Danielle Radcliffe Pays Tribute to ‘Extremely Funny’ Maggie Smith in Statement

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As a fan who grew up watching the magical world of Harry Potter unfold on screen, I can’t help but feel a profound sense of nostalgia and loss upon hearing about the passing of Dame Maggie Smith. Her presence in those films was as enchanting and indispensable as the spells cast by the characters she played.

Daniel Radcliffe honored Maggie Smith after her passing on Friday, expressing admiration for the extraordinary actress who was his long-time co-star.

In an interview with Variety, Radcliffe reminisced about first meeting Smith when he was only nine years old. He fondly remembered Smith’s kindness and cherished their collaboration on the Harry Potter movies, expressing gratitude for having had the opportunity to work alongside her, calling it an incredible stroke of luck.

The first time I encountered Maggie Smith was when I was nine, during our rehearsals for ‘David Copperfield.’ This was my debut role. Apart from knowing that my parents were thrilled about my collaboration with her, I had little information about her. I also understood she was a Dame, so my initial question to her was whether I should address her as such. She found this amusing and responded with something like, ‘Stop being absurd!’ Meeting her initially made me nervous, but she soon put me at ease. She showed immense kindness towards me during the shoot, and we worked together for another ten years on the ‘Harry Potter’ series.

Radcliffe described her as a brilliant mind with a witty sense of humor that could both frighten and delight others at once. She was also known for being incredibly funny, he added. Working with her on set was a privilege I feel incredibly fortunate to have had, and spending time around her was an experience I will always treasure. Though the term ‘legend’ is often overused, if it applies to anyone in our field, it certainly fits her. Thank you, Maggie.

Radcliffe and Smith’s working career spans over a decade

For more than ten years, Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson collaborated on each Harry Potter movie. Before their partnership in the film series, they had previously teamed up for the two-part BBC television version of David Copperfield. Notably, this was Daniel’s debut role as an actor, as he himself pointed out.

In a statement from her sons, it was announced that Smith had sadly passed away at the age of 89. Throughout her illustrious career, she received Academy Awards for Best Actress (for her role in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie in 1969) and Best Supporting Actress (for California Suite in 1978). Furthermore, she was recognized with nominations for her exceptional performances in Othello (1965), Travels with My Aunt (1972), A Room with a View (1986), and Gosford Park (2001).

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2024-09-27 23:12