Fans of Downton Abbey are in for a real treat this season if ITV’s promo videos are anything to go by.
The production company has released two 20 second videos promoting the third season of the hit period drama.
In the first video, the Grantham family are patiently awaiting the arrival of Cora’s mother (Shirley MacLaine) who is traveling from the USA to stay at Downton.
The visit is not well received by Lady Crawley, played by Dame Maggie Smith who does little to encourage her daughter-in-law’s excitement about the visit.
The video depicts an encounter between Lady Crawley and Cora’s mother and in character Smith tells MacLaine: “You Americans never understand the importance of tradition.”
MacLaine replies: “Yes we do. We just don’t give it power over us. Maybe you should think about letting go of its hand.”
According to The Daily Mail, creator Julian Fellowes revealed that few American actors would have the opportunity to work on Downton Abbey despite it’s huge US fan base.
He said Americans struggle with period dramas and are unconvincing in such roles.
‘Our actors have an understanding of period — for Europeans the past is very much in them as well as the present. Americans find it harder,’ he said.
‘The US has the best film actors in the world but they are a very contemporary race. They look forward all the time, [but] there is something about period drama where they tend to go to a strange place called ‘period’ where people wear funny clothes.
‘Whereas our actors don’t do that. I think they make it very real.’
The series has been nominated for 16 Emmy Awards.
Fans were delighted at the end of last season when Lady Mary and Matthew got engaged after the death of his first wife Lavinia.
However writers say that Lady Mary may reconsider her decision before the wedding.
The third season is set to make its debut this autumn.
