After 15 years of ‘Downton Abbey,’ Hugh Bonneville and Michelle Dockery can’t quite say goodbye

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Recently, a portion of the cast assembled to view “Downton Abbey: The Final Chapter.” Shot over the summer, it wasn’t until then that actors Hugh Bonneville and Michelle Dockery understood that the movie represented the pinnacle of 15 years worth of their collaborative efforts.

Michelle and I tightly gripped each other’s hands as we watched the last scenes of the movie, according to Bonneville, who was speaking with Dockery over Zoom in late August. Despite being in separate homes, there was a warm, friendly bond between them, likely due to their long-standing roles as Robert Crawley, the Earl of Grantham, and his eldest daughter, Lady Mary, on Downton Abbey. Bonneville admitted, “It truly felt like the conclusion, that moment in time.

Dockery concurs, “Yes, it did.” He added, “We’ve had our fair share of conclusions. With the series, it seemed uncertain where it would lead beyond that. It felt quite conclusive at the time. Even after the first film, there was no certainty about a second one. However, this one feels like the farewell.

Jokingly, Bonneville mentions that there’s constant discussion about space spin-offs and various versions of it. Then he humorously adds, ‘Surprisingly, it turns out the castle even has a hidden rocket ship!’

More seriously, he adds, “But for us lot, this is certainly the end.”

After the final episode of “Downton Abbey” aired in 2015, following six seasons and 52 episodes, its creator Julian Fellowes wrote three films, culminating with “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale”, which will be released on September 12. Although the movies weren’t necessarily guaranteed, Fellowes has confirmed that these specific characters will not reunite on screen again after this final film.

According to Fellowes, speaking from his home in England over Zoom, “it’s indeed the conclusion of the original cast” for ‘Downton Abbey.’ While there might be potential spin-offs or continuations, nothing is set in stone at the moment. However, he emphasizes that if anything arises, it won’t involve the original cast members. The series has reached a natural end.

In “The Grand Finale,” penned by Fellowes and directed by Simon Curtis, I find myself amidst 1930s Britain, a period marking significant transformation within our society. I’m witnessing the gradual transfer of Downton Abbey and its estate from my hands, Robert, to Mary, my eldest daughter. This transition echoes the early days of Downton Abbey, where my wife, Cora (Elizabeth McGovern), and I contemplated both our daughter’s future and that of the abbey. Though I initiated the succession process in 2022’s “Downton Abbey: A New Era,” it’s now that I’m grappling with the reality of my own approaching end. Meanwhile, Mary finds herself mired in a high-profile divorce scandal that jeopardizes her standing in society.

Fellowes explains that forcing Mary into a divorce situation against her wishes served as a catalyst, propelling her into the contemporary era possibly quicker than she would have chosen on her own. This provided an opportunity for him to establish a divide between her and the world she was born into. Consequently, Mary is compelled to reshape herself in this new environment.

Bonneville and Dockery have been portraying a father-daughter duo since their initial meeting during the first read-through in 2010. At that time, Dockery was relatively unknown, while Bonneville had an established onscreen career, featuring in films like “Notting Hill” and “Iris,” as well as theater productions. They both remember a sense of excitement surrounding the series, which Fellowes wrote following the success of his Academy Award-winning screenplay for Robert Altman’s satirical 2001 film “Gosford Park.

Obtaining that part was monumental,” Dockery expresses. “I’ll always remember the phone call. And aren’t you reminded of how amazing our first season together was? It certainly felt like we were embarking on something truly special.

In terms of promoting the show to the media, it seemed nobody was interested, as Bonneville points out. He recalls discussing the possibility of three seasons with producer Gareth Neame, who expressed doubts about the show extending beyond seven episodes. This initial season was marked by a certain naivety, as there were no high expectations placed on them, and they enjoyed the process immensely.

He chuckles, remarking that during the filming of Season 2, there were individuals who needed to be taken down from trees as photographers got too enthusiastic.

Initially, I wasn’t expecting much given its limited early media attention, but “Downton Abbey” astonishingly escalated into a worldwide sensation. Over time, it garnered an impressive 69 Emmy nominations, securing 15 wins, and even bagged the Screen Actors Guild’s ensemble award on three separate occasions.

According to Dockery, there was quite an excitement surrounding it. We found ourselves traveling extensively across the globe. Each new season brought a sense of returning home, as little had changed and we remained the same. What I cherished about ‘Downton’ was its cozy, familiar feel.

Bonniville concurred, stating that reuniting brought an immense sense of relief, as if returning to a familiar fortress where one can close the doors and concentrate on tasks once more.

Upon the conclusion of the series, whispers about a sequel movie swirled right away, but it took several years for all involved to coordinate schedules and reunite. The first “Downton Abbey” film made its debut in 2019, with “A New Era” following in 2022. Reuniting the talented ensemble cast led by Maggie Smith proved a challenge for the movie makers, but Bonneville mentions that everyone has always been genuinely eager to participate.

He noted that since we didn’t all dislike one another, we probably wouldn’t have returned. He found it fortunate and chuckled, mentioning, ‘Maggie’s cane didn’t lead to many accidents either.’

In the movie, the character of the dowager countess lingers significantly, as stated by Fellowes. Notably, this character passed away at the conclusion of “A New Era,” preceding the death of the renowned actor in September 2024 at the age of 89. During the filming of “The Grand Finale,” the cast keenly felt both the presence and the void left by her absence on set, as she was still alive at that time.

In the latest film, Dockery shares, “We spoke extensively about her. This is because, when someone is dearly missed, conversations naturally revolve around them.

Bonneville shared that her character’s death scene in the second movie felt like saying goodbye, and it made him realize he had referred to her as mom for 12 years, which was quite peculiar. He continued by expressing that his sense of her legacy was exceptionally strong at the end of the second film. In this third movie, there was a feeling of mourning for the fictional character, and we knew we weren’t filming with her anymore. The fact that she did pass away later that year gives the film an appropriate feel as a tribute to her memory.

In the narrative of “Downton Abbey,” death has always played a significant role. Characters like Lady Sybil (Jessica Brown Findlay) from Season 3, who passed away in childbirth, and Mary’s first husband, Matthew (Dan Stevens), also from Season 3, continue to be mourned by fans. The creator, Julian Fellowes, intentionally incorporates the fragility of life into the series and films, a theme that carries over into “The Grand Finale.” Besides showcasing Mary taking charge of the estate, this film is also about Robert and Cora coming to terms with their losses and learning to move forward in their lives.

Fellowes states, “As you hand over your responsibilities with the estate and the family business to the next generation, you’re also accepting that your life journey is nearing its end. In our youth, we believe we are immortal and will live forever. However, as time passes, one must come to terms with the reality that death is a part of life.

In Bonneville’s words, “It would have been simplest for Robert to continue until he completely exhausted himself, potentially leading to the downfall or poor management of the estate. However, it’s quite contemporary that Mary is there to manage the estate until their son, George, becomes capable. And she is indeed the suitable individual for this task.

Dockery acknowledges that Mary is quite inventive, showcasing her determination in envisioning a fresh future for Downton Abbey, notably in devising novel methods of financing the estate. In essence, she’s adept at thinking beyond traditional boundaries, and this innovation seems to be spurring change among the people, who are beginning to adopt new ways of thinking.

In simpler terms, the actress who portrayed McGovern as Bonneville’s on-screen wife in previous projects, and later joined the cast of “Downton Abbey”, claims that Cora’s ability to be emotionally adaptable often smoothed the path for the more inflexible character Robert.

She mentions that the story deeply resonated with both of them on a personal level as they are navigating similar life transitions. Speaking from New York City over Zoom, she appreciates how ‘Downton Abbey’ tackles themes rarely found in movies of its caliber – character aging. Julian Fellowes has crafted an ensemble that caters to everyone, whether young or old.

As a movie buff, I found Robert’s gradual openness to understanding in “The Grand Finale” significant for Bonneville’s character. He admits that Robert’s emotional intelligence seemed to dwindle during certain seasons of the show, and he personally engaged Fellowes in discussions about Robert’s cold behavior towards Mary following Matthew’s demise.

According to Bonneville, he often reassured everyone with words like, ‘Give me some time, everything will turn out fine.’ And indeed, by the end of each season, Robert would gradually grasp what was happening. It became a running gag between them as Bonneville used to tease Julian, ‘Robert’s intelligence seems to have decreased.’ However, in the final film, Robert was once again the intelligent character that Bonneville admired from the first episode.

According to Fellowes, the underlying theme in the story is that all families grapple with unforeseen circumstances. We establish relationships, pursue careers, and raise kids, but everything rarely turns out exactly as we envisioned. Instead, we find ourselves constantly adapting to the twists life throws our way.

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Let’s jump straight to the point where “Downton Abbey” took off, approximately a decade ago. That part of the tale is well-known, so we’ll fast forward to the moment when Peter Fincham gave his approval and invited us into the world of ITV.

In “The Grand Finale,” Fellowes was curious about how the relationship between the father and daughter had changed since their initial encounters. A key scene, where Mary shows Robert an apartment in London, showcases the generational friction between them. The earl is taken aback when he learns that the family would have neighbors and must walk down a hallway to get to bed instead of climbing stairs as one would in a grand estate. (His reaction echoes Smith’s famous remark, “What is a weekend?”)

Bonneville humorously explained that he advocated for this particular approach because it reflects a preference for following a path instead of climbing higher, and illustrates a stark contrast from the typical way of life. Symbolically, it represents the shrinking of lifestyle and the relinquishment of control.

Regarding Mary, Robert often appears to be rolling his eyes at her shenanigans, yet he’s surprisingly patient with her. In truth, I believe he secretly enjoys that she’s bolder than he himself has ever been.

On the set, McGovern casually addressed Bonneville and Curtis (her real-life partner) as her “husbands,” while Dockery is fondly known as “Docky Daughter” by McGovern. In some instances, she playfully responds to a text from her with the endearing term “Mama.

Over time, we’ve become very close, much like everyone else, and this bond has been present since the start,” Dockery explains. “Laura (Edith) and I were both in our twenties at the time, and it seemed as though Elizabeth took us under her care, fostering a friendship that persisted.

McGovern shares that he’s admired the bond between Cora and Mary, finding similarities to his own connection with Michelle. He explains, ‘Much like how Cora looks up to Mary, who symbolizes a modern woman, I felt the same way about Michelle as an actress.’

The emotional final scenes of “The Grand Finale” are both heartwarming and heartrending, encapsulating the past and future journeys of the characters. Although it serves as an end, it also leaves room for possibilities.

In simpler terms, Dockery expresses that the film gives an impression that these characters have more to explore beyond ‘Downton Abbey’. It’s comforting for the fans since they seem to be moving forward. Despite this being the end, it feels as if the narrative continues in some form or another.

Even though fans can’t yet read the next installment, it’s simple to visualize where these characters might end up and how their surroundings could evolve further. If Dockery has any insights into Mary’s future, she’ll keep them to herself.

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2025-09-05 13:33