Emma Watson posts touching tribute to Harry Potter co-star Maggie Smith as actor dies aged 89

Harry Potter star Emma Watson has posted an emotional tribute to her costar of 10 years Dame Maggie Smith.

On the morning of September 27, Smith’s sons Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin issued a statement announcing that the two-time Oscar winner had died at the age of 89.

“It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith,” they wrote.

“She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday 27th September.

“An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end. She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother.

The actress was widely known for her role in Harry Potter. (Warner Bros.)

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their care and unstinting kindness during her final days,” they added.

“We thank you for all your kind messages and support and ask that you respect our privacy at this time.”

Watson, who starred as Hermione Granger alongside Smith’s Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter franchise, took to her Instagram Stories today to share a touching tribute to her costar.

“When I was younger I had no idea of Maggie’s legend — the woman I was fortunate enough to share space with. It is only as I’ve become an adult that l’ve come to appreciate that I shared the screen with a true definition of greatness,” Watson wrote alongside a picture of her and Smith from the Harry Potter set.

(Instagram/@emmawatson)

“She was real, honest, funny and self-honouring. Maggie, there were a lot of male professors and by God you held your own. Thank you for all of your kindness. I’ll miss you.”

Daniel Radcliffe, who played the titular lead in the Harry Potter franchise, also shared a tribute to Smith earlier today via Variety, writing: “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.

Tributes have been pouring in from Smith’s Harry Potter costars. (Warner Bros.)

“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!’

“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.”