‘Harry Potter,’ ‘Downton Abbey’ Stars Pay Tribute to Maggie Smith: “One of the Greatest Actors of Our Time”
Maggie Smith’s Downton Abbey and Harry Potter families, as well as other Hollywood figures, are paying tribute to the Oscar-winning actress who died Friday.
She was also known for her iconic role as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the film franchise starring Daniel Radcliffe, as well as The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and more.
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A statement from her sons Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin to the BBC said on Friday: “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.”
Radcliffe recalled his experience working with the “incredibly kind” Smith during his first job on David Copperfield.
“The first time I met Maggie Smith I was 9 years old and we were reading through scenes for David Copperfield, which was my first job. I knew virtually nothing about her other than that my parents were awestruck at the fact that I would be working with her,” Radcliffe said in a statement. “The other thing I knew about her was that she was a Dame, so the first thing I asked her when we met was ‘would you like me to call you Dame?’ at which she laughed and said something to the effect of ‘don’t be ridiculous!’ I remember feeling nervous to meet her and then her putting me immediately at ease. She was incredibly kind to me on that shoot, and then I was lucky enough to go on working with her for another 10 years on the Harry Potter films. She was a fierce intellect, a gloriously sharp tongue, could intimidate and charm in the same instant and was, as everyone will tell you, extremely funny. I will always consider myself amazingly lucky to have been able to work with her and to spend time around her on set. The word legend is overused but if it applies to anyone in our industry then it applies to her. Thank you Maggie.”
Emma Watson, who took on the iconic role of Hermione Granger, remembered Smith in her Instagram Story. She shared a photo of them on the set of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, writing, “When I was younger I had no idea of Maggie’s legend – the woman I was fortunate enough to share space with. It is only as I’ve become an adult that I’ve come to appreciate that I shared the screen with a true definition of greatness. She was real, honest, funny and self-honouring. Maggie, there were a lot of male professors and by God you held your own. Thank you for all of your kindness. I’ll miss you.”
Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley, shared that he was “heartbroken” to hear that Smith had died. “She was so special, always hilarious and always kind,” he wrote on Instagram, where he also changed his profile picture to one of him and the actress. “I feel incredibly lucky to have shared a set with her and particularly lucky to have shared a dance. I’ll miss you Maggie.”
Harry Potter co-star Bonnie Wright, who portrayed Ginny Weasley in all eight of the films, posted a statement on her Instagram, writing in part, “Our dearly loved and revered head of Gryffindor house ?? you will be so missed by the Harry Potter community.”
Draco Malfoy actor Tom Felton wrote, in part, that he was “deeply saddened” to wake up to the news of Smith’s passing. “There quite simply was no one like her. Thank you for looking after us from literally day one. Thank you for not getting me kicked off the set when I couldn’t stop giggling during your transfiguration class. Thank you for showing us the way.”
Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter that “Maggie Smith was a truly great actress and we were more than fortunate to be part of the last act in her stellar career. She was a joy to write for, subtle, many-layered, intelligent, funny and heart-breaking. Working with her has been the greatest privilege of my career, and I will never forget her.”
“Anyone who ever shared a scene with Maggie will attest to her sharp eye, sharp wit and formidable talent,” Downton star Hugh Bonneville shared with THR in a statement. “She was a true legend of her generation and thankfully will live on in so many magnificent screen performances. My condolences to her boys and wider family.”
Michelle Dockery, who played Lady Mary in the British TV show and films, shared in her statement, “There was no one quite like Maggie. I feel tremendously lucky to have known such a maverick. She will be deeply missed and my thoughts are with her family.”
Downton producer Gareth Neame paid tribute to the Oscar-winning actress with a lengthy statement: “Maggie Smith was one of the greatest actors of our time and a much-loved member of the Downton family. In Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham, Maggie created one of the finest screen performances we have seen across six seasons of the television series and two movies, spanning twelve years. The entire cast and crew of Downton Abbey considered it an enormous honor to work with her, she was an actress of such stature whose incredible talent could encompass high comedy and full-blown tragedy. Off-screen she was particularly close to the cast who played the other members of her family and was very generous and full of encouragement for the younger actors. It is personally poignant that my late grandfather directed one of her finest performances in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie for which she won her first Academy Award. Jean Brodie and Violet Grantham are but two creations in an extraordinary career spanning decades and delighting audiences across the globe. There is only one Maggie Smith and she will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with her family.”
Sir Michael Caine wrote in a statement to THR, “It was my privilege to make two Films alongside the Legendary Maggie Smith. A truly brilliant Actress and a dear friend, who I will greatly miss.”
Below, read more tributes to one of the most formidable British actors of all time.
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