Daniel Radcliffe and Maggie Smith co-starred in the BBC adaptation of a Charles Dickens novel before doing Harry Potter

"I did a thing before 'Potter'": Daniel Radcliffe's First Project With Maggie Smith Surprisingly isn't Harry Potter

Warner Bros’ collaboration with JK Rowling to turn her books into cinematic spectacle created a separate fan base among audiences. And while the Harry Potter movies might have been a launching pad for most of the child actors on set, it certainly wasn’t the first big break for Daniel Radcliffe.


Daniel Radcliffe at an eventDaniel Radcliffe
Apparently, before Radcliffe was offered the titular role in the Harry Potter franchise, and the opportunity to work alongside veteran actors like Maggie Smith and Alan Rickman, he had already made a position in the industry. The actor previously shared the screen with Smith in their 1999 BBC television drama, David Copperfield.

Daniel Radcliffe And Maggie Smith’s First Collaboration 

Although Warner Bros’ decades-long commitment to turn the Harry Potter films into a $9.5B franchise is considered to have nailed the child actors in the industry, the movies didn’t particularly serve Daniel Radcliffe as a launchpad. Despite Radcliffe being offered the titular role in the franchise, the movies weren’t his first project, unlike his young colleagues.
Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert GrintRadcliffe with his Harry Potter costars


Apparently, before joining J.K. Rowling’s iconic book series, Daniel Radcliffe shared the screen with his Harry Potter co-star, Maggie Smith, in 1999. Before both the actors took on the robes and entered the magical school of Hogwarts, Radcliffe, and Smith appeared in the two-part BBC television drama David Copperfield. The actor recalled his initial work with Smith during his appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

“I met Maggie Smith when I was nine for the first time. I did a thing [with her] before ‘Potter,’ called ‘David Copperfield,’ a BBC adaptation … Maggie was the person that like recommended me for ‘Potter,’ so she’s the reason I ended up doing that.”

Daniel Radcliffe Daniel Radcliffe first shared the screen with Maggie Smith in David Copperfield
Establishing an onscreen connection, Radcliffe played the young version of David Copperfield, and Smith took on the role of Betsey Trotwood. And certainly, the duo’s collaboration in the adaptation of Charles Dickens’s iconic 1850 novel served well, as fans found their OG Harry Potter because of Maggie Smith.

Daniel Radcliffe And Maggie Smith Reunited For Harry Potter 

Shortly after sharing the screen and mesmerizing the audiences with their collaborative performance, Maggie Smith and Daniel Radcliffe appeared in another book adaptation. Only this time, the duo became global icons. Certainly, Radcliffe’s titular role as Harry Potter and Smith’s appearance as Minerva McGonagall is considered an almost mother-son relationship by the fans.
Daniel Radcliffe Radcliffe and Smith reunited in Harry Potter
Saved several times throughout the movies, and shaped into The Boy Who Lived, Smith’s character is considered a parent-like figure to Daniel Radcliffe’s Harry Potter. And there’s no denying that Minerva McGonagall’s guidance and support helped Harry Potter last his years in Hogwarts.
Daniel Radcliffe Professor Minerva McGonagall and Harry Potter
Eventually, although Daniel Radcliffe and Maggie Smith previously shared screen, their appearance in the iconic Harry Potter roles is what solidified their relationship. The $9.5B franchise, made Smith relevant to her modern fans and undoubtedly turned into a breakout project for Radcliffe.

Watch David Copperfield via Amazon Prime and the Harry Potter movies via Max.