“Harry Potter” and “Downton Abbey” stars remember Maggie Smith

Photo: John Phillips/Getty Images for BFI

Former co-stars and famous fans are honoring Dame Maggie Smith in statements and on social media after her sons confirmed that the actress, beloved for decades in stage and screen roles, died “peacefully in hospital” today. She was 89. Daniel Radcliffe recalled Smith's kindness to him when he met her at age 9 in his acting debut. David Copperfield. The pair were reunited as co-stars in a decade Harry Potter Films in which Smith starred as Professor McGonagall. “She had a fierce intellect, a wonderfully sharp tongue, could intimidate and charm at the same time and, as anyone will tell you, was extremely funny,” Radcliffe said in a statement shared with the Associated Press. “I will always consider myself very lucky to have been able to work with her and spend time with her on set. The word “legend” gets thrown around a lot, but if it applies to someone in our industry, then it applies to them too. “Thank you, Maggie.”

Downton Abbey Creator Julian Fellowes said in a statement to the AP that working with Smith was “the greatest privilege” of his career, describing the “truly great actress” as “a woman who is a joy to write, subtle, layered , intelligent, funny and heart-breaking.” Hugh Bonneville, who played the son of Smith's Violet Crawley in the series, praised her “keen eye, sharp mind and impressive talent” in a statement to the BBC, adding adding, “She was a true legend of her generation and, thankfully, will live on in so many great film performances.” Below are other tributes from people who worked with or admired Smith throughout her multigenerational career.

Downton Abbey Executive producer Gareth Neame, in a statement to Deadline:

“The entire cast and crew of Downton Abbey I felt it was a great honor to work with her, she was an actress of such caliber whose incredible talent could encompass both great comedies and full-blown tragedies. Off-screen, she was particularly close with the cast playing the other members of her family and was very generous and full of encouragement to the younger actors. It is personally poignant to me that my late grandfather directed one of their best performances The heyday of Miss Jean Brodie She won her first Oscar for this. Jean Brodie and Violet Grantham are just two creations of an extraordinary career that has spanned decades and delighted audiences around the world. There is only one Maggie Smith and we will miss her dearly. Our thoughts are with her family.”

Miriam Margolyes praised Smith as the “best of the best” and told BBC News that she was late Harry Potter Co-star combined “wildness, a touch of mischief, joy and tenderness.” She also highlighted Smith's “tremendous courage,” adding, “I, like all of her colleagues, was in awe of her.”

Downton Abbey star Michelle Dockery, in a statement to Deadline:

“There was no one like Maggie. I am very lucky to have met such an outsider. She will be missed very much and my thoughts are with her family.”