Professor Minerva McGonagall is a fictional character in the ''

Harry Potter ''Harry Potter'' is a series of seven Fantasy literature, fantasy novels written by British author J. K. Rowling. The novels chronicle the lives of a young Magician (fantasy), wizard, Harry Potter (character), Harry Potter, and his friends ...

'' series of novels by J. K. Rowling. McGonagall is a professor at

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry () is a fictional boarding school of Magic in Harry Potter, magic for young wizards. It is the primary setting for the first six novels in the ''Harry Potter'' series by J. K. Rowling, and also serv ...

, where she is also the head of Gryffindor House and the deputy headmistress under Albus Dumbledore. McGonagall was portrayed by

Maggie Smith Dame Margaret Natalie Smith (28 December 1934 – 27 September 2024) was a British actress. Known for her wit in both comedic and dramatic roles, she had List of Maggie Smith performances, an extensive career on stage and screen for over seve ...

in the ''

'' films and then by Fiona Glascott in the ''

Fantastic Beasts ''Fantastic Beasts'' is a film series directed by David Yates and a spin-off prequel to the ''Harry Potter'' novel and film series. The series is distributed by Warner Bros and consists of three fantasy films, beginning with '' Fantastic Bea ...

'' prequel films '' The Crimes of Grindelwald'' and '' The Secrets of Dumbledore''.

Appearances

Novels

McGonagall is introduced at the beginning of '' Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'' (1997) when she accompanies Albus Dumbledore as he delivers the infant

to the Dursley residence. When Harry arrives at Hogwarts a decade later, he meets McGonagall, who is the Transfiguration professor and the head of Gryffindor House. After noticing Harry's broomstick flying skills, McGonagall introduces him to the Gryffindor

Quidditch Quidditch () is a fictional sport invented by author J. K. Rowling for her fantasy book series ''Harry Potter''. It first appeared in the novel ''Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'' (1997). In the series, Quidditch is portrayed as a dang ...

team captain Oliver Wood. Once Harry qualifies for the Quidditch team, McGonagall buys him a Nimbus 2000 broomstick. In '' Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets'' (1998), McGonagall becomes acting headmistress after Dumbledore is suspended by the Ministry of Magic. When she discovers that Ginny Weasley has been taken into the Chamber of Secrets, she orders Professor Gilderoy Lockhart to rescue her. After Lockhart proves incompetent, Ginny is saved by Harry and

Ron Weasley Ronald Bilius Weasley is a fictional character in the ''Harry Potter'' series of novels by J. K. Rowling. He is introduced in '' Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'' as a first-year student on his way to the wizarding school Hogwarts. ...

. At the beginning of '' Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban'' (1999), McGonagall gives Hermione Granger a Time-Turner to allow her to take multiple classes at the same time. After Harry's Nimbus 2000 is destroyed, he is sent a Firebolt, but McGonagall confiscates it. She suspects it is cursed, but eventually finds it to be safe. In ''

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire ''Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire'' is a fantasy novel written by British author J. K. Rowling. It is the fourth novel in the ''Harry Potter'' series. It follows Harry Potter (character), Harry Potter, a wizard in his fourth year at Hogwar ...

'' (2000), McGonagall is concerned for Harry's safety when he is mysteriously selected for the Triwizard Tournament. After the death of Cedric Diggory, she joins Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape in rescuing Harry from the

Death Eater The Death Eaters are an extremist group from the ''Harry Potter'' series, led by the dark wizard Lord Voldemort. They follow a strict belief in blood purity, thinking that only pure-blood wizards should have power over the wizarding world. Bec ...

Barty Crouch Jr. McGonagall joins the secret organisation Order of the Phoenix in '' Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix'' (2003). After the Ministry-appointed Defence Against the Dark Arts professor Dolores Umbridge refuses to teach students practical defensive magic, McGonagall supports Harry, Ron and Hermione as they form the self-defence group Dumbledore's Army. While attempting to protect

Rubeus Hagrid Rubeus Hagrid () is a fictional character in the ''Harry Potter'' series of novels by J. K. Rowling. He was introduced in '' Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'' (2001) as a half-giant who is the gamekeeper and groundskeeper at the wi ...

from Umbridge, McGonagall is assaulted by Aurors and sent to St Mungo's Hospital. She eventually recovers and returns to Hogwarts before the end of the school year. In ''

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ''Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince'' is a fantasy novel written by British author J. K. Rowling. It is the sixth and penultimate novel in the ''Harry Potter'' series, and takes place during Harry Potter's sixth year at the wizard scho ...

'' (2005), McGonagall duels with the Death Eater Alecto Carrow during the Battle of the Astronomy Tower. McGonagall is appointed headmistress after Dumbledore's death, but is replaced by Snape when

Voldemort Lord Voldemort ( , in the films) is a fictional character and the main antagonist in the ''Harry Potter'' series of novels by J. K. Rowling. He first appears in '' Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'' (1997) and returns either in pe ...

takes control of Hogwarts in ''

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows ''Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows'' is a fantasy novel written by British author J. K. Rowling. It is the seventh and final novel in the ''Harry Potter'' series. It was released on 21 July 2007 in the United Kingdom by Bloomsbury Publish ...

'' (2007). She continues to teach, and is present when Harry, Ron and Hermione return to Hogwarts searching for Ravenclaw's diadem. Soon after, McGonagall banishes Snape from Hogwarts. She prepares the school's defences prior to Voldemort's assault, and helps evacuate the younger students to Hogsmeade. During the Battle of Hogwarts, McGonagall duels with Voldemort alongside

Horace Slughorn The following is a list of characters from the ''Harry Potter'' series. Each character appears in at least one ''Harry Potter''–related book or story by J. K. Rowling. These books and stories include the seven original ''Harry Potter'' nov ...

and Kingsley Shacklebolt.

Film adaptations

McGonagall is portrayed by

in seven of the eight ''

'' films (not appearing in Deathly Hallows — Part 1). Despite receiving praise from J. K. Rowling for her performance, Smith said that acting in the films was not fully satisfying. However, she said she enjoyed being a part of the franchise because it allowed her to bond with her grandchildren. Smith underwent intensive

chemotherapy Chemotherapy (often abbreviated chemo, sometimes CTX and CTx) is the type of cancer treatment that uses one or more anti-cancer drugs (list of chemotherapeutic agents, chemotherapeutic agents or alkylating agents) in a standard chemotherapy re ...

for breast cancer while filming '' Half-Blood Prince''. The treatment left her feeling "horribly sick", but she eventually made a full recovery.

Television adaption

McGonagall is set to be portrayed by Janet McTeer in the HBO television adaption of the

series.

Stage adaption

The 2016 stage play '' Harry Potter and the Cursed Child'' is set nineteen years after Voldemort's death. In the play, McGonagall is the headmistress of Hogwarts.

''Fantastic Beasts''

McGonagall appears as a Hogwarts professor in the prequel films '' Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald'' (2018) and '' Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore'' (2022). Several websites have pointed out that according to timeline details provided in ''Order of the Phoenix'', McGonagall would not have been teaching at Hogwarts during the events of these films. Her inclusion in the series consequently upset some fans. McGonagall is portrayed by Fiona Glascott in the films.

Characterisation

McGonagall is a formidable lady who is skilled in many forms of magic, notably Transfiguration. She is able to perform certain spells without the use of a

wand A wand is a thin, light-weight rod that is held with one hand, and is traditionally made of wood, but may also be made of other materials, such as metal, bone or stone. Long versions of wands are often styled in forms of staves or sceptres, whi ...

. She is a registered Animagus, which allows her to transform into a domestic cat at will. McGonagall is held in high regard by her peers and the students of Hogwarts. She is known for her sternness and dry sense of humour. Minerva McGonagall shares some traits with the Roman goddess

Minerva Minerva (; ; ) is the Roman goddess of wisdom, justice, law, victory, and the sponsor of arts, trade, and strategy. She is also a goddess of warfare, though with a focus on strategic warfare, rather than the violence of gods such as Mars. Be ...

(known as

Athena Athena or Athene, often given the epithet Pallas, is an ancient Greek religion, ancient Greek goddess associated with wisdom, warfare, and handicraft who was later syncretism, syncretized with the Roman goddess Minerva. Athena was regarde ...

in Greek mythology).Rowling, J. K. (1997). ''Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone''. Bloomsbury Publishing. Chapter 1: McGonagall is introduced as a formidable witch, capable of advanced magic.Rowling, J. K. (1999). ''Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban''. Bloomsbury Publishing. Chapter 6: McGonagall is described as an exceptionally skilled Transfiguration professor.

Reception

The entertainment website ''

IGN ''IGN'' is an American video gaming and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa district and is headed by its former e ...

'' wrote that McGonagall is usually "a strict disciplinarian" but can also be a "cool aunt" who occasionally allows mischief.