Paul Giamatti is getting ready to step back into the elegant world of Downton Abbey — but this time, it’s a little bittersweet.
The beloved actor is reprising his role as Harold Levinson in the upcoming third and final Downton Abbey movie, titled Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, set to hit theaters in September 2025. Giamatti will be joining familiar faces like Elizabeth McGovern, Hugh Bonneville, Jim Carter, Laura Carmichael, and Michelle Dockery. But one iconic presence will be deeply missed — Dame Maggie Smith, the legendary actress behind Violet Crawley, who sadly passed away in September 2024.
Speaking to People Magazine while promoting his upcoming appearance in Black Mirror Season 7, Giamatti opened up about the emotional experience of filming without her.
“It was not the same without her,” he admitted. “But it felt very much like we were doing it in her honor. She still feels present through the whole thing.”
Giamatti, who first popped into the Downton universe during the Christmas special as Cora Crawley’s spirited brother Harold Levinson, recalled his earlier experience working with Smith fondly. “Working with her the first time around was one of the best things ever,” he shared, even though he “didn’t really get to do that much with her.” Still, her impact was undeniable — both then and now.
While Giamatti initially thought his character wasn’t a major player in the grand Downton story, he revealed that the new movie actually gives Harold Levinson a surprisingly important role.
“The funny thing is, they even asked me back at all,” he joked. “I was like, ‘I don’t have an important character!’ But it turns out my character does something very significant in the movie. It’s really funny — they brought me back to do this very important thing!”
Giamatti’s return adds another layer of nostalgia and full-circle feeling to the franchise’s last hurrah. As the Crawley family prepares for one final elegant adventure, fans can expect both heartfelt tributes and exciting new twists when Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale arrives this fall.