Dame Maggie Smith spotted enjoying lunch in London just days before her death at age 89

Dame Maggie Smith's family, friends, and fans are still mourning the loss.


Pop Culture & Art October 01, 2024
Courtesy: AFP

Sitting outside one of her favorite restaurants in London, enjoying the warm early autumn weather, this photo shows Dame Maggie Smith just a week before her passing.

Her family, friends, and fans are still mourning the loss of one of the greatest actresses, who died at the age of 89 in a hospital last Friday.

However, MailOnline can reveal that just a week before her death, Dame Maggie was in high spirits during a lunch at Lemonia, a restaurant in Primrose Hill, where she frequently dined.

The Harry Potter and Downton Abbey actress, stylishly dressed in a loose blue shirt and trousers, ordered fish and chips while she chatted with a female friend at an outdoor table.

The legendary actress, who was humorously described by her friends as someone who "drinks like a fish and swears like a trooper," was also seen looking over the wine menu.

A source shared that at one point, she even "slipped into character" to reprimand some teenagers who were laughing loudly as they lingered nearby.

"Dame Maggie asked them be quiet and be more respectful whilst people were eating," a witness at a nearby table said.

"She was very much in character," they added, admitting it was an exciting moment as it felt like witnessing Professor McGonagall or the Dowager Countess of Grantham in real life.

Maggie spent more than an hour enjoying her lunch.

"She had fish and chips," the witness sitting outside Lemonia told MailOnline. "My mate laughed that she'd ordered it at a Greek restaurant," adding that it seemed to be her favorite dish.

Just seven days later, her family announced her passing.

With a career spanning seven decades, the Oscar-winning actress has been celebrated for her wide-ranging roles, from Shakespearean plays to the Harry Potter series, with co-stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint among those paying tribute to her.

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