Harry Potter actress Dame Maggie Smith, who played the beloved Professor McGonagall, died on September 27 at the age of 89. The news was announced via a statement released by his sons Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens on the day of the tragedy and the flood that followed. Tributes poured in from fans and co-stars alike.
The Oscar-winning actress has won many awards throughout her career. Yet, one role that has remained famous across generations was her role in the film series based on JK Rowling’s hit sci-fi novel series. Her character was one of the few non-Grey characters and came to the aid of Harry and his gang whenever needed, making her one of the most beloved Hogwarts professors.
However, the award-winning Shakespeare actress had a worrying reputation on the set of Harry Potter. Lots of behind-the-scenes footage from the set confirms how much fun the cast and crew had during filming, but some of them remained restrained or downright strict, and Smith is one of them.
Previously, The Evening Standard reported that the Downton Abbey actress was “furious” to be around, and her co-star Miriam Margolyes – who played Professor Sprout – agreed with the description. Reportedly, filmmaker Chris Columbus was so intimidated by the late actress that he minimized contact and often sent a young Daniel Radcliffe to pick her up from her trailer.
In her appearance on This Morning, Margolis described Smith as a “great lady” as long as people stayed on her good side. “Actually, I’m afraid of him. That’s a lot, yes. But he is a great ornament to our profession. We are very fortunate to have him with us,” he added. In 2021, while speaking with Express, the actress recalled being ‘cautious’ around Smith because she could look ‘absolutely gorgeous as long as no one pushed her buttons.’ It’s a little worrying… You have to be careful with Maggie because if she’s wrong, she doesn’t mind sharing it,” Margolis said.
Whether the late actress was strict or playful, she brought Professor McGonagall to life in the most authentic way, earning love and hate in equal measure.