Dame Maggie Smith, renowned for her roles in the Harry Potter films and Downton Abbey, is
being remembered as “a true legend” of stage and screen following her passing at the age of
89.

Tributes have poured in from the King, the Prime Minister, and many co-stars from her
extensive career.

King Charles called her “a national treasure,” while Sir Keir Starmer said she was “beloved
by many for her immense talent.”

Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe fondly recalled her “sharp intellect” and “gloriously cutting
wit.”

Miriam Margolyes paid tribute, calling her “the best of the best,” who combined “fierceness, a
mischievous glint, joy, and tenderness.”

Dame Maggie Smith was known for her sharp wit both on and off screen throughout a
remarkable career that spanned eight decades.

In the Harry Potter series, she portrayed the stern and witty Professor Minerva McGonagall,
renowned for her pointed witch’s hat and strict demeanor with the students at Hogwarts.

Daniel Radcliffe, paying tribute, said: “She had a fierce intellect, a gloriously sharp tongue,
could intimidate and charm at the same time, and was, as everyone will tell you, extremely
funny. I consider myself incredibly lucky to have worked with her and to have spent time with
her on set. The word ‘legend’ is overused, but if it applies to anyone in our industry, it’s her.
Thank you, Maggie.”

Emma Watson reflected on not fully realizing, as a young Hermione, that she was acting
alongside “a true definition of greatness” until later in her life. In an Instagram post, she
recalled Dame Maggie as “real, honest, funny, and self-honoring,” adding, “Maggie, there are
many male professors, and by God, you held your own.”

Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley, shared on Instagram that he felt “incredibly lucky to
have shared a set with [Dame Maggie] and particularly lucky to have shared a dance.”

The National Theatre honored Dame Maggie for her “deep intelligence, sublime craft, and
sharp wit.”

In the hit series Downton Abbey, she became iconic as Violet Crawley, the Dowager
Countess of Grantham, known for her cutting one-liners over the show’s six seasons.
Throughout her illustrious career, Dame Maggie won two Oscars-The Prime of Miss Jean
Brodie in 1970 and California Suite in 1979-and earned four additional nominations. She
also received seven BAFTA awards.

In a joint statement, the King and Queen described her as a “national treasure,” saying, “As
the curtain falls on such a talent, we join the world in fondly remembering her many
unforgettable performances, both on stage and off.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer echoed the sentiment, saying Dame Maggie “introduced us
to new worlds through her many stories, and her work will be cherished for generations.”