Maggie Smith's 10 Greatest Moments As Professor McGonagall In Harry Potter

Dame Maggie Smith passed away at 89 years old, leaving behind an impressive career full of iconic movie and TV roles — and among her greatest is Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter movies. Smith made the perfect Professor McGonagall, as she struck the right balance between being stern and supportive to the students at Hogwarts. It’s difficult to imagine anyone else stepping into the shoes of this Harry Potter character, especially when revisiting Smith’s best scenes.

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Whether Professor McGonagall was preparing her students for their futures or defending Hogwarts from outside threats, Smith was always a highlight of the scenes she was in. She had plenty of heartfelt moments that showed McGonagall’s kinder side, but she could easily be intimidating when the moment called for it. There’s no doubt Smith will be missed in the acting world, but fortunately, Harry Potter fans can always look back on her greatest scenes from the series.

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10 Not Wanting Dumbledore To Leave Harry With The Dursleys

Movie: Harry Potter & The Sorcerer’s Stone

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McGonagall appears in the very first scene of Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone, as she waits outside the Dursleys’ home until Dumbledore arrives there. Smith perfectly establishes her character during this Sorcerer’s Stone scene, showing her concern for the people she cares about and their loved ones — in this case, the Potters. McGonagall cautions Dumbledore against leaving Harry with his Muggle relatives, as she doesn’t believe they’re fit to raise him. And she is right, though she doesn’t know Dumbledore’s real reasons for giving Harry to the Dursleys.

This is the first of many great scenes with Smith playing McGonagall, and they only get better as she gets more comfortable in the role.

McGonagall’s transformation from a cat into a person and her concern that Hagrid won’t get Harry there safely further highlight her character’s personality. She’s responsible, competent, and a bit critical — all qualities that Smith captured expertly. This is the first of many great scenes with Smith playing McGonagall, and they only get better as she gets more comfortable in the role.

9 “Why Is It Always You Three?”

Movie: Harry Potter & The Half-Blood Prince

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Smith nailed McGonagall’s more serious moments, but she also knew how to break out her comedic chops. Many of her best moments at Hogwarts see her breaking out hilarious one-liners. And one of McGonagall’s best quotes arrives in Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince, when she questions the Golden Trio about why they’re always at the center of whatever trouble is brewing at the school. She makes a good point, and the line is hilariously delivered. However, it also shows how much she cares about her students.

Smith captured McGonagall’s exasperation during this moment well, making it clear that she’s tired of seeing her students thrown into dangerous and chaotic situations. It’s too brief of a scene to rank higher among her greatest moments. However, Smith managed to convey quite a bit in just a single line.

8 Professor McGonagall’s First Transfiguration Class

Movie: Harry Potter & The Sorcerer’s Stone

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Professor McGonagall is the Transfiguration teacher at Hogwarts, and the Golden Trio’s first class drives home her talent when it comes to the subject — along with her no-nonsense attitude as a teacher. McGonagall transforms from a cat into a human at the beginning of this class, and the students are rightfully impressed by her ability. Smith put her character’s power on display fully at this moment, and she showed how intimidating McGonagall can be immediately after.

Smith’s ability to show off her character’s stern side without making her unlikable is a testament to her acting talents.

As Harry and Ron are late for class, McGonagall gives them quite the attitude upon their arrival. She isn’t swayed by Ron’s flattery, and while she isn’t fully mean or cruel about her scolding, she ensures they won’t be late to class again. Smith’s ability to show off her character’s stern side without making her unlikable is a testament to her acting talents. There are other scenes that showcase both sides of McGonagall even better, but this is a strong start for her.

7 Professor McGonagall Recommending Harry Potter For The Quidditch Team

Movie: Harry Potter & The Sorcerer’s Stone

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Flattery may not win Professor McGonagall over after a bout of rule-breaking, but the prospect of Gryffindor winning at Quidditch is a different story. During Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone, McGonagall catches Harry flying his broomstick after Madam Hooch explicitly tells the students to stay put. Harry is defending Neville, but that’s not why McGonagall goes easy on him. Recognizing his flying skills, she recommends him for the Gryffindor Quidditch team instead of doling out punishment.

This was one of those moments where Smith perfectly balanced her character’s strict side with her more fun and compassionate one. When McGonagall first fetches Harry from the Quidditch pitch, she seems furious. However, her excitement over finding a Seeker soon overshadows that, highlighting just how invested McGonagall is in Gryffindor House. There are even sweeter moments throughout the Harry Potter series, but this is a pretty great one.

6 Giving Harry Potter His Nimbus 2000

Movie: Harry Potter & The Sorcerer’s Stone

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Unlike several other Hogwarts teachers, McGonagall tries not to play favorites when it comes to her students — but she does subtly do Harry a favor in Sorcerer’s Stone. After recommending him for the Gryffindor Quidditch team, she slyly has a Nimbus 2000 delivered to him. And although she doesn’t openly take credit for the gift, she makes eye contact with Harry and pets Hedwig once it’s delivered.

Although brief, this scene perfectly depicts McGonagall’s softer side. Smith captured that twinkle in her eye well, showing she could bend rules when she wanted to. It’s one of her best moments with Harry, though it doesn’t compare to some of her most epic action moments or her most comedic scenes.

5 Professor McGonagall Dancing With Ron Weasley Before The Yule Ball

Movie: Harry Potter & The Goblet Of Fire

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One of McGonagall’s funniest scenes in the Harry Potter movies is during Goblet of Fire, when she informs the Gryffindor students of the Yule Ball. This moment starts out with comedy, as she tells the members of her Hogwarts house that they can’t behave like “a babbling, bumbling band of baboons.” The fact that Smith kept a straight face through this speech was another nod to her acting, but that’s not all that makes this one of her most comical — and best — scenes as McGonagall.

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McGonagall also insists on giving the students a dancing lesson after her speech, and she forces Ron Weasley to demonstrate alongside her. Ron is clearly humiliated, but he sort of earns it by talking while his teacher is speaking. And McGonagall obviously enjoys tormenting him, even if she doesn’t say it aloud. Smith’s expression is enough to convey this, and it makes McGonagall an even better character.

4 Siding With Professor Trelawney Over Dolores Umbridge

Movie: Harry Potter & The Order Of The Phoenix

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McGonagall remains skeptical of Professor Trelawney’s seer abilities and Divination as a subject, and she makes no secret of this throughout Harry Potter. However, when push comes to shove, McGonagall has her fellow Hogwarts professor’s back. When Dolores Umbridge fires Professor Trelawney in the middle of the Hogwarts courtyard, McGonagall is the first one to step in and support her. It’s a bold thing to do, especially with Umbridge so eager to remove anyone who isn’t loyal and obedient.

This scene showcases Smith’s acting and McGonagall’s integrity, though it isn’t as epic as the character’s best Battle of Hogwarts moments.

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When McGonagall tells Umbridge that “there are many things I’d like to say,” she keeps her cool — but thanks to Smith, you can hear the sadness and rage in her voice. It’s a surprisingly emotional moment, and it’s made even better when Dumbledore puts Umbridge in her place. This scene showcases Smith’s acting and McGonagall’s integrity, though it isn’t as epic as the character’s best Battle of Hogwarts moments.

3 Telling Neville Longbottom & Seamus Finnegan They Can Blow Things Up

Movie: Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Part 2

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Professor McGonagall takes control when the Battle of Hogwarts starts, leaping into action to protect the castle and the students within it. Her top three Harry Potter scenes stem from this Deathly Hallows Part 2 conflict, and one of them is surprisingly funny. As the teachers and students begin to secure the castle, McGonagall walks alongside Neville Longbottom and Seamus Finnegan. Neville excitedly asks her if they can really blow things up, and she tells him he’s correct. “To blow it up? Boom?” Neville asks. The delivery of McGonagall’s “Boom !” is hilarious and spot-on.

Smith once again captured McGonagall’s fun and mischievous side with this scene, and she further delivered with McGonagall’s next line. When Neville asks how they should go about this, she tells him to “confer with Mr. Finnegan,” as he has “a particular proclivity for pyrotechnics.” Those paying attention to Seamus’ Hogwarts lessons for years know exactly why this line and its delivery are so fantastic. But no matter how great this scene is, it doesn’t compare to McGonagall boldly protecting her students.

2 Professor McGonagall Protecting Harry From Snape

Movie: Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Part 2

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Before the Battle of Hogwarts kicks off in earnest, Snape and the Death Eaters within the castle announce a search for Harry Potter. When Harry reveals himself, Snape raises his wand — and Professor McGonagall quickly pushes Harry aside to fight Snape herself. It’s one of the character’s strongest moments in the entire Harry Potter series, and Smith plays it brilliantly. You can tell by her expression that McGonagall won’t let any harm come to her students on her watch. It’s what makes her a great teacher and Harry Potter character.

Smith knew exactly how to make her character fearsome, and the result left viewers cheering in theaters when
Deathly Hallows Part 2
came out.

The rapid succession of spells she shoots off sends Snape running — granted, he has no real interest in harming her or anyone else at Hogwarts — and highlights how powerful McGonagall really is. The Harry Potter movies rarely show her in the midst of the action, so this is a big scene for her. It shows why McGonagall is so respected, and it proves she’s not a character to trifle with. Smith knew exactly how to make her character fearsome, and the result left viewers cheering in theaters when Deathly Hallows Part 2 came out.

1 Securing The Castle During The Battle Of Hogwarts

Movie: Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Part 2

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There’s only one McGonagall moment better than her fight with Snape, and it’s also from Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Part 2. While her confrontation with Snape shows how fierce McGonagall can be, her scene securing Hogwarts doubles down on this — and captures the other facets of her character as well. It’s a joy to watch McGonagall give orders and call upon the castle’s protections, and it highlights how competent and cool-headed she is, even with a battle looming.

However, McGonagall isn’t just a force to be reckoned with during this scene. When she rallies Hogwarts’ statues, she gleefully declares that she “always wanted to use that spell,” with Smith infusing humor and charm into this moment. Her number one priority is protecting the school, making this a heartfelt scene for McGonagall, too. It’s by far her biggest and best moment in Harry Potter, and Smith will be remembered fondly for bringing it to life.

Harry Potter

Harry Potter is a multimedia franchise about an orphaned boy who enrolls at Hogwarts School of Wizardry, where he learns the truth about himself, his family, and the terrible evil that haunts the magical world. Adapted from the novels, Harry Potter is an eight-episode film saga that follows the journey of Harry Potter and his friends, Hermoine Granger and Ron Weasley, as they navigate the tricky world of growing up, school life, and magic. Starting from year one and moving to their seventh year, the films chronicle the students’ time at Hogwarts while unfurling a sinister plot that centers around the unsuspecting Harry. With the return of the dark wizard, Voldemort, the students and professors at Hogwarts will fight to carry on as the world around them may change forever. Harry Potter has expanded beyond the world of its films and novels with several video games, a spin-off film series titled Fantastic Beasts, and even attractions at Universal Studios.

Created by J.K. Rowling First Film Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone First TV Show Harry Potter Cast Daniel Radcliffe , Emma Watson , Rupert Grint , Tom Felton , Alan Rickman , Matthew Lewis , Bonnie Wright , Evanna Lynch , Maggie Smith , Michael Gambon , Richard Harris , Ralph Fiennes , Helena Bonham Carter , Alfred Enoch , Harry Melling , Gary Oldman , Robert Pattinson , Warwick Davis , Oliver Phelps , James Phelps , David Bradley , David Thewlis , Katie Leung , Jason Isaacs , Imelda Staunton , David Tennant , Jamie Campbell Bower , Timothy Spall , Robbie Coltrane , Eddie Redmayne , Jude Law , Katherine Waterston , Ezra Miller , Dan Fogler , Alison Sudol , Johnny Depp , Mads Mikkelsen TV Show(s) Harry Potter Character(s) Harry Potter , Hermione Granger , Ron Weasley , Dumbledore , Minerva McGonagall , Rubeus Hagrid , Dobby the House Elf , Draco Malfoy , Sirius Black , Ginny Weasley , Voldemort Expand $88 at AmazonSee at TargetSee at Walmart

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