The actress best known for her roles in ‘Harry Potter’ and ‘Downton Abbey' leaves behind an enviable body of work. (Credit: AP) Actress Maggie Smith died "peacefully" Sept. 27, and Hollywood did not hesitate with tributes.
Daniel Radcliffe, Smith's "Harry Potter" co-star, issued a statement honoring the star, who portrayed Professor Minerva McGonagall, the head of Gryffindor House, in the franchise. "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 to Variety.
Maggie Smith was in the film and television industry for 60 years. (John Hayes/Jenny Lewis) "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.
MAGGIE SMITH, ‘DOWNTON ABBEY’ AND ‘HARRY POTTER’ STAR, DEAD AT 89 "She was a fierce intellect, a gloriously sharp tongue, could intimidate and charm in the same instant and was, as everyone will tell you, extremel.
