The stars of “Harry Potter” and “Downton Abbey” remember Maggie Smith

Photo: John Phillips/Getty Images for the BFI

Former colleagues and famous fans are paying tribute to Dame Maggie Smith in statements and tributes on social media after her sons confirmed that the actress, beloved over decades of stage and screen roles, died “peacefully in hospital” today. She was 89 years old. Daniel Radcliffe recalls the kindness Smith showed him when he met her at age 9 during his acting debut: David Copperfield. After ten years, the two reunited as stars Harry Potter films in which Smith played the role of Professor McGonagall. “She displayed a fierce intellect, an incredibly sharp tongue, could intimidate and charm in an instant and was, as everyone will tell you, incredibly funny,” Radcliffe said in a statement shared with the Associated Press. “I will always consider myself incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to work with her and spend time with her on set. The word legend is overused, but if it applies to anyone in our industry, it applies to her. Thank you, Maggie.

Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes said in a statement to the AP that working with Smith was “the greatest privilege” of his career, describing “a truly wonderful actress” as “who is a joy to write, subtle, layered, intelligent, funny and heartfelt.” Hugh Bonneville, who played Violet Crawley Smith’s son in the series, praised her “sharp eye, sharp wit and enormous talent” in a statement to the BBC, adding: “She was a true legend of her generation and will happily live on in so many great performances.” screen.” Below you will find more tributes from those who worked with or admired Smith throughout her generation-spanning career.

Downton Abbey executive producer Gareth Neame said in a statement to Deadline:

“The entire cast and crew Downton Abbey she considered working with her a great honor. She was an actress of this stature, and her incredible talent was able to combine both high comedy and full-blown tragedy. Off-screen, she was especially close to the cast who played the other members of her family, so she was very generous and full of encouragement to the younger actors. Personally, it’s touching that my late grandfather directed one of her best performances in Prime Minister Miss Jean Brodie for which she won her first Academy Award. Jean Brodie and Violet Grantham are just two performances in an extraordinary career spanning decades and delighting audiences around the world. There is only one Maggie Smith and she will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with her family.”

Miriam Margolyes praised Smith as “the best of the best” while reporting to BBC News about her tardiness Harry Potter the co-star combined “cruelty, a flash of mischief, delight and tenderness.” She also highlighted Smith’s “extraordinary courage,” adding: “I was impressed by her, as I was by all of her colleagues.”

Downton Abbey star Michelle Dockery in a statement to Deadline:

“There was no one like Maggie. I feel incredibly lucky to have met such an individual. She will be greatly missed and my thoughts are with her family.”