We started at the real high point of this way of life.
… Now were covering this period of decline, EP Gareth Neame tells EW.
Will everyone get a happy ending?
Credit: Masterpiece
(Even poor Edith?)
Some will have good outcomes, and some wont, Neame teases.
But well leave them where they are in that place and time.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: An episode of Downton was usually full of grand-scale moments.
What were your favorite types of scenes to film?
A Dowager Countess put-down is always a special moment.
Especially if youre working on set and she managed to do one off set at you.
I enjoyed the atmosphere down there.
Its not Marys territory.
What about the worst kinds of scenes to film?
LEECH:Dining room.
Everyone is going to say dining room.
KEVIN DOYLE (MOLESLEY):A two-minute dining-room scene could take a day and a half to shoot.
There was a big cheer earlier this year when we did our last dining-room scene.
HUGH BONNEVILLE (LORD GRANTHAM):I think Allen did the math.
If you put them all end to end, weve spent three months in that room.
It wasnt sad to say goodbye to the dining room.
Other than the amazing one-liners, what was the greatest part about working with Maggie Smith?
BONNEVILLE:She expects high standards.
You always knew you had to be at the top of your game whenever she was on set.
Also, she was very good at Bananagrams.
LEECH:Everyone enjoys her performances and watching her because she has so much fun doing it.
But she also is so honest.
Oh my gosh, I just caught myself old-woman acting.
I mean, why am I doing that?
DOCKERY:Theres a part of me that thinks Im done now.
Ive worked with Maggie Smith for six years.
Who was always most likely to forget their lines?
PHYLLIS LOGAN (MRS. HUGHES):Nobody present!
DOCKERY:It was the vicar for Lady Ediths wedding in series 3.
At one point he said, Dearly beloved … What is it?
Then when the camera turned on him, he couldnt get past Dearly beloved.
LEECH:And all he had to say was Were gathered here.
Did anyone take anything from set on the last day of filming?
DOYLE:I think Hugh took a little letter from his desk in Highclere.
Do you have a favorite line of dialogue in the series?
LEECH:Branson saying, Bet on me to Sybil in the second [season].
DOCKERY:When Violet said to Isobel, Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
MCGOVERN:[When Violet said,] What is a weekend?
LOGAN:Mrs. Hughes says to Daisy, Youre building a fire, Daisy.
When did it hit you that the show was really ending?
MCGOVERN:There was the last day that we shot in Highclere Castle.
I remember having a walk along that drive that we always walk to every morning.
That last walk, I was unexpectedly emotional.
Instead of saying End of episode, it says The end ofDownton.
DOCKERY:I think when we wrapped at Highclere Castle.
The tears were just flooding.
Tell us what it was like filming your last scene.
DOCKERY:I felt a bit sick leading up to the final take.
I was so nervous and just couldnt quite believe it.
We partied that night and the next night and the next night.
CARTER:I was the most matter-of-fact.
Oh, were coming to the end.
We always finish jobs.
Grow up, everybody.
Then when it came to saying goodbye particularly to the crew I found myself welling up.
These great butch blokes on the crew started crying too.
LOGAN:We thought, If Jim Carter goes, theres no hope for the rest of us.
Additional reporting by C. Molly Smith
