‘Downton Abbey’ Star Maggie Smith Reveals Why She Was Ready For The Series Finale

“Downton Abbey” is coming to an end, and one star is happy to be done with it. Although Maggie Smith, who plays Violet Crawley, the dowager countess of Grantham, seems to have enjoyed her run on the show, she admitted that she was thrilled to stop filming.

“I was ready for it to finish,” Smith told Express. “I began to wonder whether I had the energy levels to carry on. Then there was the dressing up in all the corsets and the hats. It’s a long process.”

Smith wasn’t the only one ready to close the doors of Downton for good. Elizabeth McGovern, who plays Lady Cora, was also ready for the show to end. “I’m ready to put Cora to bed for a while -- I really am,” McGovern explained to the Sun in September. “I’ve tried my best to bring her to life for six years. I’m looking forward to doing the same for somebody else.”

The news of Smith’s feelings isn’t entirely surprising. Before Season 6 was announced as the final season of “Downton Abbey,” Smith revealed that it would be her last year on the drama. However, that doesn’t mean she wouldn’t be willing to put on those corsets and hats one more time. The “Harry Potter” star previously said she’d be happy to sign up for a “Downton” movie.

“Hopefully I will be,” Smith told the Telegraph in August when asked about being in a film version of the hit PBS series. “I think the wig is slightly more tired than I am. Yes, it would be fun.”

A movie hasn’t been confirmed yet, but fans still have plenty of Violet scenes to watch before the series finale. When Season 6 premieres on PBS, Violet will face off against her friend Isobel (Penelope Wilton). Just when it seems like the two women are finally getting along, they’ll start to fight over who controls the hospital.

Watch the trailer for the final season of “Downton Abbey” below:

“Downton Abbey” Season 6 premieres Jan. 3 on PBS.