Out of all the "Downton Abbey' cast members, Maggie Smith has been the only actress who has publicly rejoiced at the fact that the critically acclaimed period drama is coming to an end.
"I'm glad it's over, I really am," Smith said in an interview with Graham Norton. "By the time we finished [the Dowager Countess] must have been about 110. It couldn't go on and on, it just didn't make sense."
Despite such firm remarks, Norton asked Smith whether the award-winning actress would ever take part in a potential spinoff movie.
"I can't," the 80-year-old star said, which came as a disappointing news to "Downton Abbey' fans. "What age would she be?"
Smith also dropped hints that she may have requested for the team to put her character, the Dowager Countess, aside for any future stories, stating that "I pleaded for something to happen to me" during the annual Christmas special.
It has then been speculated that Smith's character could finally find love once more and will be taken away from her family by a foreign suitor in the final scene of the Christmas episode.
Regardless of the future circumstances that the Countess has to deal with, Smith has been greatly pleased at how her story unfolded and is even thrilled that she will now have to say goodbye to the ITV series. In a past interview, the actress shared her disapproval with having to wear costumes in "Downton Abbey.'
"It's not riotously funny to be in corsets and a wig," Smith said this summer. "To tell you the truth, the corsets are agony. God knows how they lived in the days when they had to wear them all the time."
Aside from costuming reasons, the Oscar winner also opened up about having to deal with fans even in unexpected locations. According to the "Harry Potter' film series star, she has had to avoid certain plans since "Downton Abbey' aired, where tourists could easily approach her and ask for pictures with her.
"It's usually in museums or art galleries or things," she said. "I keep away from there, and Harrods."
"One isn't safe after doing Downton," she told The Sunday Times earlier this year. "What's sad is I've gone through my whole life without any of that. I could go round galleries and things on my own and I just can't do it now. If someone decides to get at you, you can't get away."
"Downton Abbey' season six makes its premiere in the U.S. on Jan. 3.
