FILE – British actress Dame Maggie Smith poses in London on Dec. 16, 2015. Smith, who won an Oscar for “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” in 1969 and won new fans in the 21st century as the dowager Countess of Grantham in “Downton Abbey,” has died at 89.AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File

Actress Maggie Smith, star of stage, film and ‘Downton Abbey,' has died aged 89

"Jean Brodie" brought her the Academy Award for best actress and the British Academy (BAFTA) award as well in 1969. Smith added a supporting actress Oscar for "California Suite" in 1978

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Maggie Smith, who won an Oscar for "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" in 1969 and won new fans in the 21st century as the dowager Countess of Grantham in "Downton Abbey," has died, her publicist said Friday. She was 89.

She was frequently rated the preeminent British actress of a generation which included Vanessa Redgrave and Judi Dench.

"Jean Brodie" brought her the Academy Award for best actress and the British Academy (BAFTA) award as well in 1969. Smith added a supporting actress Oscar for "California Suite" in 1978.

In 2014, Smith was made a member of the Order of the Companions of Honor in recognition of her six decades in theater, cinema and television, an honor bestowed by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. The award is limited to 65 living people "of distinction." Other members include physicist Stephen Hawking, actor Ian McKellen and artist David Hockney.

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