Daniel Radcliffe has remembered Harry Potter star Dame Maggie Smith as a “fierce intellect” with a “gloriously sharp tongue” as he led tributes from fellow stars of the fantasy film series.

Dame Maggie won over Harry Potter fans later in life when she appeared as the quick-witted, kind but formidable Professor McGonagall, sharing the screen with Radcliffe in seven of the eight instalments.

Her role began in 2001’s Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone and lasted a decade.

Radcliffe said in a statement to the PA news agency: “The first time I met Maggie Smith I was nine years old and we were reading through scenes for David Copperfield, which was my first job.

Harry Potter stars share tributes to Dame Maggie Smith

“I knew virtually nothing about her other than that my parents were awestruck at the fact that I would be working with her.

“The other thing I knew about her was that she was a dame, so the first thing I asked her when we met was ‘would you like me to call you Dame?’, at which she laughed and said something to the effect of ‘don’t be ridiculous!’.

“I remember feeling nervous to meet her and then her putting me immediately at ease.”

Radcliffe said Dame Maggie was “incredibly kind to me on that shoot, and then I was lucky enough to go on working with her for another 10 years on the Harry Potter films”.

He continued: “She was a fierce intellect, a gloriously sharp tongue, could intimidate and charm in the same instant and was, as everyone will tell you, extremely funny.

“I will always consider myself amazingly lucky to have been able to work with her, and to spend time around her on set.

“The word legend is overused but if it applies to anyone in our industry then it applies to her. Thank you, Maggie.”

Emma Watson, who played Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter movies wrote on her Instagram: "When I was younger I had no idea of Maggie's legend - the woman I was fortunate enough to share space with.

"It is only as I've become an adult that I've come to appreciate that I shared the screen with true definition of greatness.

"She was real, honest, funny and self-honouring.

"Maggie, there were a lot of male professors, and by God, you held your own.

"Thank you for all of your kindness. I'll miss you."

Oscar-winning actor Gary Oldman, who played Harry Potter’s godfather Sirius Black in several of the films, described Dame Maggie as the kind of talent that “comes along about every other generation”.

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“Maggie Smith, one of the true greats along with (Laurence) Olivier and (John) Gielgud,” Oldman said in a statement to PA.

“Those who saw her dazzling talent on the stage say they can never forget her. Her magnificent film performances remain for all to see and enjoy.

“Such an artist comes along about every other generation. If one is lucky.”