Maggie Smith admits how she really felt about ‘Downton Abbey’

Dame Maggie Smith has revealed that she didn’t find it “satisfying” being in Downton.

The 84-year-old English actress reprised her role as Lady Violet in the recent Downton Abbey movie this autumn, following a lot of persuading.

Smith previously played the Dowager Countess in all 52 episodes of ITV’s hit period drama series between 2010 and 2015.

However, it seems like she didn’t find the part as challenging as she’d have liked!

Reflecting on her early acting career in a new interview with ES Magazine, she said: “Honest to God, I have no idea where the urge [to act] came from. It was such a ghastly time and we didn’t go to the theatre.

“I got into terrible trouble once because the neighbours took me to the cinema on a Sunday. But I had a wonderful teacher, Dorothy Bartholomew, who also taught Miriam Margolyes, and who encouraged me.”

Looking back on playing Lady Violet in Downton Abbey and Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter movies, Smith admitted: “I am deeply grateful for the work in Potter and indeed Downton, but it wasn’t what you’d call satisfying.”

She added: “I didn’t really feel I was acting in those things.”

Well, we think it’s a credit to her acting ability that she portrayed these wonderful characters so effortlessly. Bravo, Dame Maggie!

There has been much talk already about a sequel to the Downton Abbey movie, although it sounds like we shouldn’t get our hopes up about Maggie Smith returning!

The first film is released on DVD and Blu-ray next week, with a Deluxe Limited Edition gift set being released on the same day.

The Downton Abbey movie is available to pre-order on DVD on Amazon.