The late actress Maggie Smith was deeply mourned by her Downton Abbey family, as her co-stars reflected on the tremendous influence she had on the series and everyone she collaborated with. Following the passing of the iconic actress on Friday, September 27, the cast of the show shared heartfelt tributes expressing their sentiments regarding what Smith meant to them.
Actor Hugh Bonneville conveyed his thoughts in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, released on the same Friday:
“Anyone who ever shared a scene with Maggie will attest to her sharp eye, sharp wit, and formidable talent. She was a true legend of her generation and thankfully will live on in so many magnificent screen performances. My condolences to her boys and wider family.”
In the renowned British TV series, Bonneville portrayed Robert Crawley, the 7th Earl of Grantham, alongside the late actress who played Violet Crawley (Dame Maggie Smith).
Furthermore, the official Downton Abbey Instagram account honored the late actress with a touching post, captioned:
“A true British icon. Thank you for everything, Dame Maggie Smith.”
Another cast member from the ITV show, Michelle Dockery, expressed her sentiments about Smith in a statement via Deadline. She remarked that “there was no one quite like Maggie,”adding that she felt “tremendously lucky”to have encountered the impressive actress, whom she labeled a “maverick.”
Maggie Smith’s sons, Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin, announced the news of their mother’s passing on BBC Friday, stating that Smith “passed away peacefully in hospital.”
Downton Abbey Showrunner Remembers Maggie Smith as Co-Stars Share Heartfelt Tributes
Julian Fellowes, the creator of Downton Abbey, reminisced about working with Smith, describing her as a “truly great actress.”He expressed feeling “more than fortunate”to have collaborated with her during her illustrious career. In a statement shared with Entertainment Weekly on September 27, he elaborated on the experience:
“She was a joy to write for, subtle, many-layered, intelligent, funny, and heartbreaking. Working with her has been the greatest privilege of my career, and I will never forget her.”
Fellowes and Smith also collaborated in the critically acclaimed film Gosford Park, directed by Robert Altman, for which Fellowes penned the screenplay and won an Oscar.
Maggie Smith’s cinematic contributions include numerous films such as California Suite and The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, both of which garnered her Academy Awards for Best Actress. She is perhaps best remembered for her role as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter franchise.
Stars from the beloved fantasy series also paid homage to Maggie Smith. Daniel Radcliffe, who played Harry Potter and worked with Smith in the David Copperfield series, described her as an “incredibly kind”individual in his tribute. In a statement to Variety, he recalled:
“I remember feeling nervous to meet her and then her putting me immediately at ease. She was incredibly kind to me on that shoot, and then I was lucky enough to go on working with her for another 10 years on the Harry Potter films.”
Radcliffe fondly remembered asking Smith if she preferred to be addressed as “Dame,”to which she humorously replied, “Don’t be ridiculous!”
Meanwhile, Emma Watson, who portrayed Hermione Granger, shared an Instagram Story on Friday commemorating Smith as “the true definition of greatness.”Bonnie Wright, known for her role as Ginny Weasley, also posted a tribute featuring a picture of the late actress, expressing that the Harry Potter community will dearly miss her.
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