Penelope Wilton has admitted she isn’t among the hordes of people devastated to see Downton Abbey coming to an end.

The actress plays Isobel Crawley in the ITV period drama, which will finish this year after a final sixth series and a Christmas special.

But asked by Radio Times about her feelings on the series drawing to a close, Penelope said: “I’m not upset about it. When something has run its course, it’s good to end on a high note.”

She added: “And we have to move on from 1926, and if we moved on much further I’d be dead.”

Penelope Wilton as Isobel Crawley
Penelope Wilton as Isobel Crawley in Downton Abbey (ITV)

Asked about whether she would appear in Downton creator Julian Fellowes’ new US-set drama The Gilded Age, which he has said he would consider stars of the ITV show for, Penelope didn’t rule it out: “Well, we’ll have to see. You can’t second-guess Julian.”

Penelope was up against Gillian Anderson, Kristin Scott Thomas and Imelda Staunton for best actress at the Olivier Awards, which she won for her role in Taken At Midnight.

Penelope Wilton
Penelope Wilton with her best actress Olivier Award (Ian West/PA)

She said: “I hadn’t really taken [it] on board, because I suppose they are all over 40, and I’m certainly the eldest.

“That doesn’t often happen, but it’s happened this year – and I’m thrilled, because you spend your life practising, and you get better as you get older – you hone your craft more. And then to find there’s nothing for you having honed your craft to do is rather sad. So it’s very good that there are those parts.”