“Harry Potter'”s James Phelps Recalls the Lesson Maggie Smith ‘Subtly’ Taught Him During the First Film (Exclusive)

James and his brother Oliver played Fred and George Weasley in the films

James Phelps is remembering his late Harry Potter costar.

James and his brother Oliver, who played Fred and George Weasley, respectively, in the Harry Potter film series, spoke to PEOPLE on Oct. 10 about their late costar Maggie Smith at the Warner Bros. Television Group Fall TV Launch Event in Los Angeles. The duo host Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking, a new cooking competition series that premieres on Max this Fall.

James, 38, reflected on the lessons he learned from working with Smith, who died last month at the age of 89.

“I'll always remember the first time I ever met Maggie Smith,” he shared. “It was our second week of filming and we're on location in the north of England and she was sitting waiting for her car to come. And like a true professional, she was waiting half an hour before because she was always on time, which we subtly talked about and realized that we were learning how to behave.”

“And I can remember, she had said, ‘Hello, I'm Maggie,' " he continued. “I can remember she said, ‘Oh, you probably know me from Sister Act.’ I was like, ‘Yes I do.’ ” The adults on set, he said, were respectful to the younger actors and “always made us feel like colleagues.”

“Anytime we're on a set now, if there's any kids involved in filming, we always try and act the same and do the same to them, so they feel just as much part of the team as everybody else,” he shared.

Smith played Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter film series, beginning with 2001’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. She ultimately appeared in seven of the eight films in the series, which ended in 2011 with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2.

Related: Remembering Maggie Smith's Incredible Life and Career in Photos

Many of Smith’s Potter costars shared memories of her in the days after her death. Daniel Radcliffe, who starred as Harry Potter, made his acting debut in a 1999 TV adaptation of David Copperfield that Smith was also cast in.

"I remember feeling nervous to meet her and then her putting me immediately at ease," the 35-year-old actor told Variety on Sept. 27. "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.”

The actress, who appeared in over 50 films and won two Oscars, was also warmly remembered by many of her other colleagues. Sandra Bullock — who starred with Smith in 2002's Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood — told PEOPLE, “How lucky am I to have sat in quiet corners with Maggie and a glass of wine. Her stories, her wicked sense of humor and her gentle advice are all things that have made my life sweeter.”

Related: Maggie Smith's Downton Abbey Costars Pay Tribute to 'Formidable' Actress Following Her Death: 'A True Legend'

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Ellen Burstyn, who also appeared in the movie, told PEOPLE, “Maggie Smith was truly a great actress. There aren’t many of us that could be said about and when one of us goes, it is a tragedy all around. Her genius will be greatly missed.”

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