Daniel Radcliffe Details Meeting Harry Potter Costar Maggie Smith in Moving Tribute

Daniel Radcliffe was spellbound by Maggie Smith from the very start.

 The Harry Potter alum detailed his first meeting with the two-time Oscar-winning actress—who died on Sept. 27 at age 89—in a moving anecdote about their time on the set of the 1999 BBC drama David Copperfield, years before reuniting on the magical franchise.

At the time, Radcliffe was 9 years old and admittedly "knew virtually nothing about her other than that my parents were awestruck."

"The other thing I knew about her was that she was a Dame, so the first thing I asked her when we met was, 'Would you like me to call you Dame?'" the actor, now 35, shared in a statement to E! News. "To which she laughed and said something to the effect of 'don’t be ridiculous!'"

But Smith must've use the disarming charm on Radcliffe, who remembered "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 continued of his late castmate, who played Professor McGonagall opposite his titular wizard. "She was a fierce intellect, a gloriously sharp tongue, could intimidate and charm in the same instant and was, as everyone will tell you, extremely funny."

Calling himself "amazingly lucky" to have been able to work with Smith on multiple projects, he added, "The word legend is overused but if it applies to anyone in our industry then it applies to her."

Indeed, Smith left a lasting impression on many of her costars. In the wake of her passing, many from her Downton Abbey family also paid tribute.

"Anyone who ever shared a scene with Maggie will attest to her sharp eye, sharp wit and formidable talent," Hugh Bonneville, who played her son in the period drama, said in a statement to E! Sept. 27. "She was a true legend of her generation and thankfully will live on in so many magnificent screen performances."

Meanwhile, her onscreen granddaughter Michelle Dockery shared that there was "no one quite like Maggie."

"I feel tremendously lucky to have known such a maverick," the actress told The Hollywood Reporter. "She will be deeply missed and my thoughts are with her family."

For more star tributes to Smith, keep reading.

"The first time I met Maggie Smith I was 9 years old and we were reading through scenes for David Copperfield, which was my first job," the Harry Potter alum detailed in a statement. "I knew virtually nothing about her other than that my parents were awestruck at the fact that I would be working with her. The other thing I knew about her was that she was a Dame, so the first thing I asked her when we met was 'would you like me to call you Dame?' at which she laughed and said something to the effect of 'don’t be ridiculous!'"

Daniel went on to detail his lengthy on-set relationship with the beloved star. 

"I remember feeling nervous to meet her and then her putting me immediately at ease," he added. "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. She was a fierce intellect, a gloriously sharp tongue, could intimidate and charm in the same instant and was, as everyone will tell you, extremely funny. I will always consider myself amazingly lucky to have been able to work with her, and to spend time around her on set. The word legend is overused but if it applies to anyone in our industry then it applies to her. Thank you Maggie."

"So very, very sad to know she has gone," The Godford Park star wrote in a heartfelt Instagram post. "She was a true inspiration. She took acting very seriously but saw through the nonsense and razzmatazz. She really didn’t want to deal with that. She had a sense of humour and wit that could reduce me to a blithering puddle of giggles. And she did not have patience with fools. So you had to be a bit careful. I absolutely adored her."

Kristin went on to laud the late actress for her youthful spirit.

"Her performances and her personality," Kristin continued. "Her comedic timing was perfection and her vulnerability when required was heartbreaking. The last time I saw her she was very cross about being old. 'Maddening' I think she said. Much loved , much admired and irreplaceable. Rest in Peace dearest Maggie. Dame Maggie Smith."

“There was no one quite like Maggie," Michelle said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. "I feel tremendously lucky to have known such a maverick. She will be deeply missed and my thoughts are with her family.”

"Saddened to hear Dame Maggie Smith has passed," Rob, who shared the screen with Maggie in the 90s, wrote in an X, formerly Twitter, post. "I had the unforgettable experience of working with her; sharing a two-shot was like being paired with a lion. She could eat anyone alive, and often did. But funny, and great company. And suffered no fools. We will never see another. God speed, Ms. Smith!"

"Maggie Smith was a great woman and a brilliant actress," Whoopi wrote in an Instagram tribute. "I still can’t believe I was lucky enough to work with the 'one-of-a-kind.' My heartfelt condolences go out to the family. RIP."

“Anyone who ever shared a scene with Maggie will attest to her sharp eye, sharp wit and formidable talent," Bonneville, who starred in Downton Abbey alongside Maggie, said in a statement to E! News. "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.” 

"Maggie Smith was a truly great actress and we were more than fortunate to be part of the last act in her stellar career," the Downton Abbey creator said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. "She was a joy to write for, subtle, many-layered, intelligent, funny and heart-breaking. Working with her has been the greatest privilege of my career, and I will never forget her.”

The United Kingdom Prime Minister remembered the late actress on X, formerly Twitter, "She was beloved by so many for her great talent, becoming a true national treasure whose work will be cherished for generations to come."

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