Harry Potter Star James Phelps Recalls Maggie Smith’s Lessons (Exclusive)

James Phelps remembers his deceased harry potter co-star.

James and his brother Oliver, who played Fred and George Weasley, respectively, in the harry potter film series, spoke to PEOPLE on Oct. 10 about his late co-star. Maggie Smith at Warner Bros. Television Group’s fall television launch event in Los Angeles. The host duo Harry Potter: Baking Wizardsa new cooking competition series premiering on Max this fall.

James, 38, reflected on the lessons he learned working with Smith, who died last month at the age of 89 years.

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

“And I can remember her saying, ‘Hi, I’m Maggie,’” he continued. “I remember she said, ‘Oh, you probably know me from Sisters Law.’ I was like, ‘Yes, I want it.’ The adults on set, he said, were respectful of the younger actors and “always made us feel like colleagues.”

“Every time we are on set, if there are children involved in filming, we always try to act the same and do the same with them, so that they feel as much a part of the team as everyone else,” he shared.

Smith played Professor Minerva McGonagall in the harry potter Film series, starting in 2001. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. He ultimately appeared in seven of the eight films in the series, which ended in 2011 with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2.

Many of Smith Potter co-stars shared memories of her in the days after his death. Daniel Radcliffewho played Harry Potter, made his acting debut in a 1999 television adaptation of David Copperfield that Smith was also elected.

“I remember feeling nervous meeting her and then she immediately put me at ease,” the 35-year-old actor said. Variety on September 27. “She was incredibly kind to me in that session, and then I was lucky enough to continue working with her for another 10 years in the harry pottermovies.”

The actress, who appeared in more than 50 films and won two Oscars, was also warmly remembered by many of her colleagues. Sandra Bullock – who starred with Smith in 2002 Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Brotherhood — he told PEOPLE“How lucky I am to have sat in quiet corners with Maggie and a glass of wine. “His stories, his wicked sense of humor, and his kind advice are things that have made my life sweeter.”

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Ellen Burstyn, who also appeared in the film, told PEOPLE: “Maggie Smith was truly a great actress. There aren’t many of us that anything can be said about and when one of us leaves, it’s a tragedy for everyone. “His genius will be greatly missed.”