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When longtime Downton Abbey fans head to theaters to see The Grand Finale this upcoming weekend, it will no doubt be a bittersweet experience. Yes, it is the latest chapter in a grand saga that has been running for 15 years, but it is also the final chapter, and even more than that, it is the first chapter to be released after the passing of one of the story's most indelible actors - Dame Maggie Smith. But while Smith's absence from the film was certainly notable, the actor's spirit was very much a part of its making, according to one of her longtime costars. 

Let's back up - in case you aren't aware, Smith portrayed Dowager Countess Violet Crawley in the long-running period drama. From the show's beginning up until its second cinematic outing (2022's Downton Abbey: A New Era), Smith's role was not only a major part of every storyline, but a favorite beloved by fans and cast alike. One of those on-set fans was Elizabeth McGovern, AKA Cora Crawley, who spoke about filming without Smith in a recent series tribute - Downton Abbey Celebrates The Grand Finale - which will air on NBC September 10.

"She’s still very much in the atmosphere," McGovern tells the doc, which was itself reported on by Collider, "I don’t feel there’s a big hole. In fact, in some ways, it sort of freed up the rest of the narrative to have a flow, because it’s not stopping for her moments. Everything she represents is there. She’s in every room, in every interaction, so it’s not like she’s not there. It’s a weird thing."

McGovern doesn't go into exactly how Smith's character or her unforgettable performance thereof make themselves known in the upcoming movie, however, we expect that the film will partially deal with the in-universe death of Violet Crawley, which was a plot point in A New Era. All that said, however, we'll certainly be thinking of Smith's Violet as we say goodbye to Downton forever, and wondering what blisteringly sarcastic remarks she'd be making about the whole affair. 

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale comes to theaters September 12. 

Prepare for Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale with Popverse's Downton Abbey watch order.