McGonagall harry potter

Maggie Smith said acting in all eight "Harry Potter" movies "wasn't satisfying" enough for her as an actress.

The 84-year-old told the Evening Standard that while she appreciated being part of the successful film franchise, playing Professor McGonagall wasn't creatively challenging.

"It wasn't what you'd call satisfying," she said. "I didn't really feel I was acting in those things."

She also said she and Alan Rickman, who played Professor Snape, used to complain about how their work on the films was made up only of reaction shots.

But the actress did say being a cast member in the beloved British franchise allowed her to bond more with her five grandchildren.

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Maggie Smith is adored worldwide for her portrayal of Professor McGonagall, but the actress says being part of the Harry Potter films "wasn't satisfying" enough.

The 84-year-old actress told the Evening Standard that while she appreciated the opportunity to be cast in the beloved British franchise, it didn't creatively challenge her.

"I am deeply grateful for the work in 'Potter' and indeed 'Downton,' but it wasn't what you'd call satisfying," she said, referring also to "Downton Abbey." "I didn't really feel I was acting in those things."

She added that she and Alan Rickman, who played Professor Severus Snape, would always complain about how most of their scenes were made up of reaction shots.

professor mcgonagall and professor snape

The British actress did say the most pleasurable aspect of being part of the Potterverse was that it allowed her to bond more with her five grandchildren, according to the Standard.

The film franchise is one of the most successful of all time, grossing more than $7.7 billion globally.

McGonagall battle of hogwarts

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