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23 Jan 2025 22:56
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  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    It was "terribly easy" to convince Dame Maggie Smith that her 'Downton Abbey' character should be killed off

    Although fans were devastated to see Maggie's acerbic alter-ego Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham, pass away from a terminal illness in the 2022 'Downton Abbey' movie 'A New Era', Maggie was delighted with the decision


    Producer Gareth Neame told the Daily Mail newspaper: "This was a terribly easy one, because she used to find the whole thing so draining at times.

    "Every year, when another series would come round, she'd say: 'Oh can't you just kill me off?' So when we eventually did, I think part of her might have been quite relieved."

    And, Neame admitted it is no longer sustainable to make the 'Downton Abbey' TV series, because the actors all want to take on other roles.

    He explained: "We'd spend a third to half a year in production. I knew that wasn't going to be sustainable for ever. The actors wanted to do other things."

    Meanwhile, Maggie, 89, previously admitted she never found her work in 'Downton' or the 'Harry Potter' franchise "satisfying".

    She told ES Magazine: "I am deeply grateful for the work in 'Potter' and indeed 'Downton' but it wasn't what you'd call satisfying. I didn't really feel I was acting in those things."

    And, she also revealed she had never watched 'Downton'.

    When asked by US TV show '60 Minutes' if she was proud of the show, she said: "I was just pausing because I've never actually seen it. I don't sit down and watch it. No, I've never watched it.

    "I will look at it when it's all over, maybe, because it's frustrating - I always see things that I would like to do differently, and think 'why in the name of God did I do that?'"

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

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     Today's News

    Accident and Emergency:
    A pedestrian has been seriously injured after a crash involving a vehicle on State Highway 30 in Whakatane 21:57

    Entertainment:
    Jeremy Renner has used a hyperbaric chamber while recovering from his near-fatal snowplough accident 21:30

    Business:
    A Former New Zealand Chief Science Advisor says the science sector was overdue for a major rework 21:17

    Environment:
    Climate change and China will define US relations with Pacific Islands under Donald Trump, security experts say 21:07

    Entertainment:
    Tracy Morgan felt like he was being "culturally isolated" after he joined 'Saturday Night Live' 21:00

    Entertainment:
    Carrie Underwood sang an a-cappella version of 'America the Beautiful' at Donald Trump's presidential inauguration 20:30

    Entertainment:
    Kevin Costner paid tribute to the late Whitney Houston on his 70th birthday on Saturday (18.01.25) 20:00

    Entertainment:
    Brooke Shields is "ready" for her own TV show 19:30

    International:
    Key moments from Donald Trump's return: Angry Instagram users and a warning to workers 19:17

    Entertainment:
    Teetotal actor Tom Holland has launched his own non-alcoholic beer 19:00


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