Veteran actor Maggie Smith, who plays the role of Dowager Countess, who romances a Russian refugee, Prince Igor Kuragin (Rade Sherbedgia) in Downton Abbey Season 5 had earlier this month announced at an interview that it was impossible for her to continue post season 6 of Downton Abbey, because the plot was in the 1920s, and she was getting too old for it.
She did get a chuckle out of the whole cast and production team of Downton Abbey and made the fans think that it was some sort-of-a dry British humour that her international fans couldn’t quite grasp, but it turns out that she was indeed speaking the truth!
Downton Abbey is indeed set to wrap up with Season 6. With the contract of major actors expiring after the sixth season, the actors are ready to move on after six long years. A series insider points out that the plot of Downton Abbey can continue without Matthew and Sybil (Jessica Brown Findlay), but not without the Crawley family.
Fans are hopeful that Downton Abbey Season 6 will give them what Season 5 couldn’t. Get Lady Mary settled while ensuring that Edith finally gets some happiness in her life.
Creator Jullian Fellowes has one last season to give this series a perfect ending, as a parting gift to the fans, before setting forth on her new project The Gilded Age with NBC.