British actress Maggie Smith is being remembered as someone who had time for everybody she worked with.

The Oscar-winning actress died on Friday at the age of 89.

She won two Academy Awards across a glittering career – Best Actress for ‘The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie’ in 1970 and Best Supporting Actress for ‘California Suite’ in 1979.

In later years, she was best known for portraying Professor Minerva McGonagall in the 'Harry Potter' films.

Cinematographer John Conroy worked with Maggie Smith on 'The Miracle Club' which was shot in Ireland.

The 2023 film tells the story of friends, played by Maggie Smith and Kathy Bates, who win a trip from Dublin to Lourdes.

It was Maggie Smith's final role before her death.

Mr Conroy told The Anton Savage Show she had time for everyone.

"I was talking to some of the guys I was working with on the crew yesterday... and we were all talking about how great she was and how much we loved working with her," he said.

"She had such a great energy when she came on set - she was very kind and had great time for everybody.

"She had a great sense of fun - we always tended to have a giggle. That would be sort of mixed in with these amazing, strong performances and emotion.

"It's definitely one of the highlights of my career, that's for sure".

Maggie Smith in a scene from The Miracle Club in 2023. Image: Collection Christophel / Alamy

Mr Conroy said also praised her Irish accent on-screen.

"She had an Irish accent in 'The Miracle Club' which was very good, actually," he said.

"She cracked it - I thought it was one of the best I'd ever heard".

Mr Conroy said Maggie Smith had a special presence.

"I think it's just in the nature that you're drawn to her, she had such a great presence," he said.

"She was with Kathy Bates and Laura Linney in that film, so they were all sort of heavy hitters, but she had a special presence that you just ended up being drawn to her the whole time.

"She had that scene-stealing presence for sure."

Maggie Smith on the set of the film 'Othello' in 1965. Image Entertainment Pictures / Alamy

Mr Conroy said when the camera rolled she was "in the zone".

"She was a lady and - in terms of being different - I think she was just herself," he said.

"There was always talk, there was stories, all that sort of stuff.

"Then when 'action' was called she was in the zone - she would have been very much in the John Mills Book of Actors where she didn't seem to be that method [acting] but when the 'action' was called, she was all over it.

"[She was] very down to Earth and very, very kind with her time for the chats and all that sort of stuff.

"Very approachable, very nice, very kind and great fun to be around," he added.

The 'Downton Abbey' TV series won her a series of awards - three Emmys, a Golden Globe, and four Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Main image: Maggie Smith attends the premiere of 'The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' in London, 17-2-15. Image: ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy