The late Dame Maggie Smith, the British actress loved by the younger generations as Harry Potter’s Professor McGonagall, was last seen in public at a Greek restaurant in London a week before her passing on September 27.
Smith, who died peacefully at London’s Chelsea and Westminster Hospital aged 89, was photographed having a traditional British fish and chips meal at the established Lemonia Greek restaurant in London’s upscale Primrose Hill neighborhood.
Photos of the Oscar-winning actress from what was destined to be her last time to be seen out in public, were published on Tuesday by the Daily Mail alongside other dinners’ narratives of a lively Smith who seemed to behave very close to the character of her Harry Potter and Downton Abbey roles.
Dame Maggie’s Smith request for quiet and respect
The British newspaper spoke to dinners who happened to be having lunch at Lemonia Greek restaurant in London at the same time as Dame Maggie Smith.
Dressed in a casual blue and black outfit and trainers, the beloved actress made the best out of the good weather and enjoyed the sunshine sitting at a terrace table with a female friend.
Despite reportedly being a regular at Lemonia, Smith opted for a classic British fish and chips dish instead of Greek cuisine.
At some point, the star scolded a group of teenagers for laughing noisily outside the restaurant, a moment which was described “like seeing Professor McGonagall [of the Harry Potter franchise] or the Dowager Countess of Grantham in Downton Abbey in real life,” a witness told the Daily Mail. “She asked them to be quiet and be more respectful whilst people were eating.”
The Greek restaurant where the Dame Maggie Smith’s final photo was taken boasts an excellent reputation in Primrose Hill as an established family-run business for 45 years, often featured among the top Greek restaurants of the British capital.
Legendary British actress dies at 89
Dame Maggie Smith died on Friday, September 27, aged 89, it was announced by her sons Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens.
They did not disclose any details about the cause of death, but said that 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,” their statement read.
Although she is most commonly known for her role as Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter movies, Maggie Smith had a truly legendary acting career in both the movie and theater industries.
Her very first movie role earned her a nomination for Best Supporting Actress from Bafta. She eventually won an Oscar for her lead role in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie in 1970 as well ass the Best Actress Bafta for The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne and for her role in Hedda Gabler that same year.
Her final two roles were in two standalone Downton Abbey films in 2019 and 2022.
