Downton Abbey star making shock return reveals third movie ‘isn’t the same’ without beloved character

Paul Giamatti said the filming of the third Downton Abbey movie has not been the same without the presence of one of the show’s most beloved characters.

The actor, 57, made the revelation in a new interview where he discussed his brief role in the upcoming movie, where he will once again step into the shoes of Harold Levinson.

If the character’s name does not ring a bell, that is because he last appeared back in 2013 during the Christmas special. 

Reflecting on the filming process, he said it has not been the same without Dame Maggie Smith, although he said she still ‘felt present’ in the process. 

The actor revealed that the brief experience working with the legendary actress has been one of the highlights of his career so far. 

He told PEOPLE: ‘It was not the same without her, but it felt very much like in her honor in some way.

‘She certainly still feels present through the whole thing.’ 

Paul Giamatti has admitted that the filming of the third Downton Abbey movie has not been the same without Maggie Smith

Dame Maggie Smith’s glittering career spanned six decades and featured many highlights from her role as Wendy in Hook (1991) to Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter series

The actor, 57, made the revelation in a new interview where he discussed his brief role in the upcoming movie, where he will once again step into the shoes of Harold Levinson

Dame Maggie sadly passed away in September of last year at the age of 89. 

Her glittering career spanned six decades and featured many highlights, from her role as Wendy in Hook (1991) to Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter series.

More recently, the actress won further praise for her portrayal of Downton Abbey’s matriarch, Violet Crawley, between 2010 and 2015. 

As his role in the show was so comparatively small, Paul admits that he was surprised producers asked him to return. 

He said: ‘The interesting thing for me was that they even asked me at all because I was like, “I don’t have an important character in this story.”

‘But what’s funny is my character has a very significant role. He does something very significant in the movie. 

‘I was like, “It’s really funny they brought me back to do this very important, significant thing.”‘

However, the actor refused to give any spoilers about what this significant thing might be. 

The third Downton Abbey film is set to be the ‘grand finale’ and will see the Crawleys and their staff given the farewell they deserve

While little is known about the plot itself, it has been speculated that the third film will follow on from the events of the second, A New Era (2022)

The third Downton Abbey film is set to be the ‘grand finale’ and will see the Crawleys and their staff given the farewell they deserve.

Several fan favourites are returning for the film including Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern and Michelle Dockery.

While little is known about the plot itself, it has been speculated that it will follow on from the events of the second film, A New Era (2022). 

It also promised to be a tribute to Maggie Smith herself, whose character Lady Violet passed away in A New Era. 

Michelle Dockery – AKA Lady Mary Crawley – told Collider: ‘For us, it was such a treat to be able to come back together again. It’s a real tribute to Maggie Smith, the film.

‘This time around, I think we really relished every minute [of filming]. It being the last, it felt really, really special.’ 

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