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Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is the third and final film in the beloved franchise. Many fans have been wondering if Maggie Smith is in the latest installment, released on September 12, 2025. The answer is no.
Smith died on September 27, 2024, and her unforgettable character, Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess, passed away in the previous film titled Downton Abbey: A New Era.
Even though she is not physically present, the 2025 movie carefully weaves in Maggie Smith's presence through portraits, remembered lines, and moving flashback sequences. Director Simon Curtis explained in a USA Today interview, published on September 13, 2025, that the last scene used original footage from the TV series instead of AI technology, making the moment more authentic.
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Maggie Smith’s absence and tribute in Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale
Maggie Smith’s character bowed out at the end of Downton Abbey: A New Era. She does not return in the new movie. Instead, Lady Mary Talbot takes center stage
After her divorce from Henry Talbot, Mary faces scandal and blackmail from a suitor, played by Alessandro Nivola. She then steps into her grandmother Violet’s place as the head of the Crawley household, continuing the family legacy.
The tributes to Violet Crawley are heartfelt. A grand portrait of her greets visitors in the main hall of Downton Abbey. In the final scene, Mary pauses before the portrait, reflecting on all that Violet stood for. The late Crawley's iconic question, “What is a weekend?” is recalled in a conversation, keeping her wit alive. Robert and Cora also move into Violet’s former home, the Dower house.
One of the most powerful moments of Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is when Mary envisions a ballroom filled with memories. She sees her sister Sybil, her late husband Matthew, and Violet watching over her. Director Simon Curtis told USA Today that these visions were made using real clips from the original series, inspired by a Christmas servant’s ball once featured on the show.
The final dedication reads:
“In loving memory of Dame Maggie Smith, 1934–2024.”
Although Smith is not on screen, her co-stars felt her presence during filming. On September 9, 2025, Elizabeth McGovern sat down with Collider and stated:
“She’s [Maggie] still very much in the atmosphere...everything she represents is there. She’s in every room, in every interaction.”
In another conversation with Harper’s Bazaar, published on September 12, Michelle Dockery talked about performing Mary’s last scene beneath Violet’s portrait. The Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale actress shared:
"So, yeah, it was a very emotional moment to play.”
Previously on June 10, the show creator Julian Fellowes reflected on how Violet continued to guide the Crawleys. In an interview with Deadline, he said:
“The fact that she’s dead is a detail. It’s her beliefs, her demands, and her sense of how the Crawleys should behave that live on.”
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale closes the Crawley family’s story while making sure Maggie Smith’s presence is never forgotten.
