When Maggie Smith mentioned (jokingly, I guess?) that she'd probably leave “Downton Abbey” soon, a few urgent thoughts came to mind: Can we handle her departure? Is she dropping out of acting for good? Should I just cancel my “Downton Abbey” season pass now? But most importantly, I realized: Wow, if Maggie Smith quits acting, she'll have left behind an astounding history of looking unimpressed with everyone.
To celebrate Maggie Smith's big screen sorcery, let's take a long, serious look at the icy stares that have made her who she is today. We love her, we fear her, and we'll spend the rest of our lives trying to match the Dowager Countess' imperial grit.