DEADLINE – It is Christmas 1919 all over again. Like the Season 2 finale of British drama Downton Abbey, which culminated with Matthew’s proposal to Lady Mary, last night’s Season 5 closer ended with another long-awaited proposal, between downstairs favorites Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes.
Romance dominated the episode, which aired as a standalone Christmas special in the U.K., with love chapters closing for Lady Violet and Isobel and potential new ones opening for Lady Mary and Lady Edith. Also closing the Downton chapters of their lives for now were Tom and Lady Rose, both set out for new lives in America.
I spoke with Downton Abbey executive producer Gareth Neame about the developments in the finale and what to expect from Season 6. With Lily James and Allen Leech’s feature careers taking off and their characters heading to America, will we see them next season? And will the show and its creator Julian Fellowes carry on, or Season 6 be Downton‘s last? (Hint: Neame’s answer involves Mad Men creator Matt Weiner.)
Deadline: America has been a recurring theme on Downton Abbey, mostly through Cora’s origins. The Season 5 finale took that to a new level, with two main characters, Tom and Lady Rose, headed to the New World. You have cautioned that filming in the U.S. is too expensive but in Season 6, will the Crawleys finally come to America?
Neame: I would absolutely love to bring the Crawleys to America. A couple of episodes in Newport or Boston or New York. It would be a complete thrill. But production costs associated with such a visit would be prohibitive to our partners, plus we have so much more story to tell in England.
NEWS.COM.AU – She is about the hit our film screens in this year’s remake of Disney’s Cinderella. But who is this young beauty? Sunday Style finds out …
Hi, Lily James. You star in the Disney remake of Cinderella. Do you believe in magic?
[Laughs] Yes, I believe in the magic of people and of connections, and I believe in true love. I don’t know if I believe that you can turn a pumpkin into a carriage, though – unless you’re on some crazy drugs.Do you have a fairy godmother in real life?
Yeah, I do! She’s my mum’s best friend and she’s wonderful. She’s not really like a fairy, but she makes me feel good, which is what the fairy godmother in Cinderella does.You probably know that Downton Abbey is as big over here as it is in Europe, but we’ve been hearing a rumour that your character, Lady Rose MacClare, is no more.
No, no, I’m coming back. I just need to fit it in with other projects. It’s how it works with all the actors: you don’t find out there’s going to be another series until now, so then you have to work out your schedule. It’s often down to Julian [Fellowes, the writer] and how much he wants you to be there.Is it true that George Clooney paid a visit to the set?
He did. He came for the day and was the most charming, wonderful guy. I’d hear his voice and think, “Oh, my god, that’s George Clooney!”Tell us more, please.
I don’t think there are words… That’s why he’s a movie star; it’s effortless. He was so beautiful. You go, “Wow, that face is real.” And then you hear the voice.Were you intimidated?
It’s funny, because I’ve recently worked with people I never dreamed of meeting. And usually they turn out to be kind and funny. So, one part of my brain is going, “Oh, my god!” And the other half is going, “This is really normal.”
Lily will be guest on “Live! with Kelly and Michael” talk show to promote ‘Cinderella’ on march 9, 2015 on ABC.
During their journey in Moscow to promote ‘Cinderella’, Lily and Richard Madden visited the “Urgant Show”. Here’s a first look and you can watch their appearance in the video below. They first appear in the beginning and then around 24:40.
Two new promotional pictures from the season 5 of ‘Downton Abbey’ can now be find in our gallery.
Television Productions > Downton Abbey (2012-2014) > Season 5 > Promotional Pictures
A new photoshoot for Cosmopolitan Russia has been added to the gallery, featuring Lily and her ‘Cinderella’ co-star Richard Madden.
