Dame Maggie Smith is enjoying one of the most successful years of her career after earning more than £2.3million in 2021.
Newly filed accounts show assets in her acting company, Dame Margret Cross Productions, have risen to £10.2million, including £9.8million in cash reserves.
The Oscar winner made a £1.6million profit from the deal after accounting for £1.6million in bills, with £8.7million retained for Dame Maggie.
Impressive: Maggie Smith, 87, has enjoyed one of the most successful years of her career after raking in more than £2.3million
The actress most recently starred in Downton Abbey: A New Era, the second installment in the hugely popular 2019 Downton Abbey film, which is a spin-off of the ITV series.
Dame Maggie has played the role of Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham throughout the historical drama franchise.
Filming for the sequel took place in 2021, with the film premiering in May of this year.
On screen: The actress recently starred in Downton Abbey: A New Era, the second part of the hugely popular 2019 film (pictured alongside Penelope Wilton as Isobel Merton, left)
Fans have been eagerly awaiting the latest installment of Downton Abbey, which sees the Crawley family travel to the south of France to uncover a secret at a villa given to Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham, while an aspiring director was planning to live in Downton to shoot a movie.
The trailer shows the Crawley family heading to the south of France to uncover a secret at a villa given to Violet Crawley, widow of the Countess of Grantham, while an aspiring director plans to shoot a film in Downton.
It starts with fan favorite Violet saying, “I’ve come into possession of a villa in the south of France.”
Long career: Dame Maggie has played the role of Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham throughout the historical drama franchise
She continues: “Years ago, before you were born. I met a man.”
It then turns out that the widow Grantham and her lover “spent a few days together and he gave her a house”.
The upcoming sequel saw the return of the well-loved cast, including Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery and Penelope Wilton.
Latest episode: The sequel was filmed in 2021 and premiered in May this year (The cast of Downton Abbey: A New Era pictured on set in 2021)
It comes as Dame Maggie’s co-star Hugh revealed he thought her character in Downton Abbey would “die between films” while opening up about her return to the big screen.
The actor – who plays Robert Crawley in the period drama and films – appeared on Magic Radio Breakfast to chat about the new film release.
Hugh, 59, also opened up about rumors this could be Maggie’s last acting hooray – he admitted she says she’s ‘done’ every time but always comes back.
Opening up: It comes as Dame Maggie’s co-star Hugh Bonneville, 59, revealed he thought her character in Downton Abbey would ‘die between films’
During the chat, Hugh explained: “I honestly thought she was going to die between the films but there she is, reappearing like a bad penny and absolutely spot on as always.”
The actor also joked that the star has “all the best lines,” continuing, “Every iteration of the show is the ‘This is the last time, this is it, I’m done,’ and there it is again.
“She is in such fantastic form and has the best lines as always and we don’t begrudge her those.”
Maggie had previously announced that Downton Abbey season 6, which was the show’s last season overall, would be her last – but returned this year for the sequel to the big screen.
Back again: Maggie previously announced that Downton Abbey season 6, which was the show’s last season overall, would be her last – but returned this year for the sequel to the big screen (pictured in 2019)