Maggie Smith to Leave DOWNTOWN ABBEY?

By: Apr. 16, 2012
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According to The Huffington Post, actress Maggie Smith will be leaving the popular PBS series DOWNTOWN ABBEY at the conclusion of the show's third season. A source from the UK's The Daily Mail reports that Smith has asked to be written out of the show, "She is filming until August and then wants to leave." says the source. "She thinks that three series is enough, and she wants to get back to the stage and big screen."

It has been previously reported that most of the principal cast of the show has signed new contracts to star in both Seasons 4 and 5, including Michelle Dockery (Lady Mary), Elizabeth McGovern (Cora), Hugh Bonneville (Robert), Joanne Froggatt (Anna) and Brendan Coyle (Bates). Siobhan Finneran, who stars as wicked housekeeper Miss O'Brien, and Jessica Brown Findlay, who plays Lady Sybil Branson, have not yet signed on for future seasons.

The show's Season 3 is currently in production in the UK, with actress Shirley MacLaine guest starring as Lady Crawley's mother. MacLaine's character is expected to go "head-to-head" with the Dowager Countess.

 



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