The 2025 BAFTA Awards paid tribute to those we have sadly lost in the last year, however some fans noted that there was no mention whatsoever of an iconic British actress
BAFTA viewers were left in shock tonight as the awards ceremony failed to honour one huge star who died last September during its In Memoriam segment.
The glitzy bash, which annually pays homage to the industry’s dearly departed, seemingly dropped the ball by omitting the beloved actress from its memorial reel. Fans were quick to spot the absence of Dame Maggie Smith, who passed away last September at the age of 89, leaving behind a legacy of iconic roles from Harry Potter to Downton Abbey and Sister Act.
Twitter was ablaze with BAFTA watchers expressing their disbelief and anger over the perceived snub.
One viewer tweeted in dismay: “No Maggie Smith? ? Feels like quite an oversight #BAFTAS,” Another echoed the sentiment, posting: “Where was Maggie Smith in that? ! ! #BAFTAS.”
Further tweets poured in, with one fan writing: “#BAFTAS no mention of Dame Maggie Smith when remembering those who died in the last year. Shame on you.”
Another shared their outrage: “Sorry, but no Maggie Smith tribute! ! That’s outrageous #baftas.”
When the news of her passing broke, Dame Maggie’s family announced she had died “peacefully” in hospital. Her sons Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens released a heartfelt statement through their publicist: “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.”
The statement continued: “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.”
However, there was good reason for Maggie’s exclusion from the segment, as she received special tributes at the Bafta Film Awards In Memoriam segment in February earlier this year.
During the ceremony, French violinist Esther Abrami performed the song “Apple Tree”, as tribute was paid to the TV careers of several prominent actors, presenters and other notable figures.
Among them were TV doctor and author Michael Moseley, EastEnders and The Bill star Roberta Taylor, Drag Race UK The Vivienne, and Dr Kildare and Shogun actor Richard Chamberlain.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
