The screen icon died in September at the age of 89.

Violet Crawley’s death will weigh more heavily in the thirdDownton Abbeymovie following the passing ofMaggie Smiththis year.

But I also see actors mourning…and it feels more genuine and more meaningful.

Downton Abbey Season 2 - Episode 3 January 22, 2012 at 9pm ET on PBS Shown: Dame Maggie Smith as the Dowager Countess Multiple Emmy? winner (including Best Miniseries!) Downton Abbey resumes the story of aristocrats and servants in the tumultuous World War I era. The international hit is written by Julian Fellowes and stars Dame Maggie Smith, Elizabeth McGovern, Hugh Bonneville, plus a drawing room full of new actors, portraying the loves, feuds, and sacrifices of a glittering culture thrown into crisis.

Maggie Smith on ‘Downton Abbey’.Credit: Nick Briggs/PBS

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“She was a joy to write for, subtle, many-layered, intelligent, funny, and heartbreaking.

Working with her has been the greatest privilege of my career, and I will never forget her.”

Downton Abbey Season 5

The cast of ‘Downton Abbey,’ including Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, and Michelle Dockery.Nick Briggs/MASTERPIECE

Maggie Smith

Maggie Smith.David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images