The world renowned actress, who died aged 89 last year, was ‘present’ as the emotional last instalment of the drama was being made, said US star, Paul Giamatti
Late screen icon Dame Maggie Smith guided the cast of Downton Abbey’s third and final movie from beyond the grave. The actress, who died aged 89 last year, was “present” as the emotional last instalment of the drama was being made, according to US star Paul Giamatti.
Fans were made aware that Smith’s character – the Dowager Countess of Grantham – had passed away in the 2022 film, A New Era. But Giamatti explained that the Oscar winner remained a spiritual force on the set of the upcoming movie, The Grand Finale. Paul, who returns as Cora’s brother Harold Levinson, said of Dame Maggie: “Not having her there is obviously a huge loss, but everybody was still acting in her spirit.
“She certainly still feels present through the whole thing.
“It was not the same without her, but it felt very much like in her honour in some way.
“Working with her the first time around was one of the best things ever.”
Giamatti, who was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar for his role in The Holdovers, was shocked to have been called back to Downton, given he’d made just one appearance in the TV series.
He added: “The interesting thing for me was that they even asked me at all because I was like, ‘I don’t have an important character in this story’.
“But what’s funny is my character has a very significant role. He does something very significant in the movie.”
Joining Michelle Dockery in the cast are Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter, Phyllis Logan, Robert James-Collier, Joanne Froggatt, Allen Leech, Penelope Wilton and Lesley Nicol.
In addition, Michael Fox, Raquel Cassidy, Brendan Coyle, Kevin Doyle, Harry Hadden-Paton, Sophie McShera, Douglas Reith and Dominic West are all set to return, with fresh faces including Paul Giamatti, Joely Richardson, Alessandro Nivola, Simon Russell Beale and Arty Froushan joining the cast.
Fans shared their response to its return with many sharing sad emojis. One said: “This makes me glad and sad at the same time!”
Another person wrote: “This is going to wreck me, I just know it,” while a third added: “I can’t say goodbye.”
Others also shared concern about the storyline, one commenting: “Goodbye? Why? I hope the series doesn’t end on a horrible note e.g. with the family selling the estate.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
