The British television drama "Downton Abbey" is finally through after the Christmas special aired last Sunday, but one of its lead stars Dame Maggie Smith still has not seen the series.
Two years ago, she revealed to a news outlet that she has never seen a single episode yet because of her busy schedule. But now, there is nothing that can keep the actress from watching the show since she is finished fulfilling her role as the Countess Dowager.
During an interview with Sunday Morning, Smith admitted that she has not gotten around to watching the series but she intends to catch up soon.
"No. But they gave me the boxed set. And I'm going to do all sorts of things now, 'cause I'm free!" she said.
Another thing Smith is happy to be free from, aside from a hectic work schedule, are corsets. The characters all had to wear corsets to make their costumes look more realistic, but Smith said that she went rogue on that rule.
"In actual fact, I have to say that I did cheat a bit," Smith shared. "Because I promised that if I sat up, bolt upright, I made it look as though I were wearing corsets."
The stars of the show are prevented from talking about any of the episodes before it airs, but Smith said that she actually has no problem keeping spoilers because she does not really remember what went on.
"But to speak truth, I can't remember. Nobody was allowed to see the script. You had to read it and then eat it, just in case. Do not leave it anywhere!" she jokingly said.
Meanwhile, other stars of "Downton Abbey" are now confronted with the reality that their long-running drama is finally over, and they won't have to film in Highclere Castle anymore.
"It's strange saying goodbye to the castle," Laura Carmichael, who plays Lady Edith on the show told Entertainment Weekly. "It felt like, for a split second, it wasn't our home anymore - and, of course, it never was our home, but it felt like it. As soon as they said 'cut' on that day, you realized it was just pretend. It was very emotional; we didn't want to leave."
Elizabeth McGovern, who plays her on-screen mother Lady Cora said that she will also miss the peaceful time period of the story. "In today's world we're inundated with information all the time, there's so many choices we have to make, so much opportunity," she said. "I miss the peace of this world where everybody knew their place and accepted it. Life seemed so quiet by comparison. I think that's part of the appeal and escape of the show. In today's world, we contend with more information than we can actually absorb."
