One of the stars of Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale has shared what it was like to be on set without the late Dame Maggie Smith. Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is currently set to be the final installment in Julian Fellowes’ Downton Abbey franchise, as the Crawley family and their household staff enter the instability of the 1930s. With the looming global economic turmoil of the Great Depression, the Crawleys will be forced to navigate a new era without their beloved, snarky matriarch, the Dowager Countess of Grantham, Violet Crawley.
Violet Crawley, wonderfully portrayed by Maggie Smith throughout six seasons and two Downton Abbey films, pᴀssed away in the second Downton Abbey movie, Downton Abbey: A New Era. While it was always the plan to say goodbye to Lady Grantham, her absence in The Grand Finale will be even more bittersweet after Smith’s pᴀssing in September last year. During an interview with ScreenRant‘s Grant Hermanns for the MobLand season 1 finale, star Joanne Froggatt, who’s portrayed head housemaid Anna Bates since Downton‘s very first episode, discussed how it felt to film The Grand Finale without Maggie Smith.
Yeah, obviously, I didn’t have many scenes with Maggie; it was only the big group scenes that we’d all be together. She was greatly missed, she was greatly missed. It was a strange and sort of warm feeling, and also a sad feeling. She leaves a big hole; she really does leave a big hole in the ensemble cast. Maggie was such a huge part of, not only on screen, but off screen, our group. And, as I say, although Maggie and I didn’t really have one-on-one scenes together, for any group scenes, we’d all be together, and there was this huge personality and this huge talent missing from that. So, it was really sad, but also we felt proud to be flying the flag for her one last time, and she was spoken about very fondly on so many occasions, probably every day. “Do you remember when Maggie said this? Remember when we did this?” It was a lovely way to remember her, actually, during the process of filming for all of us.
What This Means For Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale
Maggie Smith’s Presence Will Be Felt Throughout The Movie
Froggatt’s comments confirm that Maggie Smith’s absence and legacy will permeate every inch of Downton Abbey‘s (potential) last hurrah, as they remembered her lovingly during production. Though the entire ensemble cast of Downton is beloved, Maggie Smith’s Violet Crawley was a firm fan-favorite, and her character’s quick wit, sarcasm, boldness, and care for Downton Abbey’s past, present, and future were a leading presence in the show. It will certainly be strange to see the family operate without her. Maggie Smith’s performance was legendary.
Julian Fellowes, Downton‘s creator, echoed Froggatt’s comments in a recent interview, explaining that the loss of both Smith and Violet plays a major part in The Grand Finale. According to the showrunner, the Crawleys are still learning to navigate life without the Dowager Countess; she was a force to be reckoned with, after all. Fellows explained that it was a deliberate choice to make it so that Violet and Smith would be equally missed during Downton‘s upcoming movie. Her presence and legacy were extraordinary, and that’s not something you can ignore.
Our Take On Downton Abbey’s Final Outing
How Will We Say Goodbye To This Beloved Estate?
Understandably, The Grand Finale has been billed as Downton‘s last outing. Though we could, potentially, follow this family for generations to come, Downton Abbey became so beloved for a reason; the original cast, including Maggie Smith’s Dowager Countess, is one of the biggest reasons why, as we came to love and understand the two halves of the Downton household equally. We want to know how the Crawleys function without Violet, but after that, it’ll be time for their journeys of growth and change to end, as everyone settles into their well-deserved new roles and chosen lives.
Downton Abbey became so beloved for a reason; the original cast, including Maggie Smith’s Dowager Countess, is one of the biggest reasons why.
Never say never, though. Fellowes has refused to confirm whether The Grand Finale is truly Downton Abbey‘s final chapter. While he did make it a point to say that he thought it would be the last installment with the original cast, there’s always the possibility that he’ll come up with a new story idea in the future (via ᴅᴇᴀᴅline). Whether or not Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale does end up being this beloved period drama’s last outing, it certainly does feel like a final goodbye to Violet Crawley and the magnificent late Dame Maggie Smith.
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale arrives in cinemas on September 12.
