Following the season six finale in 2015, Downton Abbey returned to screens with a heart-warming film to officially conclude 15 years of the sprawling saga. The beloved Crawley family and their array of staff made their cinematic return in Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, which followed their ups and downs as they journeyed into the 1930s. Among the many unexpected changes the aristocratic family have to grapple with is Lady Mary Talbot’s (Michelle Dockery) divorce, which was unheard of in 1930s high society.
After premiering in 2010, the Downton Abbey series instantly shot to popularity and found worldwide acclaim. In the USA, it won 15 of its 69 Emmy nominations and three Screen Actors Guild trophies for best ensemble, led by the late Dame Maggie Smith, who starred as the formidable Countess Violet Crawley. During an exclusive interview with the Daily Express, Downton Abbey’s production designer, Donal Woods, paid a heartfelt tribute to the renowned actress and shared his favourite memory of the star.
Throughout her varied career, which kicked off in 1952, Dame Maggie Smith received newfound recognition in the British period drama for her scathing and witty portrayal.
While Violet’s departure from Downton Abbey came to an emotional end in 2022 after the Dowager succumbed to a terminal illness, the film honoured the astounding actress who died in 2024 with a moving in memoriam segment before the credits.
Remembering the icon, Donal shared: “I think my favourite scene was after Sybil had died she came to the house and she was with Carson for a second and they were deep in sorrow.
“She then walked across the main hall, and brilliant Maggie, she looked broken by the loss of her grandchild, which we all would be, and then she just stopped and straightened her back and carried on walking like she needed to help the family, like she couldn’t be weak in this moment.”
The production designer praised the profound adjustment and added: “It was just total genius, it was a small point.”
Recounting a conversation with the Lady Mary Crawley star, Donal continued: “I was talking to Michelle Dockery, we did a Q&A and she said, ‘When I saw that, it brought a tear to my eye.’
“It was just somebody that said, ‘Right, I’ve got to get this together and help this family get through this terrible tragedy,’ and that’s a sign of great acting.
“It’s not always the words; it’s sometimes movement or gesture. Everything she did was fantastic; it was just a small part, but that sticks in the memory,” he concluded.
According to a statement from her family, Dame Maggie died “peacefully” in September 2024, aged 89, leaving behind two sons and five grandchildren.
DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE IS NOW AVAILABLE TO BUY OR RENT AT HOME ON DIGITAL PLATFORMS
