someone who was spotted in public often, so her last public appearance left her fans startled.
It was at the Wimbledon men’s singles final that Smith was spotted in public. Dressed elegantly, in a navy blue shirtdress with a stylish dot pattern on it accessorized with a blue jacket and black leather heels, she stunned many.

The photos of her and her stunning choice of outfit, which she had completed with a pink lipstick, received plenty of comments. “So elegant!” one person commented. “You [look] so beautiful,” another added.

Following her passing, tributes came pouring in. Prime Minister Keir Starmer was among the first to share his condolences, saying Smith “was beloved by so many for her great talent, becoming a true national treasure whose work will be cherished for generations to come.”

Hugh Bonneville, fellow Downtown Abbey co-star, said: “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.”

Smith’s passing represents an immense loss for the acting world. May she rest in peace.

Put a Sheet of Aluminum Foil in Boiling Water, Even Wealthy People Do This: The Reason

An easy home remedy using an aluminum foil sheet turns out to be a fantastic way to bring antique silverware back to life. After a meal, it’s usually best to wash the dishes right away to avoid having a large pile in the sink.

Dishwasher owners could avoid this task, but hand washers, for a variety of reasons, face the difficulty of polishing aged and seemingly irreparably tarnished silverware.

To address this widespread problem, a clever solution that makes use of aluminum foil’s transformational properties is developed. To start, heat up some water in a pot and add a spoonful of sodium bicarbonate and half a spoonful of sugar.

After the mixture comes to a boil, cut an aluminum foil sheet in half to form four equal portions. After rolling each section into a ball, the aluminum balls are added to the boiling kettle.

Unexpectedly, this technique works well for revitalizing crockery. For just ten minutes, utensils, knives, and spoons that have lost their shine are submerged in the liquid.

After this quick treatment, the cutlery is taken out and cleaned with soap and water to finish the regeneration process. The striking outcome is that the once-dull cutlery now sparkles brilliantly, almost like it is brand-new.

This inexpensive fix, which makes use of aluminum foil’s potential and sodium bicarbonate’s cleaning capabilities, is a fantastic substitute for throwing away used silverware and buying new ones.

People can revitalize their kitchen basics and save money and resources by using this easy-to-use yet efficient technique. Through this clever combination of commonplace items, the cutlery’s original shine and purity are revived.