“She’s the reason”: Daniel Radcliffe is Forever Thankful for Maggie Smith Who Helped Him Get Harry Potter Role

Daniel Radcliffe is widely known for his portrayal of Harry Potter in the Harry Potter film series alongside Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, and more. The actor was signed in for the part when he was 12 years old and went on to appear in all eight movies, which concluded with 2011’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows—Part 2.

Warner Bros.’s Lorenzo di Bonaventura described the Harry Potter series as a timeless literary achievement that comes around once in a lifetime. The film series to date is regarded as one of the most loved and celebrated fantasy films. A prequel, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, premiered in 2016, which marks the beginning of Wizarding World.

Author J.K. Rowling revealed that Deathly Hollows is her favorite in the series. Radcliffe is thankful to one of his cast members who made it possible for him to star as Harry Potter.

Daniel Radcliffe credits his Harry Potter role to Maggie Smith

Even the thought of someone else portraying the evergreen and beloved character of Harry Potter other than Daniel Radcliffe is surprising. The actor was 11 years old when he was offered a part in the fantasy movie, which his parents reportedly turned down citing concerns over production that was going to film in Los Angeles.

After discussions, the studios offered the young actor a two-film contract with filming in the U.K. The two-film contract eventually turned into eight successful movies. But Radcliffe credits his success as a lead actor in eight movies to his co-star Maggie Smith, who played Professor McGonagall in the movie. During his appearance with Stephen Colbert, the actor shared,

I met Maggie Smith when I was 9 for the first time. I did a thing before Potter called David Copperfield on the BBC adaptation. Maggie was the person who recommended, Harry Potter. So she’s the reason I ended up doing that. I met her when I was 9, and I didn’t know who she was. My parents were like, ‘Oh my god, you’re working with Maggie Smith; that’s huge. But I was not like a Prime of Miss Jean Brodie fan, so I didn’t know who that was.

The casting director Janet Hirshenon shared during an interview with HuffPost that there was a criterion to find Harry Potter and the other characters. She shared that the characters were supposed to be British; actors signed in to play Harry Potter should be of appropriate age. Lastly, the eye color had to be right. Director Chris Columbus, after watching Daniel Radcliffe on David Copperfield and a little push from Maggie Smith, got the young actor an audition.

Janet Hirshenson added that the other kid was terrific, very vulnerable, and very much like Harry Potter, but they had to consider that over time, the character would become very powerful. On the other hand, Radcliffe had both sides, and it seemed like he’d be able to portray the character with ease, which was hard to ignore. Thus, Radcliffe was hired as Harry Potter. She also revealed that at the first table read, J.K. Rowling had a smile on her face as if she knew that they were about to create magic.

Harry Potter actress Maggie Smith passes away at the age of 89

Regarded as one of the most talented actresses in the industry, Maggie Smith, who is popularly known for playing tough but fair Professor McGonagall in the movies passed away at the age of 89 on September 27, 2024. The news was confirmed for her sons. They shared in a statement via EW;

It is with great sadness that we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith. She passed away peacefully in the hospital early this morning. 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 late actress’ sons thanked the wonderful staff at the Chelsea and Westminister Hospital for the care and kindness they showed to their mother. The two of them mentioned that they cannot thank enough people for the kind messages and support the family has received, but they’d like everyone to respect their privacy.

Chris Columbus had mentioned that she was someone who can intimidate you, but also has a sense of warmth and heart, adding that it was perfect for McGonagall. He recalled a scene and shared (via People),

You meet her at the beginning of the film; she’s in the scene where they’re walking up the stairs, and she is intimidating. I mean, she was intimidating to the crew because she’s so smart and so brilliant.

Maggie Smith was also in Downtown Abbey as Lady Violet, and the success of the show became a pop culture phenomenon. She was highly lauded for her work on the show.

Harry Potter movies are available to stream on Peacock.