Dame Maggie Smith was remembered in poignant tributes from her Harry Potter co-stars Emma Watson and Rupert Grint. Following the announcement of her death at the age of 89, friends and fans alike paid their respects.
Emma Watson, who played Hermione Granger, shared a heartfelt message alongside a behind-the-scenes photo from the set of Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2. She 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.”
Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley, also paid tribute, sharing a photo from the set and writing: ” Heartbroken to hear about Maggie. 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. Sending all my love to her family. Rupert x”
This was followed by another lengthy post on Instagram from Daniel Radcliffe, who played the titular role of Harry Potter across the whole series. He said: “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. 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, 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.”
Dame Maggie Smith’s death was announced earlier this year by her family. In a statement at the time, they expressed their devastation and gratitude to the NHS staff at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, saying: “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. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their care and unstinting kindness during her final days. We thank you for all your kind messages and support and ask that you respect our privacy at this time.”
The renowned actress was also known for her roles in Sister Act, Lady in the Van and Downton Abbey to name just a few of her credits. She also picked up two Oscars and five BAFTAs throughout her illustrious career.
Dame Maggie Smith: A Celebration airs tonight at 8.35pm on ITV1.