Harry Potter's James Phelps Recalls the Lesson Maggie Smith ‘Subtly’ Taught Him During the First Film (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

James Phelps in ‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’ (left); Maggie Smith in ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’ (right).Photo:Collection Christophel / Warner Bros. / Heyday Films / Alamy; TCD/Prod.DB / Alamy

Collection Christophel / Warner Bros. / Heyday Films / Alamy; TCD/Prod.DB / Alamy

James Phelps is remembering his lateHarry Pottercostar.

James, 38, reflected on the lessons he learned from working with Smith,who died last monthat the age of 89.

“I’ll always remember the first time I ever met Maggie Smith,” he shared. “It was our second week of filming and we’re on location in the north of England and she was sitting waiting for her car to come. And like a true professional, she was waiting half an hour before because she was always on time, which we subtly talked about and realized that we were learning how to behave.”

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

TCD/Prod.DB/Alamy Stock Photo

“And I can remember, she had said, ‘Hello, I’m Maggie,’ " he continued. “I can remember she said, ‘Oh, you probably know me fromSister Act.’ I was like, ‘Yes I do.’ ” The adults on set, he said, were respectful to the younger actors and “always made us feel like colleagues.”

“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 shared.

Smith played Professor Minerva McGonagall in theHarry Potterfilm series, beginning with 2001’sHarry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. She ultimately appeared in seven of the eight films in the series, which ended in 2011 withHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2.

Maggie Smith in ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.'.Warner Bros. Pictures - Heyday Films/TCD/Prod.DB / Alamy

Warner Bros. Pictures - Heyday Films/TCD/Prod.DB / Alamy

“I remember feeling nervous to meet her and then her putting me immediately at ease,” the 35-year-old actor toldVarietyon Sept. 27. “She was incredibly kind to me on that shoot, and then I was lucky enough to go on working with her for another 10 years on theHarry Potter films.”

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Ellen Burstyn, who also appeared in the movie, told PEOPLE, “Maggie Smith was truly a great actress. There aren’t many of us that could be said about and when one of us goes, it is a tragedy all around. Her genius will be greatly missed.”

source: people.com