Radcliffe, for instance, remembers working with Smith before being cast in Harry Potter, having met her on the set of the BBC’s adaptation of David Copperfield when he was all of 9. Here’s his extended statement about her,

Beloved British actor Maggie Smith, who stole hearts in her portrayal of Downton Abbey’s Violet Crawley and Harry Potter’s Professor Minerva McGonagall, died on the morning of Friday, Sept. 27, at the age of 89.

A grand star of screen and stage has departed. Maggie Smith, known most recently for her unforgettable roles as the Dowager Countess in Downton Abbey and as Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter films, passed away at age 89. Fans both old and young shall miss her dearly.