Another great, gone....

A great actress, with a long, illustrious career...so, of course, the only thing the headlines say is "Harry Potter actress dead".

She was certainly an icon -- probably most celebrated for her stage work, but of course best-know for her film and television appearances.

You could have been forgiven for assuming her career was going downhill in the 90s -- then she becomes a major international star in Harry Potter, and then a big TV star in Downton Abbey immediately thereafter!

This was one of her big performances, winning her an Oscar.

^^
I'll never forgive the makers of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix for not paying homage to this play / film by having Professor McGonagall should "Assassin!" at Professor Unbridge after the latter dismisses Professor Trelawney. The moment was so ripe for it.

She was one of the all time greats. She leaves a great legacy: The VIPs, Othello, The Honey Pot, Hot Millions, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Travels with My Aunt, Murder by Death, Death on the Nile, California Suite, The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne, Sister Act, The First Wives Club, Tea with Mussolini, Gosford Park, Ladies in Lavender, Downton Abbey. It's a great gift we still have those to treasure her in.