Maggie Smith's long health battles before death from cancer diagnosis to 'fog of despair'

Harry Potter star Maggie Smith was "knocked sideways" by illness, before her death. The actress, who had an iconic career spanning more than 70 years, has died aged 89. 

She previously opened up about her  health battles, where she experienced symptoms such as "a fog of despair". Over the years, she was diagnosed with breast cancer Graves disease and thyroid eye disease - just to name a few. 

The actress, who was known and loved for her role as Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter movies, was battling cancer while filming.  She revealed that she’d been diagnosed with cancer in 2009, and admitted that the illness had "knocked her sideways". 

“It kind of takes the wind out of your sails, and I don’t know what the future holds, if anything. I don’t think there’s a lot of it, because of my age — there just isn’t. It’s all been. I’ve no idea what there will be,” she said.

Speaking about the treatment that she received, Maggie said that she was "hairless" and felt “horribly sick” from chemotherapy. However, after a rocky road the actress managed to make a full recovery from the cancer. 

While it is currently unknown how Maggie died, her sons Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens said she died in hospital early this morning.

In a statement issued via their publicist, they said: “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 27th September.

"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.

"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.

"We thank you for all your kind messages and support and ask that you respect our privacy at this time."

Maggie had acted in stage shows since being a teenager. When she was just 17-year-old, the star got her first role as Viola in Twelfth Night before appearing in Cinderella, Rookery Nook and The Government Inspector.

In 1958, the actress made her screen debut in Nowhere to Go but it wasn't until her Oscar-winning performance in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie 11 years later that she gained international fame.

She appeared in a number of hit comedies, including Sister Act, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Quartet.In 2001, Maggie took the role as Hogwarts deputy headmistress Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter series.

She played the Transfiguration teacher in seven of the eight films until 2011.