Maggie Smith, Oscar-winning British actor and star of movies in the Harry Potter franchise, has died at the age of 89. She may be best known to modern audiences as a humorously sharp-witted supporting presence, but her distinguished career stretches back many decades of screen and stage. She won 2 Academy Awards, including Best Actress for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and Best Supporting Actress for California Suite. Her titular role as the outspoken and somewhat overbearing Edinburgh teacher Miss Jean Brodie may have been, in part, what attracted Harry Potter author to specifically request her for the role of Professor Minerva McGonagall in the film adaption. It was an inspired casting choice, and it is impossible now to think of anyone that could have been more suited to the role.
Daniel Radcliffe Pays Tribute to Maggie
It’s clear from the deluge of tributes being paid to her that Smith’s on-screen presence isn’t the sole reason she has earned the respect of her peers. Daniel Radcliffe, who played the hero of Harry Potter, released a touching tribute as the news came out of her passing. He had first met her on the set of David Copperfield, his first acting gig.
He said: “I knew virtually nothing about her other than that my parents were awestruck at the fact that I would be working with her.” Radcliffe recalls the manner in which, at the age of 9, he had made a youthful attempt at politeness, and was amusingly rebuked: “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!’”
Other Stars Express Their Sympathies and Praise 'True Great' Maggie Smith
Radcliffe was far from alone in his praise for the esteemed, English-born actress. Bonnie Wright, who played Ginny Weasley in the magical film series, also posted a eulogy to her, saying that she “embodied that perfect balance of sass and loving care that McGonagall has.” Gary Oldman, Sirius Black in the movies, said that she is a talent that “comes along about every other generation”, “one of the true greats.” And JK Rowling herself lamented the loss of the actor: “Somehow I thought she’d live forever. RIP Dame Maggie Smith.”
Radcliffe offered her the highest praise: “The word legend is overused but if it applies to anyone in our industry then it applies to her. Thank you Maggie.”
