Daniel Radcliffe recounts his first meeting with the ‘legend’

CINEMA – For him, as for many, she was Minerva, but not only. A few hours after the announcement of the death of actress Maggie Smith, the main actor of the most famous saga in which she starred paid her a particularly touching tribute.

Daniel Radcliffe, who plays the most famous modern wizard, knew the actress quite well, who died this Friday, September 27 at the age of 89. However, in the few words he wrote after the announcement of his death, it is notHarry Potter that he wanted to talk, but about his very first meeting with her. A few years earlier.

Because if Daniel Radcliffe is known worldwide for Harry Potterhe had already filmed with Maggie Smith for the mini-series David Copperfield from the BBC, where he played the hero of Charles Dickens’ novels in his young version. Aunt of David’s father in the story, the character of Betsey Totwood was played by Maggie Smith.

« The first time I met Maggie Smith, I was nine years old and we were reading scenes for ‘David Copperfield,’ which was my first acting job. I knew next to nothing about her, other than my parents were amazed at the idea of ​​me working with her. », Revealed the actor in a press release relayed by the BBC.

Not yet chosen to play Harry Potter on screen at that time, Daniel Radcliffe continued his nostalgic story by telling a second anecdote, just as touching: “ The other thing I knew about her was that she was a Lady, so the first thing I asked her when we met was ‘do you want me to call you Lady?’ , to which she laughed and said something like ‘Don’t be ridiculous, just call me Maggie!’ “.

“The word legend is overused”except for her

What is less known about the two actors is that without one, the other would perhaps never have enjoyed the success of the magic saga in the cinema. This is what Daniel Radcliffe revealed in 2021, during a visit to the set of Late Show by Stephen Colbert. The British actor then revealed that Maggie Smith was “ the person who recommended him for Harry Potter and got him the role”after their common experience on David Copperfield.

“She was incredibly kind to me on that set, and I then had the chance to continue working with her for 10 years on the Harry Potter films », added this Friday the British actor, now 35 years old. “ The word legend is overused, but if it applies to anyone in our industry, it’s her », he said to conclude his farewell message.

Appearing in seven of the eight films in the adaptation of JK Rowling’s books, Maggie Smith left her mark on the entire cast of this franchise. On Instagram, the best student at Hogwarts paid tribute to the best transfiguration teacher. “ When I was young, I had no idea of ​​the legend of Maggie, the woman I was lucky enough to share time with. It wasn’t until I became an adult that I came to appreciate having shared the screen with the true definition of greatness », Wrote actress Emma Watson, Hermione Granger in the saga.

« There were a lot of male teachers and thank God you stood your ground », added with a touch of humor the actress in her Instagram story, where we can see a photo of Maggie Smith holding her face in her hands.

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