‘Downton Abbey’ Cast & Creatives Pay Tribute To Maggie Smith; Julian Fellowes, Michelle Dockery, Hugh Bonneville

Maggie Smith, who died Friday at the age of 89, earned three Primetime Emmy awards for her role as Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham in all six seasons of the British period drama Downton Abbey. She also reprised her role in the two Downton Abbey films: her character died in 2022’s Downton Abbey: A New Era.

Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes is among those paying tribute to Smith, releaeing the following statement: “Maggie Smith was a truly great actress and we were more than fortunate to be part of the last act in her stellar career. She was a joy to write for, subtle, many-layered, intelligent, funny and heart-breaking. Working with her has been the greatest privilege of my career, and I will never forget her.”

Gareth Neame of Carnival Films, Executive Producer of Downton Abbey series and Producer, Downton Abbey films, shared a statement on his working relationship with Smith and his personal connection to the actor.

“Maggie Smith was one of the greatest actors of our time and a much-loved member of the Downton family,” Neame wrote. “In Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham, Maggie created one of the finest screen performances we have seen across six seasons of the television series and two movies, spanning twelve years. The entire cast and crew of Downton Abbey considered it an enormous honor to work with her, she was an actress of such stature whose incredible talent could encompass high comedy and full-blown tragedy. Off-screen she was particularly close to the cast who played the other members of her family and was very generous and full of encouragement for the younger actors. It is personally poignant that my late grandfather directed one of her finest performances in ’The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie’ for which she won her first Academy Award. Jean Brodie and Violet Grantham are but two creations in an extraordinary career spanning decades and delighting audiences across the globe. There is only one Maggie Smith and she will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with her family.”

Michelle Dockery, who portrayed Lady Mary Crowley, said in a statement provided to Deadline: “There was no one quite like Maggie. I feel tremendously lucky to have known such a maverick. She will be deeply missed and my thoughts are with her family.”

Hugh Bonneville, who played Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham, the actor’s son on the show, wrote in a statement to media outlets, “Anyone who ever shared a scene with Maggie will attest to her sharp eye, sharp wit and formidable talent.

“She was a true legend of her generation and thankfully will live on in so many magnificent screen performances. My condolences to her boys and wider family.”

Dan Stevens, who played Matthew Crawley, wrote of Smith, “Truly one of The Greats. RIP” on Instagram.