Her character, Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham, is without a doubt one of the best loved character on Downton Abbey.
So fans of the period drama will be pleased to see Dame Maggie Smith back in costume while filming scenes for the fifth series in Bampton Village, Oxfordshire on Wednesday.
The actress was joined by Penelope Wilton, who plays Isobel Crawly – the mother of the late Matthew, who is known for her amusing relationship with the Dowager.
They are back: Dame Maggie Smith and Penelope Wilton were seen filming series 5 of Downton Abbey on Wednesday
While at first the two characters didn't particularly see eye-to-eye as time has gone by they have developed one to the most enjoyable relationships to watch.
Images from the set sees Maggie in an elegant purple coat, while beside her Penelope wears a more modest grey one – more suited to her character.
The pair look deep in conversation while paying a visit to the graveyard, perhaps to pay their respects to Matthew.
A grave conversation: The actresses - who play the Dowager and Isobel Crawley - were seen in a grave yard
In character: Maggie wore a deep purple coat with a dramatic lapel and an equally as eye-catching hat with feather
Plenty to say: As per usual the Dowager seemed to have plenty to say to Isobel
Big as ever: It's thought Maggie's role will be just as, if not more pivotal than in any other series
Elsewhere Joanne Froggatt , who plays Anna Bates was seen with Alan Leech – who plays Tom Branson.
It's an unlikely pairing as they are known for famously not getting along well and Tom has a particularly testing relationship with Anna's husband John, played by Brendan Coyle.
However it looks like they may have put troubles behind as Tom was seen carrying an umbrella over her head as they strolled.
An unlikely pairing: Anna Bates was see strolling with Thomas Branson - the pair are not known to get on
Below stars: Anna is played by Joanne Froggatt, while Branson is played by Alan Leech
Filming on Series 5 Downton Abbey started earlier this year and the show is scheduled to return to ITV in the autumn.
New faces on the show are expected, including Richard E. Grant, who will play Simon Bricker, an art historian who is a house guest of the Crawley family. The character appears in four episodes later this year and threatens to 'cause ructions'.
Rade Serbedzija and Anna Chancellor are also expected to join the cast.
What a gent: Branson was seen holding an umbrella over Anna's head as they strolled
Meanwhile the show's executive producer Gareth Neame recently told The Hollywood Reporter that Maggie's character will be a key character this series, despite her recently hinting her time on the show was coming to an end.
He said: 'She's a huge part of the show, and I think she enjoys doing it. I think it's remarkable for someone who's had such a long and illustrious career to be still delivering work of this caliber.
'One has also really got to make reference to the remarkable combination of [series creator] Julian Fellowes and Maggie Smith. She's almost like a muse to him.'
That's not right: Alan seemed to be wearing a pair of trainers with his costume
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Source : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2611558/Dame-Maggie-Smith-character-Dowager-alongside-star-Penelope-Wilton-Downton-Abbey-series-5-gets-way.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490
