Shirley MacLaine to star in Downton Abbey
Hollywood actress to join the cast of award-winning series filmed at Highclere Castle
AWARD-winning Hollywood actress, Shirley MacLaine, is to join the cast of the award-winning ITV period drama, Downton Abbey, filmed mostly at Highclere Castle.
In a statement yesterday (Monday), producers of the series, Carnival Films, together with ITV, confirmed the famed 77-year-old actress is to play a new character, Martha Levinson, mother of Lady Grantham in the third series of the show which is currently being filmed at the castle.
The castle and estate are owned by the eighth Earl of Carnarvon and his wife, Lady Carnarvon, said today (Tuesday): “How wonderful to have such a huge Hollywood star be part of the show, its very exciting and I'm sure Shirley and Dame Maggie Smith will be brilliant on screen together. I can't wait to see what witty lines Julian [Fellowes] is going to write for them both."
Carnival Films' Managing Director, Gareth Neame said: “My late grandfather directed Shirley MacLaine in Gambit in 1966, so it is a delight for me that she will be joining us on Downton Abbey. Julian has written another brilliant character in Martha Levinson, who will be a wonderful combatant for Maggie Smith's Dowager Countess and we are excited at the prospect of Shirley MacLaine playing her.”
Laura Mackie, director of drama at ITV said: "It is so exciting to have an actress of Shirley MacLaine's stature joining our brilliant Downton Abbey cast for series three and a tribute to the show's success on both sides of the Atlantic".
Also an international best selling author, Shirley MacLaine's acting career includes over 50 feature films, highlighted by an Academy Award win and six nominations, six Emmy Award nominations and seven Golden Globe Awards, including the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award.
The first series of Downton Abbey premiered on ITV in the UK and on MASTERPIECE on PBS in the US to critical acclaim.
It has since won a number of awards including six Primetime Emmys, a Golden Globe and a Producers Guild Award for Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television.
The second series increased its audience by 20 per cent in the UK and is currently transmitting in the US with an increase of almost 30 per cent.
Downton Abbey, written and created by Julian Fellowes, is a Carnival/Masterpiece co-production.
