As Dame Maggie Smith made her departure with Downton Abbey: A New Era, co-star Hugh Bonneville reflected on a pretty amazing fact in a sweet conversation.

For as much as fans love Maggie Smith's Dowager Countess, some Downton Abbey fans feel the character should have passed before the original series had completed.

Maggie Smith's Dowager Countess has inspired many memorable moments on Downton Abbey. However, she also inspired a rather unique request from one of her co-stars on the set of A New Era.

To the world, it's easy to see why Maggie Smith's Dowager Countess is a Downton Abbey fan favorite. But even series creator Julian Fellowes had a good feeling about her casting early on in the series' development.

Harry Potter star talks about fun she and Maggie Smith had at Richard Harris' expense.

Maggie Smith is back in the very first look at Downton Abbey 2.

Looks like Minerva McGonagall had Harry Potter's back before they fought side by side.

Maggie Smith has been around in Hollywood for some time and been in some amazing movies - here are some of her best, and where you can watch them now.

How could you have a Downton Abbey sequel without Dame Maggie Smith?

Everyone loved Professor McGonagall from Harry Potter but the actress, Maggie Smith, has made many more enjoyable films.

Dannnngggg Maggie Smith.

Just when she thought she was out... they pulled her back in.

Are the odds in her favor?

Downton Abbey is crushing, which means more movies? That also leads to an interesting follow-up question...

This is how you get the gang back together.

If the Downton Abbey movie gets a sequel, Maggie Smith's Lady Violet won't be a part of it seeing as the character will no longer be around.

Maggie Smith is one of the most renowned and respected actresses of all time. Her career has been long and lustrous, she continues to regale with complicated female characters and astonishing performances. Over the many decades she has starred in film, television, and theater, Smith has commanded the attention of audiences around the world and garnered many awards.