Fellow Stars Pay Tribute to the Late, Great Maggie Smith
The great Maggie Smith passed away on Friday, September 27, at the age of 89. Her astonishing career on stage and screen played out over seven decades, as she became one of Britain’s most beloved, recognizable, and prolific performers and a two-time Oscar winner to boot—she’s one of the few actresses to win both a Best Supporting Oscar and Best Actress Oscar. Her sons Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin shared this statement with the BBC said on the day of her passing: “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.”
Smith’s renown wasn’t limited to the United Kingdom, of course—her admirers were global, and her reach was expanded with a memorable role as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter franchise. Smith also starred in California Suite (where she won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress), Downton Abbey, The Bext Exotic Marigold Hotel, The Prime of Mis Jean Brodie (which earned her second Oscar for Best Actress), Gosford Park, A Room With A View, and many, many more critically acclaimed films.
Her fellow stars have shared how much of an impact Smith made their lives, including Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe, who first met Smith when he was an even smaller kid than he was on the first day of filming Harry Potter.
“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, had 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.”
Radcliffe was joined by many other colleagues, who were also often admirers, including fellow Harry Potter alum Emma Watson, who played Hermione Granger in the series. On Instagram, Watson wrote, “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.”
The Harry Potter cast continued singing Smith’s praises, including Rupert Grint, who played the third member of the trifecta, Ron Weasley, Harry and Hermione’s best friend. Grint wrote on Instagram, “She was so special, always hilarious and always kind. I feel incredibly lucky to have shared a set with her and particularly lucky to have shared a dance. I’ll miss you Maggie.”
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Smith’s Sister Act co-star Whoopi Goldberg wrote on Instagram that she couldn’t believe she was lucky enough to work with “the one-of-a-kind” Smith.
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Oscar-winner Viola Davis wrote of Smith on Instagram, “The end of an era of the sheer definition of what it means to be an actor. You created characters that clung to us, moved us, entertained us……made us look within. You defied the expectations of age….crossed generations. You were greatness personified Dame Maggie Smith.”
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Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes shared this statement with The Hollywood Reporter: “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.”
Her co-star in Downton, Hugh Bonneville, shared this with THR: “Anyone who ever shared a scene with Maggie will attest to her sharp eye, sharp wit and formidable talent. 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 Downton, said, “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.”
A true British icon. Thank you for everything, Dame Maggie Smith. pic.twitter.com/FM3aQjv5Rq
— Downton Abbey (@DowntonAbbey) September 27, 2024
Featured image: English actress Maggie Smith, UK, 8th March 1974. She is appearing in the stage comedy ‘Snap!’ at the Vaudeville Theatre on the Strand in London. (Photo by Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
