A shining star has faded; actress Maggie Smith died Friday at age 89.
The famed British actress had a long and prolific career that spanned generations. Her first movie role was in the 1956 film “Child in the House”, a movie about an 11 year old girl dealing with uncaring relatives.
Smith has won a number of awards and nominations throughout her career, including an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie (2011) for her role of Dowager Countess of Grantham/Violet Crawley (2010 – 2015) in the British period drama “Downton Abbey.”
In the show, Crawley was the matriarch of a noble British family, the Crawleys of Grantham. Smith brought poise and snarkiness to the role, in which she represented the fading noble class as the family and country moved into the modern age.
However, for anyone who was a tween or teen in the early 2000s, she will forever be remembered as the iconic and fierce Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter movies, which were made from 2001 until 2011.
In the films, McGonagall was known to be an animagus, a witch or wizard with the ability to turn into a specific animal; her animal was a gray tabby cat.
One of the most fascinating scenes in the movies was seeing this change on screen, as McGonagall spent many times switching between cat and witch form. This action always seemed to make McGonagall a quintessential representation of witches. Smith’s character portrayal and line delivery sold the character and her performance brought the character to life.
In “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” when Harry and Ron are late for McGonagall’s transfiguration class, she transforms right in front of them and scolds them.
The line “perhaps it would be more useful if I were to transfigure Mr. Potter and yourself (Ron Weasley) into a pocket watch, that way one of you might be on time,” highlights Smith’s rapier wit and embodiment of the character as a seasoned witch and stern professor.
Regardless of whether you grew up seeing her on the silver screen, Smith’s life touched the hearts of those around her and she will be remembered for her kindness and humor.
“Heartbroken to hear about Maggie. She was so special, always hilarious and always kind,” said Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley in the “Harry Potter” franchise, in an Instagram tribute post for Smith. “I feel incredibly lucky to have shared a set with her and particularly lucky to have shared a dance. I’ll miss you Maggie.”
