Raquel Cassidy On Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale: ‘Bring Tissues’

The grand finale is here. The final grand finale. Not the series finale, not the first feature film or the second, but the third – which has the definitive ‘finale’ in the title. We are of course talking about Downton Abbey, with the beloved franchise’s final chapter landing in cinemas next Friday.

Having joined the Downton family in series 4, it wasn’t long before Raquel Cassidy (who stars as Phyllis Baxter) had to say her first goodbye to the beloved series. Here we sit down with Raquel to talk all about this final (final) goodbye, plus what’s in store for the future.

Interview: Raquel Cassidy On Saying Goodbye To Downton

Hi Raquel! You are about to return to your role of Phyllis Baxter for the very last time in Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale. How does it feel to be saying goodbye to Phyllis? And to Downton as a whole? 

Well, it feels a little bit like deja vu because we’ve said ‘goodbye’ a couple of times before. At the end of the series, we all said goodbye – nobody knew there was going to be a film. That goodbye was way too premature for me because I had only joined halfway through series 4. The first film was a massive bonus and again, nobody knew there was going to be a second film, although we all hoped there would be.

The second film really felt like, ‘well, that’s it now, our beloved Dowager has died, surely there can’t be life beyond that, but wouldn’t it be great if there could be?’ And then we get the bonus of one last film in which there are a fair few farewells and I am as sad as I think the fans will be to be saying goodbye. But… I’ll always carry a piece of Phyllis in my heart. It was an unexpected bonus to have one more fling with her, Molesley, Lady Cora and everyone in that big old country pile. 

L-R: Raquel Cassidy as Miss Baxter, Kevin Doyle as Mr. Molesley, Sophie McShera as Daisy Parker, Phyllis Logan as Mrs. Hughes, Lesley Nicol as Mrs. Patmore, Jim Carter as Mr. Carson, Brendan Coyle as Mr. Bates and Joanne Froggatt as Anna Bates in DOWNTON ABBEY: The Grand Finale. (© Rory Mulvey/2025 FOCUS FEATURES LLC)

Give us an elevator pitch for Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale. 

In this film we take our faithful fans by the hand for one last twirl on the Downton dance floor. Expect some 1930s scandal, fabulous frockage, breathtaking backdrops and some good, clean fun, while the whole family (above and below stairs) draw even closer together to save Downton and all who sail in her (especially Mary). Bring tissues.

How has Phyllis changed over the course of the series and its films? 

Well, we met Phyllis at the lowest point of her life. She’d stolen jewels and been found out; she’d been left by a man who pretended to love her in order to get her mistress’s jewels, which he disappeared with, leaving her to serve a prison sentence. So when we meet her, she’s a completely fallen woman. She’s been betrayed, she’s betrayed her mistress and she’s betrayed herself, so she could not be more shame-ridden.

Through the series, having crawled into Downton, she emerges with her head held high and along the way, through the love of Mr. Molesley, through the extraordinary generosity of and friendship with Lady Cora (who doesn’t throw her out but forgives her), through Thomas’s growth and change and lastly through becoming part of the family, she grows back into who she truly is, which is noble, steadfast, loyal and bright. Surprisingly, although she’s quiet, she’s fun, playful and very much a team player. 

What was it like playing her? 

An absolute treat and a challenge because I don’t think I’m very much like her. She holds back in a way that I definitely don’t. I think she’s very British, and I feel much more continental than she is. It’s strange, and this sounds kind of romanticised, but it’s like she led the way and no matter how much I thought that ‘this would be a good way of doing a scene,’ it never ended up being like that. So it was a surprising treat. I will definitely miss her. 

How did you get into character? 

I start and end with the words: what brings her to say or not say the things she does or doesn’t? What does she hear, not hear or wish she could hear? What does it cost her to hold her tongue or indeed to speak? In Downton, costume, makeup and set play a huge part in shaping the character: it’s a real team effort. 

Anything you are particularly excited for fans to see in The Grand Finale? 

I think the ending. I’m excited for the fans to see it because I think anyone who loves Downton, and I have said this before about the other films, but I think they’ll really love this film. I hope the fans can also agree that this was the right time to say goodbye. 

L-R: Brendan Coyle as Mr. Bates, Michael Fox as Andy Parker, Raquel Cassidy as Miss Baxter, Jim Carter as Mr. Carson, Phyllis Logan as Mrs. Hughes, Joanne Froggatt as Anna Bates and Lesley Nicol as Mrs. Patmore in DOWNTON ABBEY: The Grand Finale. (© Rory Mulvey/2025 FOCUS FEATURES LLC)

Looking back to filming, what was the vibe like on set? Any standout moments? 

The vibe on set began with the read-through: there was a real sense that this was the final film and that we had been blessed to have been a part of it. Some of the cast had been there from day one, and some, like me, had gone through it for many years also, but joined later in the series, and others were joining for the first time. There was a real honouring of that privileged position that we were all in. 

A moving and standout moment was actually right at the beginning of the film. The family are at the theatre and so are three of the servants, including Baxter. They are watching a play with Guy Dexter in it. The main female character, Lady Shayne, sings this incredibly heartbreaking song. Marilyn Cutts, who plays the part, sang it for us at the readthrough and broke all our hearts. It was as breathtaking as it was unexpected and the feeling seemed to be: we are really doing this, so let’s do it to the best of our ability. Let’s make this film worthy of the fans who’ve loved the show for so long. 

Any favourite memories looking back on Downton as a whole? 

My very first day on set; I’ll never forget it. My first scene with Elizabeth playing Lady Cora. I love that because my character was really nervous, and I was really nervous. On the flip side, Lady Cora was really gracious, and Elizabeth was really gracious. It was just art and life completely in unison. It was exquisite. 

I loved my tortuous storyline. I loved being bullied by Thomas’s character and all of my scenes with Rob James Collier. The dancing scenes in the servants’ quarters, which were really good fun because they’re interminably long and things get silly. At the end of series 6, we all sang ‘Old Lang Syne’, which was incredibly emotional, in a good way. 

Filming the second film. It was during Covid and I remember feeling an overwhelming sense of privilege to be on a set during such an uncertain and isolating time. An extraordinary team of people navigated us through the protocols, no one caught Covid and we were able to complete a film for the fans to enjoy. 

Aside from Downton, what has been your favourite project to date? 

I loved Party Animals and playing Jo Porter, and loved Teachers and playing Susan Gately. That was the first series I ever did. On The Worst Week of My Life, I played a character who was madder than anyone I know. That was great, great fun. And of course, The Worst Witch playing Miss Hardbroom for four years was an absolute treat. 

On stage, I would narrow it down to The Censor and The Flu Season by two brilliant playwrights, Anthony Nielsen and Will Eno respectively. They were brilliant. I do really love my job, and I feel very lucky to be able to say that. 

Any roles in the pipeline that you’re excited about? (If you’re allowed to tell us!) 

Well, we’ve come through Covid and strikes, so there’s a lot of recalibrating going on in the world. I’m seeing some very, very exciting stuff being made and reading for some fun stuff. I’m looking forward to seeing how the dust settles. 

Who has been your favourite actor to work with in the past? 

I really enjoyed playing Jo Porter to Matt Smith’s character in Party Animals. I loved their relationship. Matt is such a playful and bold actor. 

Which co-star did you learn the most from? 

I try to learn from everyone I work with and I don’t love to single people out but I loved watching Laura Haddock as the silent screen star in the second film, just quietly suggesting things to make the scene even more excruciating and exquisite for the servants who are all round the dining table dressed up as extras and Dominic West opposite her going along with her every move. Watching those two play in and around us was a real joy. 

What’s your dream role? 

I really want to work in different cultures and languages. I’m half Spanish and can speak a few languages. I think my dream career would take me to different cultures. There are so many series and films from different cultures that I love watching and would love to step into.

What’s a genre you’d like to do more of? 

For me personally, I am not interested in anything to do with gore. Aside from that, I am open to exploring all genres. 

Who is an actor, writer or director you’d love to work with? 

This is tricky because there are so many talented people I think would be great to work with. To name a few, I love Frances McDormand and Jason Bateman. I’m currently quite obsessed with Najwa Nimri and pretty much the whole cast of the Spanish series Vis a Vis. 

So many directors I’d like to work with. Peter Kosminsky is one I’ve met and Andrea Arnold is someone I haven’t met, both of whom I’d love to work with. And there are many, many more. 

Low budget, independent films may be more satisfying for me. I really like the idea of a director and writer who want to work with long lenses, and don’t necessarily feel the need to always call ‘Action’ and ‘Cut’ – who want to work with actors and non-actors to tell stories where you don’t quite know what’s going to happen, and where you can immerse and lose yourself in the character. The kind of gig I haven’t really been asked to audition for… Yet. 

Do you get to spend much time at home, and what are your favourite pastimes when you’re not working? 

I get to spend lovely time at home, and one of my guilty pleasures is to sit on the sofa with my dog and binge-watch foreign series or films. When I’m not working, I love travelling and being in nature and on the sofa watching the telly with my dog. 

How can we all live a little bit better?

Play more. 

Raquel Cassidy Recommends…

I’m currently watching… Caliphate 

What I’m reading… God in Dallas by Deana Luchia 

The last thing I watched (and loved) was… Deutsch Land ‘84 and After the Party 

What I’m most looking forward to seeing… Succession 

Favourite film of all time… Nomadland (one of many) 

Favourite song of all time… ‘The Promise’ by Tracy Chapman

My ultimate cultural recommendation… Wherever you’re going, learn a bit of the language, especially the word ‘thank you’ and enjoy saying it. 

Cultural guilty pleasure… Lying down in the afternoon – it’s like a waking siesta.

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale arrives in cinemas Friday 12 September 2025.

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