BAFTAs: Maggie Smith for 'Downton Abbey,' 'Modern Family' Pick Up Nominations

The Dowager Countess could be asking "What is a BAFTA?" very soon. "Downton Abbey" star Maggie Smith has been nominated for a British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role on the crossover hit drama "Downton Abbey."

Smith -- who has previously been nominated for four TV BAFTAs, but never won -- is the only "Downton Abbey" cast member to pick up a nomination in the 2012 awards. In the film category, Smith has taken home five BAFTAs out of 12 nominations. Smith has also received the Special Award in 1993 and the BAFTA Fellowship in 1996. Her nomination comes hot on the heels of reports that she'll leave the Julian Fellowes series after Season 3. Despite reports of contract talk, a representative for Masterpiece, a co-producer of "Downton Abbey," said the reports are false.

"Season 3 is currently filming with Maggie and the rest of the cast," the representative said in an email statement. "We don't comment on future storylines, but there's no truth in the story that Maggie is leaving the show."

In 2010 "Downton Abbey" was nominated for the YouTube Audience Award and Brendan Coyle, or Mr. Bates to "Downton" viewers, was nominated as a supporting actor.

Other 2012 BAFTA nominees include "Modern Family" and "The Killing" in the International category and "Misfits" in the drama series category. "Sherlock's" cast picked up nominations with Benedict Cumberbatch for lead actor and Andrew Scott and Martin Freeman in the supporting category.

The 2012 BAFTAs take place Sun., May 27 in London.