The actress played Professor McGonagall in all eight Harry Potter films

Dame Maggie Smith once had a legendary response after being asked whether or not playing the role of Professor McGonagall in Harry Potter changed her life.

The late actress – whose tragic passing was confirmed today – enjoyed an extensive career on stage and screen, appearing in the likes of Downton Abbey, The Lady in the Van, Sister Act and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

However, to many people, she is best known for playing Professor Minerva McGonagall for all eight films of the Harry Pottersaga.

As a transfiguration teacher and mentor to Harry, Ron, and Hermione (Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson), Smith’s character was popular among Harry Potter viewers. which led her to have some sweet interactions with younger fans of the franchise over the years.

During an interview on The Graham Norton Show back in 2016, Smith was asked about how the role had changed her life – and her response was epic.

“A lot of very small people used to say hello to me,” Smith recalled. “And that was nice.”

Norton then queried if it was strange to only be known by younger people as Professor McGonagall, to which the actress recalled hilarious encounters with starstruck young fans.

“One kid once said to me ‘Where you really a cat?’,” Smith revealed, adding: “And I heard myself say ‘Just pull yourself together, how could I have been?’”

Later on in the interview, the actress revealed she had been out shopping in Waitrose when a young boy had been staring at her in the checkout queue. After asking the boy if he was okay, the child told her ‘it’s alright, it’ll come to me in a minute’.

“I just think it was so sweet, so lovely,” she added. “It’ll come to me.”

Smith’s publicist confirmed earlier today that she had passed away at the age of 89, issuing a statement on behalf of her sons which read: “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,” the statement continued.

“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.”