The British actress, who also triumphed with Netflix’s Anatomy of a Scandal, will reprise the role of Lady Mary in a new installment of the Crawleys series.
‘Downton Abbey: A New Age’ is the sequel to the hugely popular film released a few years ago, which itself was a spin-off of the legendary TV series. Created by aristocrat Julian Fellowes, the film takes audiences back to Crawley Castle, where the extended family arranges a trip to the south of France. Almost all of the main protagonists return: Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary Crawley, Laura Charmichael as Lady Edith Crawley, Joanne Froggatt as Anna Bates, Hugh Bonneville as Robert Crawley and veteran actress Maggie Smith as the indomitable Violet Crawley, the matron of the dynasty. In addition, new members are joining the cast, such as British actor Dominic West.
Michelle Dockery (London, 1981) leads the cast of ‘Downton Abbey: A New Era’ and has built a career that has led her to star in the series ‘Anatomy of a Scandal’, which became number 1 on Netflix in the UK. Based on Sarah Vaughan’s best-selling novel, the series offers a suspenseful look at a romance that shakes British power.
The Crawleys head to France for a new adventure, but it also seems that Violet’s legacy is complicated.
-I think she came out fine after the first movie and it made sense that her situation was complicated in the second part. This film is a vision of the Crawleys in a different context. The fact that we can travel, have a bigger budget, has allowed us to shoot scenes that were impossible to film in the past. We are raising the bar with every installment of this franchise.
-What does it mean to you to keep playing Lady Mary?
This time Mary hosts director Jack Barber (Hugh Dancy), who decides to shoot a movie in Downton while the rest of the family heads to the French Riviera. As hard as it is getting so many cast members back together, it’s a joy for me to be back with the crew because I feel like I’m with family. Who doesn’t want to see their family again? As long as the audience has an appetite for the Crawleys, I will keep returning to the character. I love playing Mary not only as an artist as it is always a good luck to have a job in this industry but also on a personal level. At this point I owe a lot to the character and its creator Julian Fellowes.
-Did the pandemic affect you while filming?
-Yes, but we were lucky to have a team that was very well prepared to take the risk. The dedication of the producers was inexhaustible. I understand that I was very lucky to be able to work in such a difficult time as Covid forced us to appreciate life in a different way. It was a very positive experience to be able to film ‘Downton Abbey’ under these circumstances, with a crew that I consider to be my family.
-Maggie Smith also returns to the series.
-Each scene with Maggie is a privilege, but there is one scene in particular that was very exciting to me. I don’t want to reveal any details, but I will remember that moment as one of the best in my career and in my life. I will never forget it.
What are the major differences between the series and the movies?
Film and television are two different media. In the series, you don’t expect all the characters to appear in every episode because there is a continuity, but in the movie, those that appear have to have a reason to be there. We have to force ourselves to tell each character’s story in order to solve their story. That changes the build-up to the series, but the essence of the Crawley remains.
The future is open for this family who leaves television to get onto the big screen in the second installment of a series of films. Do you plan to shoot more?
-It would be foolish to tell you we’re not going to film anymore, I guess it depends on the audience. I don’t know what the future of the Crowleys will be, I don’t know if we’ll make more movies about them, but I’m willing.
-How would you describe Lady Mary?
-When I read the first script of the series, it seemed to me that my character was a cold woman with a very disdainful attitude towards those she did not consider to be her class. But then I discovered that she is a vulnerable woman who is forced to change by the circumstances of her life. As an actress, I see her as complicated and that’s why I like to play her.
– Would you like to live like Lady Mary?
-Yes. I think I would. It’s true that women have more freedom now, but I’m fascinated by the costumes, their femininity, their courage. Within her social situation, Lady Mary is one of the few women who dares to go ahead of her time, to speak with a frankness that other characters do not allow.
-She also had success on Netflix with the David E Kelley series ‘Anatomy of a Scandal’, in which she plays a lawyer.
-The success of ‘Downton Abbey’ has undoubtedly opened many doors for me. I loved the novel the series is based on. And I have to admit that my character was challenging because of its many facets. It’s a fantastic story, really powerful. To be a part of a drama by David E. Kelley, of whom I am such a fan, is a privilege and an honor.
Source: La Verdad
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