Maggie Smith died on 27 September 2024, aged 89. Among the tributes that followed, the most personal came from Daniel Radcliffe, who recalled meeting her when he was nine and working with her across the Harry Potter films. Fans at Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter also raised their wands in her memory, a gesture TIME reported at the time.
How her family announced her death
Smith’s sons announced her death, and the statement, as reproduced by The Guardian, read: “She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday 27 September.” None of the reports cited here gives a cause of death.
Radcliffe’s tribute to Maggie Smith
Radcliffe gave two statements to the Associated Press. The first is the one most widely quoted:
“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.”
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The second statement places her last work in the series in the context of her career:
“Maggie Smith was a truly great actress and we were more than fortunate to be part of the last act in her stellar career. She was a joy to write for, subtle, many-layered, intelligent, funny and heart-breaking. Working with her has been the greatest privilege of my career, and I will never forget her.”
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How Radcliffe first met her
Radcliffe’s memory reaches back before Harry Potter. He first met Smith at nine, reading scenes together for David Copperfield, which was his first job. He has said he was nervous, asked whether she wanted him to call her “Dame”, and was put at ease almost immediately. The two then worked together for roughly another ten years on the Potter films, which is why his statement reads as a long working relationship rather than a single meeting.
Smith as Professor McGonagall
For the Harry Potter generation, Smith was Professor Minerva McGonagall. She played the role in the film series from 2001 to 2011, appearing in every installment except Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, according to The Guardian. Readers who want to revisit the performance can find the films on Blu-ray or DVD; the specific edition and region should be checked on the seller’s listing before purchase.
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Reactions from other Potter cast members
- Emma Watson said she understood Smith’s stature more fully as an adult than she could as a young actor.
- Rupert Grint recalled sharing a dance with Smith.
- Bonnie Wright singled out the Yule Ball dance lesson and Smith’s mix of sass and care.
Tributes from Downton Abbey and wider colleagues
Smith’s later television work, including Downton Abbey as Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham, brought tributes from colleagues who worked with her on that series. As reported by the Associated Press, Hugh Bonneville praised her “sharp eye, sharp wit and formidable talent,” and Julian Fellowes also paid tribute. Other statements carried in the same AP report came from Helen Mirren, Whoopi Goldberg, Saoirse Ronan, the filmmaker James Ivory, and Rob Lowe.
Royal and political reactions
The AP also reported statements from King Charles III and Prime Minister Keir Starmer. These were separate from the film and stage colleagues’ tributes and were issued in Smith’s capacity as a leading British performer.
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The “Wands Up” fan gesture
“Wands Up” refers to a fan gesture reported by TIME at Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter, where people raised their wands. The gesture echoed the scene in the sixth film, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, that paid tribute to Dumbledore after his death. TIME reported it as a fan response, not an official ceremony arranged by the franchise, and the reporting does not give a count of participants.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Smith’s career beyond Harry Potter
Born Margaret Natalie Smith, she built a career across stage, film and television. The Guardian reports that she won two Oscars and eight BAFTAs, and its obituary cites The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and Downton Abbey alongside Harry Potter as touchstones of that career.
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In a 2004 interview, quoted by The Guardian, she reflected on how her work had been received: “My career is chequered,” she said. “I think I got pigeonholed in humour … If you do comedy, you kind of don’t count. Comedy is never considered the real thing.” That remark predates the 2024 tributes and is included only for context on how she saw her own career.
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