‘Downton Abbey’ season 5: Why Maggie Smith is staying put

Is there any risk of Maggie Smith leaving “Downton Abbey” in the near future? We know that for many fans, this is something that they wonder about every time that a hiatus comes around between new episodes. She’s a woman who clearly doesn’t need either the fame nor the prestige anymore, given her status and place in history already. She’s also someone who you would think would want more time off eventually.

However, Maggie has stuck with the show every year, and we know for sure that her presence will be just as big in the upcoming fifth season. Executive producer Gareth Neame even had the following to say on the subject in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter:

“Maggie Smith will be in the show as long as she wants to do it. She’ll be back this coming season. She’s a huge part of the show, and I think she enjoys doing it.”

One of the clear benefits for Smith when it comes to doing this show is that it does not require much travel at all beyond the UK. The actress can do her work and then pursue some of her other interests. She is not someone who seems to really enjoy the celebrity side of things anymore, at least given the fact that she does not have a frequent presence at awards shows or any other major galas that are out there. She is more focused on the work for the work’s sake, and some voters out there are still on recognizing that likely knowing that she could not be there to collect the prize.

Smith will be featured prominently throughout the fifth season, which returns to ITV in the fall. Unfortunately, American viewers will have to wait a while longer for the show to come back on in the winter of 2015.

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Photo: ITV