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Maggie's best Downton moments

Sorrow and strength in a single shot

Julian Fellowes, the creator of "Downton Abbey," discusses Maggie Smith's importance to his hit show and describes a scene in which she creates an extraordinary moment.

Video courtesy of Carnival Films/Masterpiece on PBS
The Downton Abbey series is available for purchase on PBS

Maggie's best Downton moments

"What is a weekend?"

Lady Grantham, played by Maggie Smith in "Downton Abbey," is a privileged British matriarch with zingers that viewers relish. Julian Fellowes, the show's creator, describes how Smith can take her lines from funny to laugh-out-loud.

Video courtesy of Carnival Films/Masterpiece on PBS
The Downton Abbey series is available for purchase on PBS

Maggie's best Downton moments

The wedding ring scene

Dame Maggie Smith's mastery of acting can be seen in the subtlety of her characters' movements. Julian Fellowes describes a scene in "Downton Abbey" where Smith's approach was "awfully skillful," he says.

Video courtesy of Carnival Films/Masterpiece on PBS
The Downton Abbey series is available for purchase on PBS

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