The Telegraph has reported today that Dame Maggie Smith, known to Potter film fans as Prof. McGonagall, has been diagnosed with breast cancer. She has had a tumor removed and has undergone a course of chemotherapy; the prognosis “looks good,” a friend of hers told the paper.
Everyone on staff at, and, we’re sure, reading Leaky wishes this fine actress a double measure of luck and health to counteract this difficult turn of events.
You can write to Dame Maggie Smith at Leavesden Studios:
c/o Harry Potter Production
Leavesden Studios
P.O. Box 3000
Leavesden, Hertfordshire WD25 7LT
United Kingdom
On a related note, for the past few weeks, have been discussing (on PotterCast) releasing a limited-time “pink” version of our holiday charity album, Jingle Spells, to benefit breast cancer research. As this news highlights that issue through a Potter lens, we would appreciate those who would be interested in buying a copy leaving a comment here so that we could get an idea of how many to order and whether it’s a good idea. This would be donated to the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. (I will be taking part in this walk in October; to contribute to the cause please visit this link.) Our Jingle Spells holiday fundraiser brought in more than $34,000, and the donation has been made to Book Aid (expect a full post on this matter shortly); for this run the blue cover art would be turned pink.
(And PS, if you are still having a problem receiving your holiday order of JS, contact me privately, please, as this post isn’t the place to address it. There are probably a few straggling missing orders out there and we want to make sure to get everyone’s.)
Hopefully maggie has a full recovery.
As for the cd i would most definatly buy one if its all going to a good cause. Cancer is killing people left right and centre and it about time we did something about it !
I am so glad that it looks like she will be okay. HP can’t suffer another loss. Harris was bad enough. I really hope that she gets better soon and that everything turns out alright. She is brilliant and I want to keep her! If JS starts selling again, even though I already have it, I would probably but a “Pink” copy anyways. This is an important enough cause.
My thoughts and prayers also go out to Dame Maggie Smith and her family. Hopefully all of our positive energy will help her in making a full and speedy recovery.
She seems like such a wonderful person and I’m really looking forward to seeing her play a larger role in HBP (when Dumbledore dies), and DH (I pictured Dame Maggie Smith screaming when she saw Harry’s “dead” body, and when she get’s involved in the many battle scenes).
This will be her most important and hardest battle yet, and I wish her all the best. God Bless.
My dear Maggie, I wish You fast recover and I will pray for Your health every day I promise. Get well soon and continue making us happy with Your talent as a great actress and a great woman!
Oh, what terrible news! Ugh, gosh I’ve known 4 people to go through breast cancer and only one of them is still going strong. ;(
Let’s hope that such an inspring, lovely person and amazing actress will recover as quickly as possible. She has done an array of brilliant films, not just playing the wonderful McGonagall in HP. Prayers and love to her and her family!! These things are not easy to go through.
Oh, what terrible news! Ugh, gosh I’ve known 4 people to go through breast cancer and only one of them is still going strong. ;(
Let’s hope that such an inspiring, lovely person and amazing actress will recover as quickly as possible. She has done an array of brilliant films, not just playing the wonderful McGonagall in HP. Prayers and love to her and her family!! These things are not easy to go through.
Oh my God. I feel so, so sorry for our own McGonagall!
-Could you imagine that the worst thing happened, and there wouldn’t be any McGonagall in DH? Or at least not the real McGonagall. ;/
"At least no one on the Gryffindor team had to [i]buy[/i] their way in," said Hermione sharply. "[i]They[/i] got in on pure talent."[br]The smug look on Malfoy's face flickered.
Hopefully maggie has a full recovery. As for the cd i would most definatly buy one if its all going to a good cause. Cancer is killing people left right and centre and it about time we did something about it !