Harry Potter author JK Rowling and protagonist of the films, Daniel Radcliffe, have paid tribute to the late Dame Maggie Smith.
Smith, 89, died on Friday in hospital surrounded by family, and many of her co-stars have since shared sweet memories of the iconic actress.
Radcliffe, 35, starred as the titular character in the Harry Potter franchise, while Smith played the beloved Professor McGonagall.
“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,” Radcliffe recalled in a statement.
He continued: “I knew virtually nothing about her other than that my parents were awestruck at the fact that I would be working with her.
“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!’
Maggie Smith died at the age of 89 on Friday
PA
“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.”
Meanwhile, writer JK Rowling shared a tweet in which she wrote: “Somehow I thought she’d live forever. RIP Dame Maggie Smith,” along with a picture of Smith in the films.
It comes after Harry Potter’s Ginny Weasley star Bonnie Wright also shared a special memory of Smith.
Somehow I thought she’d live forever.
RIP Dame Maggie Smith. pic.twitter.com/VogfvR9nIF— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 27, 2024
Taking to social media, the actress paid a heartfelt tribute to Smith as she shared a special memory from filming the hit movies with the seasoned actress.
Posting a snap of the actress, Wright penned: “Our dearly loved and revered head of Gryffindor house.
“You will be so missed by the Harry Potter community. My favourite scene with Maggie was when we were all learning to dance for the Yule Ball.
“She embodied that perfect balance of sass and loving care that McGonagall has. She kept Gryffindors on their toes. My deepest condolences to Maggie’s family at this time.”
Smith’s sons confirmed the sad news in a joint statement which read: “It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith.
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Maggie Smith’s co-stars have paid heartfelt tributes following news of her death
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“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.”
Famous faces from across the entertainment realm have paid tributes since the news broke, with Smith’s Downton Abbey co-star Hugh Bonneville sharing a post in honour of the actress.