'We were in bits the whole time': Laura Carmichael admits Downton Abbey cast were devastated when filming for last ever series came to an end

By Kate Thomas for MailOnline

Published: 10:01 EST, 17 September 2015 | Updated: 15:15 EST, 17 September 2015

Downton Abbey is coming to an end this Christmas after its sixth series.

And Laura Carmichael, who plays Lady Edith Crawley in the period drama, has revealed emotions were running high among the cast as filming drew to a close, leaving many of them in tears.

Speaking to hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby during an appearance on ITV's This Morning, Laura confessed: 'It’s been strange. In the first few months we were fine but in the last six to eight weeks of filming we were just in bits the whole time.'

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Emotional chat: Downton Abbey's Laura Carmichael, who plays Lady Edith Crawley on the period drama, stopped by This Morning on Thursday to chat about the show's sixth and final series 

Emotional chat: Downton Abbey's Laura Carmichael, who plays Lady Edith Crawley on the period drama, stopped by This Morning on Thursday to chat about the show's sixth and final series 

The 29-year-old actress was lucky enough to be involved in the Julian Fellowes-created series' last ever scene, and the experience left her an emotional wreck.

Cautious not to give too much away about the fate of the Crawley family, Laura explained: 'It was a night shoot, which we hadn’t really done before, so we started filming at like one in the morning and filming until 6am.

'It was a three-page scene with a lot of lines, so I was just trying to hold it together until the last minute. 

In character: Lady Edith will play a pivotal role in the final series and is set to feature in the last ever scene

In character: Lady Edith will play a pivotal role in the final series and is set to feature in the last ever scene

Cheery disposition: Laura looked radiant in a high-necked stripy top and black skinny jeans as she visited the ITV studios in central London 

Cheery disposition: Laura looked radiant in a high-necked stripy top and black skinny jeans as she visited the ITV studios in central London 

'The last shot was my close up and then they said, "Cut!", and I think I just sort of dissolved.'

Laura revealed the sixth series would see unlucky-in-love Edith debate whether to move to London with her daughter Marigold in order to run her newspaper business.

Refusing to say any more about her character's future, she confessed to being more nervous than ever about accidentally dropping spoilers during interviews because she didn't want to ruin the ending for fans. 

Emotions running high: Laura admitted she was reduced to tears while filming the final scenes, and her castmates were also 'in bits'
Emotions running high: Laura admitted she was reduced to tears while filming the final scenes, and her castmates were also 'in bits'

Emotions running high: Laura admitted she was reduced to tears while filming the final scenes, and her castmates were also 'in bits'

'Julian [Fellowes] is very clever, he knows what people want but he’s not going to give it to you in the way you maybe would expect', she said.

'I hope people will be pleased – I was delighted with the last season, I think it’s really good.'

Despite the emotional nature of her interview, Laura remained her usual cheery self throughout, grinning as she perched on the sofa in the ITV studios.

The blonde was looking lovely in a simple, form-fitting ensemble, wearing a high-necked stripy vest top and black jeans.

Not long to go: Downton Abbey airs this autumn and the last ever episode will be broadcast on Christmas Day

Not long to go: Downton Abbey airs this autumn and the last ever episode will be broadcast on Christmas Day

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