PBS Releases 'Downton Abbey' Best Maggie Smith Moments Montage, Set to Rod Stewart's Song (Video)

The indomitable Dame Maggie Smith -- known in all the right circles as Downton Abbey's Right Honourable Violet Crawley, Countess of Grantham -- has worn some pretty spectacular early 19th century finery in the show's first two seasons.

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One wonders how she will adapt to the changing silhouettes circa season three, when the Roaring 20's flapper fashions come into vogue. It's doubtful the dowager will find the need to adapt to the fickle whims of whatever is au courant. But one thing has not and will not change: Smith continues to deliver the PBS series' most deliciously biting bon mots.

Even during the second-season finale this weekend, Lady Violet got off a couple of zingers about her sister's gold digger suitor. See: "He's a fortune hunter, my dear."

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Quite possible the best was during Lady Mary's ditched fiance Sir Richard's last encounter with the dowager. 

Sir Richard: "I'm leaving in the morning, Lady Grantham. I doubt we'll meet again."

Lady Violet: "Do you promise?"

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But it's so dreadfully hard to recall her priceless and absolutely impossible to deliver them with that same droll tone and deadpan or arched brow expression that  the countess has. One must practice to achieve that Upstairs tone.

But it's so dreadfully difficult  to recall her priceless barbs -- and absolutely impossible to deliver them with that same droll tone and arched-brow expression. (One must practice to achieve that "upstairs" affect.)

Thankfully, PBS is aware of this and has assembled a video compilation of Smith's finest moments, set to the tune of Rod Stewart's famous "Maggie May" song. Watch and enjoy.

(Now try to find some time this week to utilize her classic entrance-making pronouncement, "I do hope I'm interrupting something.")

Watch Downton Abbey: The Best Maggie Moments on PBS. See more from Masterpiece.

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