Dame Maggie Smith‘s son Toby Stephens has shared his heartbreak that he wasn’t by his mum’s side when she died.

The iconic British actress died at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital on September 27 at the age of 89.

But her youngest son Toby, 55, has told The Sunday Times that he wasn’t with his famous mum at the time of her death – as she passed away while he was filming his latest project Marama.

‘She was in hospital, she was supposed to be coming out but the last two years of her life had been a decline: she would get worse, then she would get better, then she would get worse,’ he said.

‘So I said, “Look I’ve got this film”, and before I could even ask her, she said, “Go do it. God, you don’t want to hang round here, I’m fine.”‘

But tragically Maggie died just one day before Marama filming wrapped. Her oldest son Chris Larkin was with her at the time of her death.

Dame Maggie Smith's son Toby Stephens shared his heartbreak with The Sunday Times that he wasn't by his mum's side when she died

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Dame Maggie Smith’s son Toby Stephens shared his heartbreak with The Sunday Times that he wasn’t by his mum’s side when she died

Tragically Maggie died just one day before Marama filming wrapped. Her oldest son Chris Larkin was with her at the time of her death (Maggie seen with both sons in 1971)

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Tragically Maggie died just one day before Marama filming wrapped. Her oldest son Chris Larkin was with her at the time of her death (Maggie seen with both sons in 1971)

Of not being there with Chris, Toby said: ‘I was so sad not to be with him, I found that very difficult, but she was no longer aware – and it allowed me some space to actually get my head round what had happened.’

Following in his mother’s footsteps, Toby too embarked on an acting career and graduated from LAMDA in 1991.

In 1994, he played the title character in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s performance of Coriolanus.

Despite his early promise, Toby was also known to struggle at times, previously admitting to going on 24-hour drinking benders.

He admitted: ‘Giving up alcohol is the best choice I have ever made. If I had carried on drinking, I wouldn’t be here, I wouldn’t have my kids. I feel incredibly lucky.’

Toby went on to become the youngest person to have played a Bond villain, starring as Gustav Graves in Die Another Day opposite Pierce Brosnan.

He also won over fans as Jane Eyre’s lover Mr Rochester and the evil Prince John in Robin Hood.

The actor has been married to Anna-Louise Plowman since 2001, and the couple share three children: son Eli Alistair and daughters Tallulah and Kura.

Maggie's youngest son Toby, 55, said he wasn't with his famous mum at the time of her death - as she passed away while he was filming his latest project Marama (Seen in 2019)

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Maggie’s youngest son Toby, 55, said he wasn’t with his famous mum at the time of her death – as she passed away while he was filming his latest project Marama (Seen in 2019)

Toby said of not being with his brother Chris when his mum died: 'I was so sad not to be with him, I found that very difficult, but she was no longer aware - and it allowed me some space to actually get my head round what had happened (Seen are Maggie and Chris in 2010)

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Toby said of not being with his brother Chris when his mum died: ‘I was so sad not to be with him, I found that very difficult, but she was no longer aware – and it allowed me some space to actually get my head round what had happened (Seen are Maggie and Chris in 2010)

Toby went on to become the youngest person to have played a Bond villain, starring as Gustav Graves in Die Another Day opposite Pierce Brosnan

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Toby went on to become the youngest person to have played a Bond villain, starring as Gustav Graves in Die Another Day opposite Pierce Brosnan

The couple met during his time at LAMDA and got together when they both went up for the same voiceover part in New York.

Speaking about Dame Maggie’s role as a grandmother, he told Weekend Magazine: ‘She loves, really loves, being around them. She was stern with me but around them she is a real softie.

‘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.’

Born in Ilford, Essex, on December 28, 1934, Dame Maggie rose to fame after playing the fanatical teacher Jean Brodie in The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie.

She also won over Harry Potter fans later in life, when she appeared in the film series as the quick-witted, kind and formidable Professor McGonagall.

And in 2010 she was central to the success of ITV series Downton Abbey, in her Emmy-award winning role as the acerbic Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham, which she continued to play in the films.

Toby also won over fans as Jane Eyre's lover Mr Rochester (pictured) and the evil Prince John in Robin Hood

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Toby also won over fans as Jane Eyre’s lover Mr Rochester (pictured) and the evil Prince John in Robin Hood

The late actress’s inspirational life was celebrated at Mortlake Crematorium in Richmond, south-west London, where mourners ‘belted out hymns’ and listened to ‘brilliant eulogies’, in November.

Guests were invited to arrive at 4pm, where they were welcomed into a ceremony described by one attendee as ‘beautiful, warm, and full of laughter’.

‘Such a beautiful goodbye to Maggie Smith today,’ one guest said. ‘It was warm and funny and full of love and brilliant eulogies, with the best hymns bringing belted out by all. It was poignant but not sad because hers was a life so richly lived.

‘I knew her because of Robert’s [the guest’s husband] decades of working with her but I adored her.

‘Molly [their daughter] was traumatised when she first met her as she knew her as the terrifying housekeeper Mrs Medlock in The Secret Garden! Maggie was as funny and sharp as it gets. One of the greats.’