Oh, I think that may be the wrong Maggie Smith. Ah, yes, here we go:

Oh, say it isn’t so! The third season is filming now and if Dame Maggie Smith has her way (and you know she will), it’ll be her last on Downton Abbey. When they announced plans for a Christmas special, you know her eyes rolled into the back of her head and she shouted for her assistant to get her agent on the phone. “I’m Done!” She must’ve belted out into the horn (with authority, grace, and a slightly condescending tone, of course). Then her agent told her they’d pay her the big bucks to do the special.

So, breaking news: Maggie’s going to be in the Downton Abbey Christmas Special! But since Maggs can suss out a stinker even better than I can sniff out an old bag of rootbeer barrels from the bottom of my dad’s sock drawer (I have a sweet tooth), season 3 will be her last of the regular show. It’s true. Remember in Gosford Park when she knew—just from taste—that she was served dirty old store bought jam instead of homemade? Well, the Dowager Countess is certainly not going to be eating store bought jam anymore than she’s going to stay on a show that’s already allowing American guest stars (apologies to Shirley MacLaine [oh my god, call me, girl]).

But, fret not my faithful readers, the Dame just wants to go back to focusing on the stage and big screen. We will get to see plenty of her and soon. You won’t even have to wait until Season 3 premieres. She has a wonderful new film coming out on May 3rd called ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel‘ that I was fortunate enough to attend a screening of. My review will come later, but what do you think about her decision? Is three seasons enough, or should she stay for more?

[Credits: Sir Ian McKellan as Dame Maggie Smith on Saturday Night Live from here. Smith in a still from Downton Abbey from PBS.]