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Yesterday, many including fans and fellow actors and actresses learnt of the demise of Maggie Smith, a British actress who helped set the benchmark, transforming the stage and onscreen worlds for both Brits and non-Brits alike. Suffice to say, her passing is an immense loss to the otherwise usually glamourous and glorified world of acting, as portrayed by media outlets. The way Smith presents and carries herself in both the fictional and off-screen worlds is indeed solid and commendable. Recognised for her refined yet intelligent humour on stage, you can bet there is nobody else who can do that. For those who grew up watching the Harry Potter series, who can forget the steady yet stern demeanour she has, playing almost everyone’s favourite Professor? And if you’re lucky enough to be able to grasp what Downton Abbey had in store when the series was still on the television, you might resonate with her role as Dowager Countess of Grantham. Fun fact: the Dame admitted through The Graham Norton show that she has not seen Downton Abbey. Well, one can’t tell whether she’s being witty about it, but judging from her wittiness, ah, who am I to speculate, anyway? Even then, you can tell that she has a sense of humility and of course, humour. The older generation of fans will highly likely reminisce over her titular role Miss Jean Brodie in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress, as well as the early-90s film Sister Act, portraying Mother Superior and starring alongside the well-known actress, television personality and comedian Whoopi Goldberg, who was born and raised in Manhattan, New York City.

Now, watching Sister Act, Harry Potter and Downton Abbey and the Downton Abbey film(s) will surely be different.

In fact, as Whoopi Goldberg mentioned, the Sister Act magic will only be rekindled if the Dame Maggie Smith reprises her role as the Reverend Mother.

The Dame is a private person, as much as fans and many others revere her public on-screen life.

Don’t think there’s any better quote than:

I am a woman, Mary. I can be as contrary as I choose. (Violet Crawley, Downton Abbey).

The Dame leaves behind not only two sons and five grandchildren, but a legacy of films and television shows that has taught its viewers how to be as memorable, witty and as poised as possible.