Dame Maggie Smith's Downton Abbey dress set to fetch eye-watering amount ahead of final film
Dame Maggie Smith 's iconic Downton Abbey dress could make a staggering amount at auction, it's been revealed.
The Harry Potter actress died aged 89 in September last year, with tributes pouring in from fans and friends alike.
She was remembered as 'incredibly kind", 'a fierce intellect", 'charming' and 'extremely funny' by her co-stars.
One of Dame Maggie's later roles came in Downton Abbey, playing Violet Crawley in the British period drama between 2010 and 2015.
She won three Primetime Emmy Awards for the character, as well as a Golden Globe and four Screen Actors Guild Awards, adding to her host of accolades over the decades.
During a segment on This Morning today (Monday, 11th August), one of her most well-known gowns was displayed from her time as the Dowager Countess, with its worth revealed and shocking hosts Emma Willis and Andi Peters.
"This costume really needs no introduction," an expert began.
"This is Dame Maggie Smith's, who played the Dowager Countess, Violet Crawley, it's beautifully put together this design."
After gasping, Emma could be heard gushing over the "incredible" cane which accompanied the sage green gown.
The expert went on: "The cane is a separate lot and I think this is one of the most important lots on sale because Violet Crawley, she uses that cane, it's such an extension of her character.
"Not just for support but for pointing and prodding, and you very rarely see the Dowager without her cane so it is a very important lot."
The embellished dress would fetch between £1,000 and £1,500 at an auction, it was revealed, while the cane itself stood at between £500 and £800.
Praising the "genius" costume designer, he pointed out the vintage bag and hat that were sourced second-hand to complete Dame Maggie's outfit, that would now go on to have a "third life".
The final of three Downton Abbey films is set to be released in September, with Michelle Dockery recently revealing it will include a touching tribute to Dame Maggie.
The Lady Mary Talbot actress shared that the film is 'beautiful', telling Collider: 'It's a beautiful film. For us, it was such a treat to be able to come back together again. It's a real tribute to Maggie Smith, the film.'
The Dowager Countess was written off by her death in the 2022 film, Downton Abbey: A New Era.
Hugh Bonneville - who starred alongside Michelle and Dame Maggie as the Earl of Grantham - also said the upcoming film would honour her legacy.
He said: 'We finished a third — and I think probably final — Downton Abbey film this summer, which will come out next September and that is a wonderful sort of closing off of all the stories, so it's a proper film for the fans.
'It's very much set in the house and saying goodbye to all these characters and we obviously say goodbye to Dame Maggie, which was very poignant on screen and now in real life.
'She'll be sorely missed. But the final film will obviously be a great lasting tribute to her.'
This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1 and ITVX. Downton Abbey is available to watch on Netflix.
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