To honor Dame Maggie Smith, who passed away on September 27 at age 89, what better way than to explore lesser-known tidbits about the world of Downton Abbey’s Crawley family and their servants? Downton Abbey fans enjoyed six seasons and a movie when the period drama premiered on January 9, 2011, in the U.S. on PBS. Indeed, it has been over 13 years since we first met the Crawley family and their household in their gorgeous English countryside estate. Memorable moments include Theo James’ character’s dramatic death while with Michelle Dockery’s Lady Mary during the show’s debut season. Created by Julian Fellowes, the series evolved into a cultural sensation, making stars out of Dockery, Dan Stevens, and others, while introducing audiences to Maggie Smith’s beloved Dowager Countess. This character became iconic due to her sharp wit and memorable lines—just one of many remarkable roles in Smith’s illustrious career.
After concluding its original run in 2015, fans were thrilled to revisit Downton Abbey with a film released in September 2019, followed by another movie, Downton Abbey: A New Era, in May 2022. Smith won three Emmys during the show’s six seasons and reprised her role in the films. Despite her fame, Smith remained indifferent to her celebrity status, as she told CBS News in 2013, feeling no different than before her Downton Abbey success. She did, however, acknowledge being more recognizable due to the show’s popularity.
Now, let’s pay tribute to Smith’s incredible work by sharing behind-the-scenes facts about the show, including intriguing details like the real reason behind the series’ most shocking death and which star almost skipped her audition. Here are 15 secrets about Downton Abbey being unveiled…
1. Julian Fellowes drew inspiration for the period drama from his own upbringing with a diplomat father. He shared with Closer that his mother’s non-debutante status caused tension within the family, though she eventually gained acceptance after giving birth to four sons.
2. Fun fact: Fellowes is actually a Baron and a member of the House of Lords.
3. Casting director Jill Trevellick told Backstage that they secured their top choices for key roles, including Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, and Dan Stevens.
4. Casting John Bates was challenging, with Brendan Coyle ultimately chosen after over 60 actors were considered. Despite initial studio reservations due to his prior period genre work, they eventually offered him the part after persistent efforts.
5. The first major shocker was Matthew Crawley’s death in the season three finale, a decision driven by Dan Stevens’ desire to leave after his three-year contract ended. He explained to Entertainment Weekly that he wanted new challenges.
6. Fellowes reiterated in an E! News interview that Stevens’ choice to leave led to the character’s sudden demise, noting American contracts are typically longer, which sparked some misunderstanding.
7. Despite Matthew’s death, season four’s premiere set ratings records, attracting 10.2 million viewers.
8. Had Stevens informed Fellowes earlier about leaving, Fellowes mentioned he might have opted to kill off Matthew and Lady Sybil together in a car crash.
9. Highclere Castle doubled as Downton Abbey, and it became one of the UK’s top tourist spots. An Airbnb stay was even offered to fans around the film’s premiere in September 2019.
10. The castle might be haunted, according to the show’s historical consultant, who recounted ghostly tales involving a former housekeeper.
11. Laura Carmichael nearly skipped her audition, thinking it would be a minor TV role compared to her Shakespearean dream gig.
12. Gillian Anderson passed on the role of Cora Crawley, which went to Elizabeth McGovern.
13. Even Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William were fans. The Queen enjoyed spotting historical inaccuracies, while William admitted his wife Kate Middleton got him into the show.
14. Maggie Smith herself admitted she never watched the series during its run, as she found it frustrating to view her own performances.
15. The cast faced “real problems” with the period-appropriate corsets, which were extremely uncomfortable and made eating difficult, as shared by chief costume designer Susannah Buxton.