Tears on set as stars say goodbye to Downton Abbey

And star Michelle Dockery, who plays Lady Mary, says the cast were just as sad when time came for them to bid farewell.

“When I finished my last scene I was quite emotional,” Michelle said.

“It was a very strange feeling. It was actually below stairs we were filming for the last three weeks.

“That was just the way it worked out and there was something quite nice that it wasn’t in Mary’s bedroom.

“Even in the run-up there was a real feeling of it being the last time we were going to be at places like Bampton, where we film. Those last village scenes and saying goodbye to the people there was really special.

“And closing the doors of Highclere for the last time was like we were giving it back to them.”

Even the toughest of the production crew shed a tear as the final scenes were recorded.

And Michelle, who last week had to cope with the emotional circumstances of her fiancee’s funeral, says it’s understandable as they spent such long days together.

“You get so close to the make-up artists, the costume staff and the dressers,” confided Michelle.

“You spend most of the time with them. Those relationships are stronger than with some of the actors as you don’t work with them quite as much.

“There’s a real art to the natural-looking make-up on the show although it looks very simple.

“If you’re wearing a hat that ruins the hair underneath it can be half-an-hour to re-dress so you’re with the crew a lot.”

One cast member Michelle is big pals with is Laura Carmichael, who plays screen sister Lady Edith.

There was little sign of that friendship in the final episode of the series when the pair had an almighty spat.

With her marriage plans scuppered by Mary’s “accidental” revelation of her love child, put-upon Edith finally let vent to her feelings.

But Michelle says the way both sisters have developed over the years has been a delight.

“They are both so incredibly modern. They’ve got an independence and aren’t just the daughters of Lord Grantham. They’re grown women with children.”

The sisters did try and put the bitterness behind them for Mary’s wedding.

The millions of fans will be hoping Edith’s suitor will come calling again at Christmas. And after his shock suicide attempt, they’ll also be hoping that lonely under-butler Thomas finds happiness at last.

Michelle remembers the beginning with Laura and Hugh Bonneville.

“The first day was quite a moment,” she adds. “There were just the three of us and then Maggie Smith walked on set. I’ll never forget it as it dawned on me I was going to work with this hero.”