The Wizarding World has lost its North Star, and the students of Hogwarts are leadings the tributes.
Following the news that Dame Maggie Smith passed away on September at the age of , the Harry Potter cast has taken to social media to honor the woman who brought the formidable Professor Minerva McGonagall to life.
For ten years, Smith was a constant presence for the young stars, and their reactions prove she was just as much a mentor off-screen as she was in the Great Hall.
Emma Watson, who played Hermione Granger, shared a vulnerable reflection on Instagram, admitting she didn’t fully grasp the magnitude of Smith’s legend when they first started filming.
“I didn’t truly understand Maggie’s influence on the industry when I was young,” Watson explained. She noted that in recent years, she came to realize Smith was a “constant source of strength” who managed to stand out effortlessly in a male-dominated cast.
Daniel Radcliffe, our Harry Potter himself, echoed that sentiment, describing the two-time Oscar winner as “incredibly kind,” “gloriously sharp,” and “extremely funny.” He shared how lucky he felt to have spent a decade working alongside her at such a formative age.
Meanwhile, Rupert Grint said he is “heartbroken” by the news but feels “incredibly lucky” to have shared the screen with her.
One of the most touching stories came from Tom Felton, known to fans as Draco Malfoy. Felton revealed a secret from the set, recalling a time he was nearly kicked out for giggling during a scene in McGonagall’s classroom.
According to Felton, it was Smith who stepped in to defend him, ensuring he remained in the cast. To honor her, Felton asked fans to “raise your wands”—a symbolic gesture used in the films to mark the passing of great wizards.
The “Raise Your Wands” movement quickly went viral, with fans at Universal Studios Orlando gathering in front of Hogwarts castle to lift their wands toward the sky in a breathtaking display of grief and love.
But the tributes didn’t stop at Platform ¾. Smith, a “Triple Crown” acting winner with Oscars, Emmys, and a Tony to her name, was mourned by everyone from King Charles to her Downton Abbey co-star Hugh Bonneville.
Even Miriam Margolyes, who played Professor Sprout, admitted she was always in “awe of her” during their time together.
As Smith joins fellow Potter legends like Alan Rickman, Robbie Coltrane, and Michael Gambon in the stars, her legacy as a Dame and a “force of nature” remains unshakable.
Rest in peace, Professor. We’re raising our wands for you.
Would you like me to look back at Dame Maggie Smith’s most iconic fashion moments from the ‘Downton Abbey’ red carpets?
Unexpected Team-Up: Prince William and Emma Watson Unite for Change
Prince William had plenty to celebrate this weekend, but his latest public appearance quickly turned heads for a very different reason. After marking his 44th birthday and Father's Day with his family, the future king returned to royal duties—and made a surprisingly personal confession about the emotional toll of climate change.
William joined Hollywood stars Emma Watson and Benedict Cumberbatch at a United for Wildlife forum in London, an initiative he launched with the Royal Foundation in 2013. The organization works around the world to combat wildlife trafficking, environmental crime, and the destruction of endangered species.
But it was William's candid admission about his own fears that stole the spotlight.
The Prince of Wales revealed that climate change has caused him "sleepless nights," admitting he has struggled with anxiety about what the future could look like. Yet instead of allowing those fears to overwhelm him, William said seeing real progress through conservation efforts has helped keep his environmental anxiety under control.
He also delivered a powerful message to business leaders, urging them to become the kind of leaders they admired when they were children. With technology and innovation transforming the world at an incredible pace, William challenged CEOs to use their influence to create meaningful change.
The event launched London Climate Action Week, with more royal appearances expected, including the Earthshot Prize assembly.
Emma Watson also delivered a surprising revelation of her own. The Harry Potter star highlighted the fashion industry's enormous environmental impact, pointing out that it produces more emissions than aviation and ranks behind only oil among major polluting industries.
Watson, who is also pursuing a doctorate in philosophy at Oxford, shared a hilarious story about mistakenly believing paparazzi were following her. After spotting photographers with telephoto lenses, she arranged a distraction and escaped through another exit. The twist? They weren't photographing her at all. They were waiting to capture a red kite.
Meanwhile, Benedict Cumberbatch praised William as "a great guy" and urged businesses and individuals to recognize that they can still make a difference, even when global environmental challenges appear overwhelming.
With William, Watson, and Cumberbatch joining forces on the issue, the London forum delivered a clear message: the fight against environmental destruction is becoming impossible for the world's biggest names to ignore.
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