Downton Abbey star’s surprising Maggie Smith admission in final film | Films | Entertainment

One star from Downton Abbey has spoken candidly about Maggie Smith’s absence from the period drama’s final chapter, reports OK!.

During an exclusive interview with Reach Screen Time, Raquel Cassidy – recognised by viewers as lady’s maid Phyllis Baxter – discussed the mood on set for Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale without the legendary actress, who brought to life the sharp-tongued Dowager Countess, Lady Violet Crawley.

The 57 year old performer revealed: “In terms of not having Maggie there, and I’ve heard other actors say this too at the read through, she kind of was there with us, strangely, because she’d always been there and she’d always been such a central part to it.”

Cassidy explained that Lady Violet’s portrait hanging in Downton’s impressive entrance hall, along with script mentions, including a witty remark about a weekend, ensured Smith’s presence remained palpable.

She added: “So she’s there both through wit and also the lack. We miss her but we are also honouring her memory with her humour and you feel that Mary takes it on.

“Mary will take her on, her spirit on, and she’ll live on both through the house and the people who loved her and are remembering her.”

Cassidy then shared her personal experience of saying farewell to Downton Abbey, having been involved with the production since series four after her arrival in 2013.

“I’m not grieving about it all now. I did quite a bit of that before. I think I was quite surprised about how profoundly I felt about it,” Cassidy admitted.

She revealed one of the most poignant moments came during the script read-through for the final film, confessing: “It felt like my hair was standing on end every time anyone spoke.”

She continued: “It was portentous and Maggie wasn’t there and we really understood how blessed we have been and what a privileged position we were in.”

Cassidy disclosed she “dissolved into a real mess of tears” when she completed filming.

She went on: “I didn’t expect that at all. I was in one of those moments, where you can’t really speak.”

Before signing up to the ITV period drama phenomenon, Cassidy confessed she was already a “huge fan” and jumped at the chance to join Downton Abbey when the opportunity arose.

Speaking about the franchise drawing to a close, the Teachers and The Worst Witch actress said she wasn’t taken aback by Downton Abbey’s lasting appeal compared to perhaps some of her co-stars, who’d been with the show from day one, because she understood what it meant to “love” the series.

Turning her attention to what lies ahead, Cassidy currently has multiple projects in development.

Cassidy hinted that she’d experienced a “delicious flurry” of interest following the movie’s premiere, revealing she was getting “close” to one opportunity but added: “So far, the next right thing hasn’t come along.”

She then mysteriously suggested she was keen to take on more period drama roles: “So, who knows what’s around the corner?”

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is available to buy or rent now