Downton Abbey star recalls “wonderful” first meeting with Maggie Smith: “She wants to play”

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Downton Abbey star Harry Hadden-Paton has recalled his “wonderful” first meeting with Maggie Smith.

The renowned actor, who has since passed away, is well-known for portraying Violet Crawley in the ITV show. He reprised this role in the initial two films, with the final film depicting his character’s demise.

Last year, Smith passed away, and Hadden-Paton, widely recognized for his role as Herbert ‘Bertie’ Pelham in Downton Abbey, has shared his experience of meeting Smith for the first time after their demise.

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In a previous scene, when I had not previously interacted with her, Hugh [Bonneville] suggested, “You should go and do that over again, and next time, focus more on Maggie,” he shared with Digital Spy. I responded, “Alright, what have I messed up?

The star proceeded to approach Smith, and it was “immediately” about “the work” and “the acting”.

He went on to discuss the dynamics between his character and hers, remarking, ” Isn’t it remarkable after such a long period? She doesn’t desire to be in the limelight. Instead, she enjoys being part of the game.

She proposes creating a shared history between Bertie and the Dowager, exploring when and how they might have first crossed paths. It could be that they were acquainted prior to this encounter, or perhaps my uncle was of the same generation as her.

“So I’ll remember an icon and a talent and also just a child who loved acting like the rest of us.”

In the set of the third movie, where she wasn’t present – as this was filmed prior to her passing – Hadden-Paton also recounted: “It was the first time we gathered around the dining table, a place we spent countless hours together.

Approximately five minutes passed, someone suggested sending a text to Maggie. Given the tense and awe-inspiring ambiance surrounding her, we decided to send her a message. Although she carried an air of fear, Maggie was also an admired figure who genuinely adored acting.

In a recent premiere, “The Grand Finale of Downton Abbey” is out now, and Digital Spy described it as an ending that maybe wasn’t necessary in their 3-star review.

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is released in cinemas on 12 September.

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2025-09-04 16:21