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.

Circus lion was locked up for 20 long years, now watch his reaction when he’s released

Even though I adore animals, I can state unequivocally that a mature mountain lion should not be locked up in the back of a pickup truck.

However, Mufasa, a mountain lion, was made to live exactly there by force.

His existence was turned into a living hell while he was a touring circus act in Peru, all to amuse the public and enrich his owner.

Thankfully, a few animal lovers saved him.

Numerous animals are still mistreated and ignored in zoos, circuses, and other entertainment venues today. Although many animals’ circumstances have improved recently, there is still more work to be done.

due to the fact that thousands of needy animals are still compelled to live in cramped quarters and are denied the opportunity to lead fulfilling lives.

In Peru, a pickup truck was discovered with a chained mountain lion named Mufasa on it. Forcibly thrust into a life he neither desired nor earned, he had spent twenty years living there.

Mufasa was fortunate to have luck later in life. After several months of arduous work, Animal Defenders International, an organization dedicated to animal rights, succeeded in getting him released in 2015. When the group attempted to close down an entire Peruvian circus, they came across him.

Mufasa’s well-being significantly improved upon gaining independence. He was given the essential right that all wild creatures deserve, which is to live out his final years in the embrace of nature and on his own terms, as opposed to having to endure a life full of fear and persecution.

Mufasa’s story of rescue is heartwarming, and the video below documents his first steps toward independence. It’s really lovely!

Mufasa spent a few months of freedom following his rescue from the circus before his health started to deteriorate.

Twenty years of being shackled to the back of a pickup truck had taken a toll, resulting in kidney failure and other age-related problems. According to Animal Defenders International, he passed away in 2015.

However, his tale still throws light on a crucial matter.

Mufasa was a beautiful, kind animal that enjoyed having his back scratched. It is regrettable that he was unable to spend more time in the Amazon, his native home, but it would have been even more tragic if he had never known freedom.

The way Mustafa was treated was not acceptable for any animal! Please spread the word about this movie to demonstrate that you support animals as well!

Animal Bible is the publisher. Would you please like?