Dame Maggie Smith
Photo by Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

Actress’s Children Land Major Roles in James Bond and Outlander – Despite Her Refusal to Help Them Break Into the Industry

Toby Stephens, the accomplished actor and son of the late Dame Maggie Smith, once shared a poignant prediction that he would never work alongside his famous mother. Toby, best known for his role as Sir Gustav Graves in the James Bond film Die Another Day, explained why he and his mother avoided collaborating on screen.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Toby said, “I have a policy with my mum — we both kind of think that the family acting thing is a bit naff. I cringe when I see that someone obviously thought, ‘Hey, we’re both actors, why don’t we do something together?’”

Despite their professional separation, Toby spoke warmly of Dame Maggie’s role as a grandmother. “She loves, really loves, being around them. She was stern with me, but around them she is a real softie,” he shared. “That’s the privilege of being a grandparent — they can indulge the children while parents have to be the bad guy. Grandparents can also be subversive and naughty with them. And she certainly is.”

Toby, born to Dame Maggie and her first husband, actor Sir Robert Stephens, grew up immersed in the theater world. After his parents divorced when he was four, Toby frequently traveled with his mother as she worked, forging a close but professional bond that endured throughout their lives, reported by the Express.

Dame Maggie, celebrated for her iconic roles in Harry Potter and Downton Abbey, passed away on September 27 at the age of 89. Surrounded by family and friends, she died peacefully in a hospital.

In a heartfelt statement released through their publicist, her sons Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens shared their grief:
“It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith. She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday, September 27. An intensely private person, 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.”

The family also expressed gratitude to the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital staff: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful staff for their care and unstinting kindness during her final days.”

As tributes continue to pour in for Dame Maggie, her legacy as an extraordinary actress and beloved family figure lives on.

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