Sue Johnston reveals she was CUT from the Downton Abbey movie

Sue Johnston revealed on Tuesday that her character, Gladys Denker, was cut from the Downton Abbey movie. 

The actress, 75, told Radio Times that she originally had a role in the forthcoming film, but found that her character was removed after the first script was revised.

Explaining what had happened, Sue said: ‘She was in the first script, then that script disappeared. Imagine how I felt!’

Didn’t make the cut: Sue Johnston revealed on Tuesday that she was CUT from the Downton Abbey movie… as the actress reminisced over filming with Dame Maggie Smith

Going on to discuss one of her fondest memories from the set of the show, Sue recalled an incident when she filmed a scene with Dame Maggie Smith that ‘broke the back of shyness.’

Reminiscing, she said: ‘Maggie and I were doing a scene. Maggie comes in from dinner and sits on the chair and I get down to do her boots, then we have to cross to the dressing room.

‘And we’re talking, taking. We go to get up and neither of us can move. She can’t get off the chair and I can’t get off the floor!

‘And I think that broke the back of shyness. I think she’s had her knee done since then and I’ve had my back op.’     

Before: Sue said while filming she and Maggie went ‘to get up and neither of us can move. She can’t get off the chair and I can’t get off the floor! And I think that broke the back of shyness’

The TV series followed the upstairs and downstairs lives of the household, and aired on ITV from September 2010 until Christmas Day 2015.

The movie is one of this autumn’s most anticipated releases, with the plot still mainly remaining a mystery.

It is known, however, that the film is set in 1927-1929, and features a royal visit to Downton by King George V and Queen Mary, portrayed by cast newcomers Simon Jones and Geraldine James.

Actor Jim Carter teased details of the plot in an interview last month, saying: ‘It was a slightly thinner experience because I don’t think for instance the kitchen staff met any of the upstairs staff, or hardly any of them because it was… quicker. It was 10 weeks instead of six months.’

The 70-year-old told Reuters: ‘We were filming separately in our own little stories a lot more than we were on the TV programme.

‘Filming the film which we finished in November, that was just like going back to the TV series.

‘We all knew each other. As soon as you put your costume on, you’re back in character really.’

The much loved period drama, written by Julian Fellowes, ran for six series between 2010 and 2015 and won several accolades including Emmys and Golden Globes.

Coming soon: The movie is one of this autumn’s most anticipated releases, with the plot still mainly remaining a mystery