Harry Potter Stars Post Heartwarming Tributes To Maggie Smith
Despite the increasingly bizarre antics of franchise creator J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter continues to inspire fierce loyalty in its fanbase around the world (“always,” as Professor Snape might say). Because of this, the passing of any stars who brought the films of the Wizarding World to life is treated as a tragedy worse than anything printed in the original books. Therefore, the death of Professor McGonagall actor Maggie Smith was absolutely devastating, but there was one bright spot: the heartwarming tributes she received from the young stars of Harry Potter that she helped mentor.
Daniel Radcliffe On Maggie Smith
Regarding the life and achievements of Maggie Smith, nobody had more effusive praise than Harry Potter himself. Daniel Radcliffe recalled meeting her when they worked on David Copperfield together, writing in a press statement that he “knew virtually nothing about her other than that my parents were awestruck at the fact that I would be working with her.”
He got to know her better across a decade of Potter films and discovered “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.”
Wrapping up his thoughts, he noted how “the word legend is overused, but if it applies to anyone in our industry, then it applies to her.”
Rupert Grint’s Tribute
One of Radcliffe’s colleagues who lavished praise on Maggie Smith was his Harry Potter costar Rupert Grint. Taking to Instagram, he wrote that he was “heartbroken to hear” about her passing and that “she was so special, always hilarious and always kind.”
Before noting how much he missed her and how he is sending love to her family, he mentioned one of their more memorable onscreen moments: “I feel incredibly lucky to have shared a set with her and particularly lucky to have shared a dance.”
Emma Watson On Maggie Smith
Rounding out the core trio of actors, Emma Watson took to Instagram and shared her own heartwarming memories of Maggie Smith from their time working on the Harry Potter films.
She admitted to having “no idea of Maggie’s legend” when she was younger but that she has “come to appreciate that I shared the screen with a true definition of greatness.”
After pointing out how “real, honest, funny, and self-honoring” the older actor was, Watson highlighted how Smith became a feminist icon: “Maggie, there were a lot of male professors and by God you held your own…I’ll miss you.”
Bonnie Wright Posts Her Love
Needless to say, Maggie Smith was beloved by the entire Harry Potter cast, and the rest of her young colleagues couldn’t wait to pay their own respects to her amazing life and career. Ginny Weasley star Bonnie Wright began her memorial Instagram post by calling Smith “Our dearly loved and revered head of Gryffindor house,” one who “will be so missed by the Harry Potter community.”
Before expressing her condolences, she praised how much Smith managed to disappear into her character when the young performers were learning their Yule Ball dance movies: “she embodied that perfect balance of sass and loving care that McGonagall has.”
Even Draco Malfoy
Another young voice to speak about Maggie Smith’s passing was Tom Felton, who played Harry Potter’s bitter nemesis Draco Malfoy.
His Instagram post was shorter than his colleagues but full of heart as he thanked the older performer “for looking after us from literally day one” and specifically expressed gratitude “for not getting me kicked off the set when I couldn’t stop giggling during your transfiguration class.”
He ended the post with a bittersweet message that has been echoed by fans since news of Smith’s passing first broke: “raise your wands.”
Maggie Smith Will Be Missed
The passing of Maggie Smith really does feel like the end of an era for Harry Potter…even as HBO works on finding a new cast to reboot this universe as a television series, Smith was an iconic symbol of the franchise’s earlier magic.
The powers that be (both J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. Discovery) are hoping that they can win over an entire new generation of Muggles with a reboot that succeeds where the Fantastic Beasts films failed. No matter how talented the new cast is, though, one thing’s for sure: nobody will ever embody Minerva McGonagall as perfectly as the incomparable Maggie Smith did.
Wands up, fam. And not just for one of the best of the Harry Potter actors…she was, without a doubt, one of the finest performers Hollywood has ever seen.
Source: Deadline
