Maggie Smith's heartwarming message about playing Professor McGonagall

Dame Maggie Smith revealed the impact Harry Potter had on her life in a resurfaced interview as people everywhere started to recognise her. 

The beloved actress - who sadly died aged 89 on Friday - starred as Minerva McGonagall in seven of the eight films. 

Following her death, Maggie's 2023 appearance on The Graham Norton Show has resurfaced, where the actress and the Irish comedian, 61, discussed how Harry Potter 'changed her life'. 

In the clip, Graham asks Maggie: 'Harry Potter...That did, sort of, change your life in a way?' 

To which Maggie at the time joked back with: 'Well, yes, a lot of very small people kind of used to say hello to me and that was nice'. 

The audience then laughed before she added: 'It was a whole different lot of people.' 

Graham then chimed in with: 'But (it's) also so weird that they'd only know you for that one thing. Like you've never existed before'. 

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Dame Maggie Smith is remembered by Downton Abbey's Hugh Bonneville and Harry Potter's Rupert Grint as celebs and co-stars pay tribute after her death

Maggie then quipped back with: 'No I never had' and the audience burst out into fits of laughter once again. 

She added: 'Except one kid once said to me, "Were you really a cat?" and I heard myself say "just pull yourself together" How could I have been?' the audience laughed. 

The legendary actress then proceeded to share with Graham a story about how a child once couldn't fathom where he recognised her from. 

She said: 'Funnily enough I was in Waitrose in Stonington my favourite, and a little boy was at the checkout with his mother and he kept looking at me.' 

'And I thought, "What am I going to do?" and he kept looking at me and looking at me and I said "Can I help you?" and he said "Its all right it'll come to me in a minute," I thought that was so sweet.' 

Aside from Harry Potter, the British star was known for her role as Violet Crawley in the TV series Downton Abbey, as well as her Academy Award-winning performance in The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie. 

After her sons revealed she had passed in a statement, tributes for the beloved actress started pouring in. 

Paying tribute to his former co-star, Harry Potter's Rupert Grint updated his Instagram profile picture to a sweet throwback of the pair. 

Downton Abbey's Hugh Bonneville - who played her son in the show - also paid tribute. 

He told the BBC: 'Anyone who ever shared a scene with Maggie will attest to her sharp eye, sharp wit and formidable talent.

'She was a true legend of her generation and thankfully will live on in so many magnificent screen performances. My condolences to her boys and wider family.'

Dan Stevens - who played Matthew Crawley in the period drama - paid tribute on his Instagram Story, writing 'Truly one of The Greats. RIP' alongside two pictures of his former co-star.

Gyles Brandreth was also quick to pay tribute and called the late actress 'one of a kind in every way'.

Brandreth shared a photo of him with Smith on X, formerly Twitter, and wrote: 'The saddest news: the death of Dame Maggie Smith marks the end of a golden era & a quite extraordinary life.

'She was a truly great actress, 'one of the greats' & simply the best company: wise, witty, waspish, wonderful.

'One of a kind in every way and consequently irreplaceable.'

He also paid tribute on Times Radio, saying she was 'a uniquely towering acting talent. I was just reflecting that one of the qualities that we have as a country is our history with theatre. 

'Our actors are considered world class and if you look at the top of the world class, Maggie Smith is up there with the greatest. She is one of the greats.

What is remarkable about her, and the reason I say she's one of the greats, is that she wasn't just an exceptionally successful actress who could do it all. She had a unique quality. 

'And I think to join the pantheon of the greatest, you have to have something about your voice, your look, your manner, that commands attention. She absolutely had that, right from the start. 

Full statement from Dame Maggie Smith's sons Chris and Toby

Dame Maggie Smith's sons Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens issued the following statement via their publicist:

'It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith.

'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.

'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.

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

'And she wouldn't have regarded herself as either a comic actress or a classical actress. She could just do it all. She lacked personal vanity in the sense that she was able to play parts like The Lady in the Van, based on Alan Bennett's play, turned into a movie, which was not a glamorous role. But she could also be incredibly glamorous... She was just a wonderful star. She had star quality, and she had the highest standards.

'Sometimes people found her a little daunting, I think. Young actors, or even older actors, were a little bit nervous of her. They thought, what is she going to say because she could be caustic, she was witty. But if ever she was perceived as being difficult, it was only because she had the highest standards, both for herself and for other people.'

American actress Whoopi Goldberg paid tribute to Dame Maggie Smith and said she felt 'lucky' to have worked alongside her in Sister Act, where Dame Maggie played Reverend Mother Superior while Goldberg portrayed Deloris Van Cartier.

The US actress shared an old picture of the two on set of Sister Act, dressed as nuns, on Instagram and described her as a 'great woman.'

She wrote in her post: 'Maggie Smith was a great woman and a brilliant actress. I still can't believe I was lucky enough to work with the 'one-of-a-kind'. My heartfelt condolences go out to the family... RIP.'

Rob Lowe, who worked with Dame Maggie in 1992's Suddenly, Last Summer, reflected on their time together. 

He penned: 'Saddened to hear Dame Maggie Smith has passed. I had the unforgettable experience of working with her; sharing a two-shot was like being paired with a lion.'

'She could eat anyone alive, and often did. But funny, and great company. And suffered no fools. We will never see another. God speed, Ms. Smith! 

Star Trek legend George Takei tweeted: 'A grand star of screen and stage has departed.

'Maggie Smith, known most recently for her unforgettable roles as the Dowager Countess in Downton Abbey and as Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter films, passed away at age 89. Fans both old and young shall miss her dearly.'

Piers Morgan posted: 'RIP Dame Maggie Smith. Magnificent actress, magnificent lady. As entertaining, sharp and witty off screen as she was off it. A very very sad loss for Britain.'

Omid Djalili tweeted: 'We've lost one the best today.RIP Maggie Smith.'

Prime Minister Keir Starmer penned: 'Dame Maggie Smith introduced us to new worlds with the countless stories she acted over her long career. 

'She was beloved by so many for her great talent, becoming a true national treasure whose work will be cherished for generations to come. Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones. May she rest in peace.'

The X account for Larry the cat, Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office at 10 Downing Street, also paid tribute, writing: 'Farewell Dame Maggie - nobody has ever done a better job of playing a cat.' 

Dame Maggie was described as a 'legend of British stage and screen' by BAFTA after she won five of their awards during her illustrious career. 

The organisation tweeted: 'We're saddened to hear that actor Dame Maggie Smith, best known for the Harry Potter films and Downton Abbey, has died at the age of 89. 

'Dame Maggie was a legend of British stage and screen, winning five BAFTAs as well as a BAFTA Special Award and BAFTA Fellowship during her highly acclaimed career.'

Dame Maggie's children, Widow Clicquot actor Chris Larkin, and Die Another Day star Toby Stephens, announced her death in a statement.

Born in Ilford, Essex, on December 28, 1934, she was an internationally recognised actress for much of her life after playing the fanatical teacher Jean Brodie in The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie.

She also won over Harry Potter fans later in life, when she appeared in the film series as the quick-witted, kind and formidable Professor McGonagall.

And in 2010 she was central to the success of the ITV series Downton Abbey, in her Emmy-award-winning role as the acerbic Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham, which she continued to play in the films.

Larkin and Stephens, her sons from her first marriage, said in their statement: 'It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith. 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.

'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.

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