J.K. Rowling has paid a touching tribute to Dame Maggie Smith who played the beloved character Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter film franchise.
The legendary actress passed away aged 89 on Friday morning. Since figures from across the world have shared heartfelt tributes to her incredible career.
Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling shared a sentiment many others would have felt after growing up watching Dame Maggie on screen.
She posted on X, formally known as Twitter: “Somehow I thought she’d live forever. RIP Dame Maggie Smith.”
Maggie played the iconic role of Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter series from 2001 to 2011, earning a new generation of fans who come to adore her.
Her Harry Potter co-star Daniel Radcliffe added 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”.
King Charles and Queen Camilla were also among those who have paid tribute. In a heartfelt message, the royals said: “As the curtain comes down on a national treasure, we join all those around the world in remembering with the fondest admiration and affection her many great performances, and her warmth and wit that shone through both off and on the stage.”
Maggie’s sons, Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin, announced her death, sharing that she passed away peacefully in a hospital. “We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the wonderful staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their care and unwavering kindness during her final days,” they said in a statement. “Thank you for your messages of support, and we kindly ask for privacy during this difficult time.”
Dame Maggie won Academy Awards for her roles in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and California Suite. She also received nominations for Othello, Travels with My Aunt, A Room with a View, and Gosford Park. She became a global icon through her roles as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter series and Violet Crawley in Downton Abbey.
In her later years, Dame Maggie faced several health challenges, including a heart scare in 2012, breast cancer in 2007, and an autoimmune disorder affecting her eyes. Despite these, she never officially retired, with her final film, The Miracle Club, released just last year alongside Kathy Bates and Laura Linney.
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