Daniel Radcliffe Praises Maggie Smith’s ‘Fierce Intellect’ in Tribute

On Friday, Daniel Radcliffe shared a sweet tribute for Maggie Smith, who died earlier in the day at age 89. The actors appeared together in the Harry Potter films, in which Smith played Professor McGonagall. In his missive, he recalled the first time he met the actress, years before their most-celebrated work together on 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,” Radcliffe said in a statement, referring to the TV role he had as “young David Copperfield” in a 1999 adaptation of the Charles Dickens novel. “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!’” Radcliffe added. “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.”

Radcliffe continued his post by thanking Smith for her impact on the film world, calling her a true “legend.” “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,” Radcliffe wrote. “I will always consider myself amazingly lucky to have been able to work with her, and to spend time around her on set.”

Smith started her role as Prof. McGonagall in 2001’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, which Radcliffe starred in. Throughout its many iterations, her character became one of the franchise’s most beloved supporting roles. The films introduced the actress to a younger audience.

Smith’s sons Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin announced that Smith had died in a statement to Rolling Stone on Friday, saying their family was “devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother.” No cause of death was given.

Shortly after the announcement, King Charles III, Whoopi Goldberg, Viola Davis, and other stars paid tribute to the late actress, who received Damehood in 1990 for her contribution to the British stage. She was a two-time Oscar winner, and starred in films such as Sister Act and Downtown Abbey.