News | Entertainment
18 Feb 2025 13:57
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   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

     Other Entertainment News
     18 Feb: Sir Roger Moore taught his co-stars how to smoke cigars on the set of 'The Man with the Golden Gun'
     18 Feb: Nick Lachey loves working with his wife Vanessa on 'Love is Blind'
     18 Feb: Nicole Kidman wants to work with female directors because she feels "in tune with women's stories" as a "mother, daughter, wife, producer and actress"
     18 Feb: Prince Harry felt "protected" while living in Canada because his neighbours treated him with "respect"
     18 Feb: David Jolicoeur's De La Soul bandmates were "shocked" by his death because he hid his health issues from them
     18 Feb: Ethan Slater is "unendingly proud" of his girlfriend Ariana Grande
     18 Feb: Cheryl Burke is tired of dating
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    A mad dash to Dublin airport has hit the mark for Irish amateur darts player Michael Flynn More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Understanding 'time confetti' and how it's stealing your downtime More...



     Today's News

    Law and Order:
    Police are asking for the public's help after a possible sighting of Tom Phillips and his children over the weekend 13:47

    General:
    Shannon Cox has laid down an early marker in the women's single sculls on the opening morning of the rowing national championships at Lake Ruataniwha near Twizel 13:27

    Entertainment:
    Sir Roger Moore taught his co-stars how to smoke cigars on the set of 'The Man with the Golden Gun' 13:24

    National:
    Apple Cider Vinegar: how social media gave rise to fraudulent wellness influencers like Belle Gibson 13:07

    International:
    US sends Israel 2,000-pound bombs that can 'pancake' buildings 13:07

    Politics:
    The Education Minister says her working relationship with Associate Minister David Seymour, is excellent 12:57

    Entertainment:
    Nick Lachey loves working with his wife Vanessa on 'Love is Blind' 12:54

    Health & Safety:
    The specialist mental health and addiction services workforce isn't meeting demand 12:47

    Rugby League:
    An investigation's been launched after Salford's decision to field a reserve squad in their record English Super League defeat to St Helens 12:27

    Entertainment:
    Nicole Kidman wants to work with female directors because she feels "in tune with women's stories" as a "mother, daughter, wife, producer and actress" 12:24


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd