Star Michelle Dockery recently shared her thoughts on Lady Mary’s ultimate end in Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale and what it was like for her character to pay tribute to the late Dame Maggie Smith. Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is slated to be the end of an era for creator Julian Fellowes’ stunningly popular period drama franchise.

While Fellowes hasn’t fully confirmed that we’ll never see the Downton estate again, it is the end for this generation of the Crawley family. This includes Michelle Dockery’s Lady Mary, the eldest Crawley sister and current caretaker of Downton Abbey. Mary’s arc in Downton‘s storied history revolved around her numerous romances as much as her aspiration to become her father’s official heir and find her independence.

In an interview with Vanity Fair, Dockery revealed that audiences will likely not be surprised by Mary’s ending in Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, even though it’s not “neatly tied up in a bow for her romantically.” Dockery also spoke about how the movie leaves her character’s future open for interpretation, allowing the story to live on beyond this final release.

“I don’t think people will be surprised by the way things turn out for Mary. I think people have gotten used to her independence, and it’s not neatly tied up in a bow for her romantically—and that’s okay. I was really cool with that. Even though we are finishing it, it feels like the story is continuing, and there is somewhere to go beyond what we are showing you on screen. As much as this is the grand finale, it’s a new beginning. The young are taking over. There is this pᴀssing of the baton in this film. That means the story continues in many ways.”

There’s also the question of Maggie Smith’s Downton legacy. Smith’s character, Violet, died in the previous Downton movie, Downton Abbey: A New Era. After Smith’s pᴀssing in 2024, The Grand Finale had to figure out how to pay tribute to such a legendary actress and iconic character. According to Dockery, the film’s final scene, which depicts Mary honoring Violet, was difficult for her to shoot.

“‘I was emotional doing that scene. Actually, performing that moment was a real challenge,’ she says. While filming, director Simon Curtis also gave her a note that made Dockery cry. ‘They had to keep retouching my makeup, ‘cause Mary always remains stoic,’ she says. ‘It wouldn’t have felt right at that moment for her to be bursting into tears. At the end, everything wraps up so brilliantly. I think people will need to take tissues!'”

What This Means For Mary’s Character In Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale

As the Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale trailers reveal, the film will lean heavily into Downton’s prospects, and more specifically, Mary’s role in maintaining the estate. This includes a close examination of her romantic life, as it’s revealed to the audience and British high society that her marriage to Henry Talbot (Matthew Goode) has ended, shockingly, in divorce.

As such, it’s no surprise that Mary’s romantic life isn’t tied up in a bow by the end of this movie, and Dockery’s support of this narrative twist is understandable. While Mary’s romances have been a major part of her arc, it’s more exciting that this film will see her firmly follow in her father’s and, perhaps more importantly, her grandmother’s footsteps.

Our Take On Mary’s End In Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale

That the movie’s ending should focus on Mary’s relationship with Violet is only fitting, as Violet was always one of the most important and supportive people in Mary’s life. They had a lot in common, mainly their love for Downton and their formidable personalities. It’ll be interesting to see how Mary’s trademark stoicism affects our perception of this final scene.

Maggie Smith’s impact on Downton Abbey is undeniable, but if I had to name a character that could match her legacy, it would be Michelle Dockery’s Lady Mary. If the lack of a resolution for Mary’s romantic life has allowed more room for her to channel her inner Violet Crawley in Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, I’m all for it.

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale arrives in theaters on September 12.