Ralph Fiennes Recalls Maggie Smith's 'Lethal Sense of Humor' During a PivotalHarry PotterScene: 'One of Our Great Greats'

Mar. 15, 2025

Ralph Fiennes (left); Maggie Smith.Photo:Andreas Rentz/Getty; Mike Marsland/WireImage

Andreas Rentz/Getty; Mike Marsland/WireImage

Ralph Fiennesis remembering legendary British actress DameMaggie Smith.Fiennes, who played Voldemort intheHarry Potterfilms, recently honored Smith following herdeath at age 89 in September.“I have to say I never worked with Maggie much, except onHarry Potter,” theConclavestar, 61, toldEntertainment Tonight. “But she had a wonderful, rather lethal sense of humor.”He remembered one particular day they were filming aHarry Potterbattle scene. “She gave me a sort of ironic side eye when we were doing one of the big confrontational scenes, as if to say ‘Darling what are we doing here?'” he recalled.Maggie Smith in ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.'.TCD/Prod.DB/Alamy Stock Photo“I have admired her for many, many years,” Fiennes said. “She’s one of our great actresses. One of our great greats. Amazing wit. She was a one-off. . . . It’s a great loss.”Fiennes appeared as Voldemort in fiveHarry Potterfilms: 2005’sHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, 2007’sHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, 2009’sHarry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, 2010’sHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1and 2011’sHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2. Meanwhile, Smith’s Professor McGonagall appeared in every Potter film exceptHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1.Ralph Fiennes in 2024.Daniele Venturelli/WireImageEarlier this month,James Phelps, who played Fred Weasley, spoke to PEOPLEabout the example Smith set for him and his brother Oliver, who played George Weasley, on set. Seeing Smith arrive early for her call time, the 38-year-old said, taught them “how to behave” when making a movie.He noted that Smith and the other adults on set were kind to all the younger actors and “always made us feel like colleagues.” It was a lesson he carried into his adulthood.“Anytime we’re on a set now, if there’s any kids involved in filming, we always try and act the same and do the same to them, so they feel just as much part of the team as everybody else,” he said.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Smith was known not only for her role in theHarry Potterfilms but alsoher starring rolesinDownton Abbey,Sister Act,Hook,The First Wives Cluband many more. She won two Oscars, forThe Prime of Miss Jean BrodieandCalifornia Suite, and was a four-time Emmy winner, including three wins forDownton Abbey. She also won a Tony in 1990 forLettice and Lovage. One of her last film roles was in 2023’sThe Miracle Club. That year, she alsomodeled for fashion brand Loewe.Smith’s ability to make her costars laugh was something many of them remembered after her death. Sandra Bullock, who starred inDivine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhoodwith the actress,told PEOPLE, “How lucky am I to have sat in quiet corners with Maggie and a glass of wine. Her stories, her wicked sense of humor and her gentle advice are all things that have made my life sweeter.”

Ralph Fiennesis remembering legendary British actress DameMaggie Smith.

Fiennes, who played Voldemort intheHarry Potterfilms, recently honored Smith following herdeath at age 89 in September.

“I have to say I never worked with Maggie much, except onHarry Potter,” theConclavestar, 61, toldEntertainment Tonight. “But she had a wonderful, rather lethal sense of humor.”

He remembered one particular day they were filming aHarry Potterbattle scene. “She gave me a sort of ironic side eye when we were doing one of the big confrontational scenes, as if to say ‘Darling what are we doing here?'” he recalled.

Maggie Smith in ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.'.TCD/Prod.DB/Alamy Stock Photo

TCD/Prod.DB/Alamy Stock Photo

“I have admired her for many, many years,” Fiennes said. “She’s one of our great actresses. One of our great greats. Amazing wit. She was a one-off. . . . It’s a great loss.”

Fiennes appeared as Voldemort in fiveHarry Potterfilms: 2005’sHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, 2007’sHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, 2009’sHarry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, 2010’sHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1and 2011’sHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2. Meanwhile, Smith’s Professor McGonagall appeared in every Potter film exceptHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1.

Ralph Fiennes in 2024.Daniele Venturelli/WireImage

Daniele Venturelli/WireImage

Earlier this month,James Phelps, who played Fred Weasley, spoke to PEOPLEabout the example Smith set for him and his brother Oliver, who played George Weasley, on set. Seeing Smith arrive early for her call time, the 38-year-old said, taught them “how to behave” when making a movie.

He noted that Smith and the other adults on set were kind to all the younger actors and “always made us feel like colleagues.” It was a lesson he carried into his adulthood.

“Anytime we’re on a set now, if there’s any kids involved in filming, we always try and act the same and do the same to them, so they feel just as much part of the team as everybody else,” he said.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Smith was known not only for her role in theHarry Potterfilms but alsoher starring rolesinDownton Abbey,Sister Act,Hook,The First Wives Cluband many more. She won two Oscars, forThe Prime of Miss Jean BrodieandCalifornia Suite, and was a four-time Emmy winner, including three wins forDownton Abbey. She also won a Tony in 1990 forLettice and Lovage. One of her last film roles was in 2023’sThe Miracle Club. That year, she alsomodeled for fashion brand Loewe.

Smith’s ability to make her costars laugh was something many of them remembered after her death. Sandra Bullock, who starred inDivine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhoodwith the actress,told PEOPLE, “How lucky am I to have sat in quiet corners with Maggie and a glass of wine. Her stories, her wicked sense of humor and her gentle advice are all things that have made my life sweeter.”

source: people.com