Dame Maggie Smith revealed true feelings about iconic Harry Potter role with honest statement

Today, we have truly lost an absolute legend in British entertainment after Dame Maggie Smith passed away at age 89.

With fantastic and memorable roles in productions such as Sister Act, The Miracle Club, Evil Under The Sun and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, she has been a staple on our screens for decades.

But she had a surprising take on two of her most famous characters.

Dame Maggie Smith is probably best known for her roles as Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter films and Violet Crawley in Downton Abbey.

But she admitted this wasn't the work she wanted to be doing.

Dame Maggie Smith called her time at Hogwarts 'unsatisfying' (Warner Bros)

Dame Maggie told ES Magazine: “It seemed to take ages to get away from light comedy.

“I am deeply grateful for the work in Potter and indeed Downton, but it wasn’t what you’d call satisfying.

“I didn’t really feel I was acting in those things.”

During an interview on The Graham Norton Show in 2016, she was asked about how the role in the wizarding film had changed her life and her response was quite funny.

"A lot of very small people used to say hello to me," she recalled. "And that was nice."

Then, when Norton asked whether it was weird to be known by the younger generation as Professor McGonagall, the actress recalled encounters with young fans who approached her.

The actress wanted to move away from comedy (Warner Bros)

"One kid once said to me 'Where you really a cat?'," Dame Maggie revealed, adding: "And I heard myself say 'Just pull yourself together, how could I have been?'"

She later went on to talk about a moment a young boy had been staring at her and she approached him, only for him to tell her 'it's alright, it'll come to me in a minute'.

The statement from Dame Maggie's publicist regarding her death came hours ago, with it reading: "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.”