Emma Watson, Rupert Grint and Tom Felton honor Maggie Smith in a public tribute

Key members of the Harry Potter cast are offering their tributes to Dame Maggie Smith after she recently passed away. Smith starred in the franchise as Professor McGonagall, who relatively had many screen moments with the main trio: Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Hermione (Emma Watson), and Ron (Rupert Grint). Outside the Harry Potter franchise, Smith earned two Academy Awards for an incredible career that saw her star in Downton Abbey, My House in Umbria, and The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969). She passed away on September 27 at 89 years old.

Major cast members have taken to Instagram to celebrate her life with heartfelt reactions. Check out some of their responses below:

Tom Felton, who portrayed Draco Malfoy, paid his respect to Smith, even sharing a story about her influence on him. When he was nearly kicked off the set for giggling during her character’s class, the Oscar winner defended him and ensured he would remain in the cast. Felton asked supporters to “raise your wands,” which was a touching tribute from the franchise that honored the loss of Dumbledore and other great figures.

Emma Watson’s response to Maggie Smith’s death

Watson explained that she never truly understood Smith’s influence on the industry when she was young, but eventually comprehended it in recent years. She expressed her eternal respect for Smith’s ability to stand out in a male-dominated cast and her constant source of strength.

Grint explained that he is “heartbroken” but “incredibly lucky” to have worked alongside Smith during his career. He expressed his love for her family along the way.

The Cast Has Shared Universal Love For Maggie Smith

Harry Potter Stars Aren’t The Only Ones Praising Smith

Smith’s death has generated endless praise from her contemporary stars. Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe shared his respects, describing her as “incredibly kind,” “gloriously sharp,” and “extremely funny.” He explained how lucky he was to have spent ten years working with her at such a young age. Miriam Margolyes (Professor Sprout) described that she was in “awe of her” throughout the shoots. More cast members are slowly putting out public statements, while Harry Potter fans have shared tributes, including attendees raising their wands at Hogwarts in Universal Studios Orlando.

The rest of Smith’s career has also generated tributes from other famous figures. King Charles and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer shared their condolences. Her co-stars, including Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey), have been sharing heartbreak at the news while also sharing their stories with Smith on set. This is a testament to Smith’s incredible career in both television and movies.

Our Take On Maggie Smith’s Legacy

It’s Important To Honor Smith’s Incredible Career.

Smith’s influence on the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is immense, but her entire career was groundbreaking. She earned Oscars, Emmy Awards, and a Tony Award, which earned her the vaunted Triple Crown of Acting. Queen Elizabeth named her a Dame in 1990, and she went on to continue that illustrious career for 35 years. Smith is not the first Harry Potter star to pass away, as Michael Gambon (Dumbledore), Alan Rickman (Snape), Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid), and many more have already gone. Still, Smith’s passing is a major loss felt by many people.

Source: Various (see above)

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.