The Wizarding World has lost its North Star, and the students of Hogwarts are leadings the tributes.
Following the news that Dame Maggie Smith passed away on September at the age of , the Harry Potter cast has taken to social media to honor the woman who brought the formidable Professor Minerva McGonagall to life.
For ten years, Smith was a constant presence for the young stars, and their reactions prove she was just as much a mentor off-screen as she was in the Great Hall.
Emma Watson, who played Hermione Granger, shared a vulnerable reflection on Instagram, admitting she didn’t fully grasp the magnitude of Smith’s legend when they first started filming.
“I didn’t truly understand Maggie’s influence on the industry when I was young,” Watson explained. She noted that in recent years, she came to realize Smith was a “constant source of strength” who managed to stand out effortlessly in a male-dominated cast.
Daniel Radcliffe, our Harry Potter himself, echoed that sentiment, describing the two-time Oscar winner as “incredibly kind,” “gloriously sharp,” and “extremely funny.” He shared how lucky he felt to have spent a decade working alongside her at such a formative age.
Meanwhile, Rupert Grint said he is “heartbroken” by the news but feels “incredibly lucky” to have shared the screen with her.
One of the most touching stories came from Tom Felton, known to fans as Draco Malfoy. Felton revealed a secret from the set, recalling a time he was nearly kicked out for giggling during a scene in McGonagall’s classroom.
According to Felton, it was Smith who stepped in to defend him, ensuring he remained in the cast. To honor her, Felton asked fans to “raise your wands”—a symbolic gesture used in the films to mark the passing of great wizards.
The “Raise Your Wands” movement quickly went viral, with fans at Universal Studios Orlando gathering in front of Hogwarts castle to lift their wands toward the sky in a breathtaking display of grief and love.
But the tributes didn’t stop at Platform ¾. Smith, a “Triple Crown” acting winner with Oscars, Emmys, and a Tony to her name, was mourned by everyone from King Charles to her Downton Abbey co-star Hugh Bonneville.
Even Miriam Margolyes, who played Professor Sprout, admitted she was always in “awe of her” during their time together.
As Smith joins fellow Potter legends like Alan Rickman, Robbie Coltrane, and Michael Gambon in the stars, her legacy as a Dame and a “force of nature” remains unshakable.
Rest in peace, Professor. We’re raising our wands for you.
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