Yahoo Lifestyle R.I.P., Maggie Smith: Downton Abbey Co-Stars, Daniel Radcliffe and More Pay Tribute to ‘a True Legend’
We lost an icon of stage and screen with the passing of Maggie Smith, and tributes from her co-stars and Hollywood admirers are pouring in.
The Oscar and Emmy winner died Friday at the age of 89, leaving behind a legacy that spanned decades, including a key turn as the sharp-tongued Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham on the PBS period drama Downton Abbey. Hugh Bonneville, who played Violet’s son Lord Grantham, offered his memories of Smith in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter: “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.”
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Michelle Dockery, who played Violet’s granddaughter Lady Mary on Downton, added her own tribute: “There was no one quite like Maggie. I feel tremendously lucky to have known such a maverick. She will be deeply missed and my thoughts are with her family.”
Daniel Radcliffe, who co-starred with Smith in the Harry Potter films, recalled first meeting her at age 9 on the set of David Copperfield: “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. 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.”
Whoopi Goldberg, who starred with Smith in Sister Act, honored the acting great on Instagram: “Maggie Smith was a great woman and a brilliant actress. 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.”
Rob Lowe, who worked with Smith in a 1993 filmed production of the Tennessee Williams classic Suddenly, Last Summer, posted a tribute as well: “Saddened to hear Dame Maggie Smith has passed. 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!”
Share your own tribute to Smith in the comments below.
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