Overview

• Elizabeth McGovern told The Guardian she wished her character Cora Crawley had “more interesting” storylines in the Downton Abbey franchise.
• She said historical accuracy prevented Cora from exercising political or social power beyond what was plausible for an early-20th-century noblewoman.
• The actress described inhabiting the era’s constraints as challenging for a contemporary performer, likening it to a creative “straitjacket.”
• McGovern noted that Dame Maggie Smith’s legacy continues to “permeate” production despite the actress’s death last September.
• The third film in the franchise, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, is scheduled for release in September 2025.