Dame Maggie Smith: I’m surprised that I got to the end of Downton Abbey but doing a film would be fun

Surprised: Dame Maggie Smith admits that she never thought she'd last for the entirety of Downton Abbey
Ian Gavan/Getty Images
Jennifer Ruby13 August 2015
The Weekender

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Dame Maggie Smith has admitted that she was surprised that she reached the end of Downton Abbey as she felt ‘very old’ when she took on the role.

Speaking at the launch of the sixth and final series, the acting legend admitted that while she wanted a ‘lie down’ now that filming has wrapped, she would still be on board for a Downton film.

She told us: “I’m just surprised that I got to the end.

“Just before doing this, about six years ago, I’d done about 10 years with Harry Potter so I felt very old when I got to the Dowager.

AP Photo/PBS, Carnival Film & Television Limited 2011 for MASTERPIECE, Nick Briggs

“I’m honestly just surprised that I got through it and I’m still here.”

Talking about her infamous put-downs as the Dowager Countess, Dame Maggie added: “That’s Julian [Fellowes]. In Gosford Park I had a few of those put-downs, which I think he bore in mind.

“They are wonderful , wonderful put-downs. But believe me, they are all Julian, people think that I make these things up myself but I absolutely don’t.

BAFTA tribute evening for Downton Abbey

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While other members of the cast are jumping straight back into work on other projects, Dame Maggie admitted that all she wanted to do was rest.

She said: “I’m going to be lying down. I think for quite some time. The other thing that I will be doing is watching it. I’ll get the box set and have a good look.”

Despite being in the show since the beginning, the actress has never seen her own scenes or the series in its entirety.

“I haven’t seen anything I’ve done,” she said. “I’ve seen some of it but I want to sit down and look at it all in one go.”

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With executive producer Gareth Neame has hinted that the cast could well be reuniting for a film spin-off, it seems that Dame Maggie will definitely be on board.

The star told us : “Yes, I’m not sure if my wig will be around but I will be. My wig’s more tired than I am. But yes, I think it’d be fun.”

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