Toby Stephens Reveals Heartbreak Over Missing Final Moments with Mum Maggie Smith
Toby Stephens, the son of Dame Maggie Smith, expressed his sorrow for not being with her during her passing.
On September 27, when she was 89 years old, the well-known British actress passed away at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.
However, it’s been reported by The Sunday Times that Toby, their youngest son and age 55, wasn’t present with his renowned mother during her passing. This is because she sadly passed away when Toby was engrossed in filming his current project titled Marama.
He mentioned that she had been in the hospital, with plans for her to return home, but unfortunately, the past two years of her life had shown a downward trend. She would experience periods of improvement followed by deterioration again and again.
In response, I mentioned, “I have a movie here,” but before I finished my sentence, she exclaimed, “Just go ahead and do it. Goodness, you’d be better off not staying here; I’m perfectly alright.
Sadly, Maggie passed away a day prior to Marama’s filming wrapping up. Her eldest son, Chris Larkin, was by her side when she left us.
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Toby mentioned: “It was incredibly hard for me not to be with him, but since she wasn’t conscious of it anymore, I had a chance to process what had transpired.
Just like his mother, Toby also pursued a career in acting and graduated from LAMDA in the year 1991.
1994 saw him embodying the lead role in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s staging of “Coriolanus.
Although Toby initially showed great potential, he occasionally faced challenges, even confessing to periods where he engaged in marathon drinking sessions lasting up to 24 hours.
He confessed: “Quitting alcohol has been the wisest decision of my life. Continuing to drink would not have led me to where I am today, without my children. I feel incredibly fortunate.
In the subsequent events, Toby earned the title of the youngest actor to portray a Bond villain, appearing as Gustav Graves in Die Another Day alongside Pierce Brosnan.
He also won over fans as Jane Eyre’s lover Mr Rochester and the evil Prince John in Robin Hood.
Ever since tying the knot with the brilliant Anna-Louise Plowman in 2001, I’ve been blessed to call her my wife and share a beautiful life together. Our brood consists of our three amazing offspring – our eldest son Eli Alistair, followed by our two daughters, the radiant Tallulah and the lovely Kura.
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The pair crossed paths while he was studying at LAMDA, and their relationship blossomed when they both auditioned for the same voiceover role in New York.
In conversation with Weekend Magazine about Dame Maggie’s role as a grandmother, he shared this insight: “She genuinely cherishes spending time with them. Despite being firm with me, she transforms into a real sweetheart in their presence.
‘Being a grandparent offers the freedom to spoil the kids, while parents must play the disciplinarian role. Additionally, grandparents can secretly act mischievously with their grandkids. She definitely fits that description.’
Hailing from Ilford, Essex, on December 28, 1934, Dame Maggie gained recognition following her portrayal of the passionate educator Jean Brodie in The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie.
Or simply:
Born in Ilford, Essex on December 28, 1934, Dame Maggie became known for playing the intense character Jean Brodie in The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie.
Additionally, she gained the admiration of Harry Potter enthusiasts during her later years, when she portrayed the sharp-minded, compassionate, and powerful Professor McGonagall in the movie adaptations.
In 2010, she played a pivotal part in the triumph of the ITV series Downton Abbey, earning an Emmy for her portrayal of the sharp-tongued Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham. She carried on playing this role in the subsequent films.
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In November, the extraordinary life of the deceased actress was honored at Mortlake Crematorium in Richmond, South West London, with mourners singing hymns and listening to heartfelt tributes.
Visitors were asked to show up at 4 pm, where they were ushered into a heartwarming, joyful, and lovely event, according to one participant.
One attendee commented on the heartwarming farewell to Maggie Smith today: “It was filled with warmth, humor, love, and brilliant tributes. The best hymns were sung beautifully by everyone present. It was touching yet not sorrowful as hers was a life so abundantly lived.
‘I knew her because of Robert’s [the guest’s husband] decades of working with her but I adored her.
Molly had been startled when they first encountered each other, for she remembered her as the fearsome housekeeper Mrs. Medlock from The Secret Garden. However, Maggie turned out to be hilarious and witty, proving herself to be one of the best in the business.
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2025-02-16 12:23