'Downton Abbey' Season 5 Spoilers, Rumors: Maggie Smith Fuels Speculation That Show Will End After 5th Season

Dame Maggie Smith could not see just how "Downton Abbey" could go on after the fifth season of the popular show came to a romantic end on Sunday.

In an interview with the Sunday Times, Smith fueled speculation that the show could end next season using Dowager Countess's sarcastic sense of humor.

"They say this is the last one, and I can't see how it could go on... I mean, I certainly can't keep going. To my knowledge, I must be 110 by now!" she quipped, according to The Entertainment Weekly.

Smith's comments panned the fire of speculations, which began when it was learned that "Downton Abbey" writer and creator Julian Fellowes had signed up to work on a new project.

Reports said Fellowes already committed to work on "The Gilded Age," a new period drama from NBC that is set in 19th Century New York with network chairman Bob Greenblatt confirming the new show will be launched next season.

The 80-year-old actress lamented that in spite of the show's success, it has not come without any limitations, referring to the public attention the stars receive wherever they go.

"One isn't safe after doing Downton. What's sad is I've gone my whole life without any of that. I could go round galleries and things on my own and I just can't do it now," she said.

The news that Smith – who has won a Golden Globe, two Screen Actors Guild awards, and two Emmys – is set to leave has prompted some reviewers to consider how the series will end.

Forbes' Neil Midgley wrote that "Fellowes must already be story-lining those final episodes, and viewers will be expecting a satisfying conclusion."

Midgley went on to predict what some of those plot-lines might be, including the death of the Earl of Grantham.

"The one clear way to signal the end of Downton as we know it would be to kill off the earl. It is, perhaps, no accident that Fellowes gave the earl a health scare in the Christmas episode," Midgley said, according to The Week.

He also suggested that Lady Mary might take over the estate, with Mr. Talbot in tow.