Hugh Bonneville says Downton Abbey 3 will be a "lasting tribute" to Maggie Smith
Hugh Bonneville has spoken about the third film in the Downton Abbey franchise, sharing that it would be a “lasting tribute” to the late Dame Maggie Smith.
Smith, who played Violet Crawley on the ITV series and its two feature films, passed away at the age of 89 last month (27th September), with several co-stars paying tribute in the wake of the news.
Smith’s passing occurred after filming for the third Downton Abbey film was completed, with Bonneville – who plays Violet's son, Robert – telling Virgin Radio UK that the film would pay tribute to the late star.
“We finished a third – and I think probably final – Downton Abbey film this summer, which will come out next September,” began Bonneville. “That is a wonderful sort of closing off of all the stories, so it’s a proper film for the fans.
“It’s very much set in the house and saying goodbye to all these characters and we obviously say goodbye to Dame Maggie, which was very poignant on screen and now in real life. She’ll be sorely missed. But the final film will obviously be a great lasting tribute to her.”
Bonneville, who has also starred in the Paddington series, previously paid tribute to his co-star upon the news of her passing, sharing: “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,” he continued, with Dan Stevens – who played Matthew Crawley – describing Smith as “one of the greats.”
Michelle Dockery, who plays Mary Crawley, also paid tribute as she wrote: “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.”
Downton Abbey: A New Era is now out to buy as a digital download. A third movie is due to be released on 12th September, 2025.
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