When Harry Potter Director Chris Columbus Said Maggie Smith Was ‘Exactly’ Who They Needed Minerva McGonagall To Be

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As a dedicated follower and an admirer of the performing arts, I find myself deeply saddened by the passing of Dame Maggie Smith. Her impact on cinema, theater, and television was nothing short of extraordinary, and her role as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter universe will forever be etched in our hearts and minds.

TRIGGER WARNING: This article contains references to an individual’s death.

On Friday, September 27, British actress Dame Maggie Smith, aged 89, passed away, causing deep sorrow among Harry Potter enthusiasts everywhere. Throughout her illustrious career spanning theater, film, and television, the late Dame Maggie Smith made a lasting impact. Yet, it is her portrayal of the stern yet fair Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter universe that will be most remembered by a generation of fans.

Between the years 2001 and 2011, Smith assumed the role of the magical McGonagall in all eight Harry Potter movies. In 2015, Smith shared with British TV host Graham Norton that portraying McGonagall significantly influenced her life as it was heartening to receive greetings from a unique group of small individuals who admired her performance.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase it like this: When selecting the cast for the initial Harry Potter film, director Chris Columbus was instantly captivated by Maggie Smith due to her unique blend of stature and compassion. In a YouTube video from the early 2000s, Columbus, who helmed the first two Harry Potter movies, reflected on what he envisioned for McGonagall, emphasizing the qualities we needed in this iconic character.

He remarked, “Someone who had a real sense of warmth and heart, but someone you were intimidated by. And that’s exactly Maggie. And I thought, this is perfect for McGonagall.”

Columbus remembered a striking scene from the character’s initial appearance. “She makes her debut at the start of the movie, and it’s the scene where they climb stairs. She was awe-inspiring to the cast and crew due to her intelligence; her brilliance left them in awe.

On September 27, 2024, at the age of 89, Dame Smith departed this world. Beyond her iconic role as Harry Potter, she was widely recognized for her exceptional performances on the Downton Abbey television series as Violet Crawley, and in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969) and California Suite (1978), for which she won an Oscar. In 1990, she was honored with a Tony Award for Lettice and Lovage, and that same year, Queen Elizabeth II bestowed upon her the title of Dame in recognition of her significant contributions to the performing arts.

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2024-09-28 08:54