Downton Abbey: Julian Fellowes Hopes For Shirley MacLaine Return

ITV-Downton-Abbey-mediumDownton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes has stated he would like American actress Shirley MacLaine to return for the show’s fourth season.

Warning: May Contain Spoilers For American Reader!

Production on ITV’s hit period drama is to resume in several weeks time. Speaking at the National Television Awards last night in London series writer and creator Julian Fellowes confirmed to the Radio Times that a theme of season four would be Lady Mary’s (Michelle Dockery) attempt to rebuild her life following the death of Matthew (Dan Stevens) in the Christmas Special.

When the writer was asked if any new sparring partners would be introduced for Violet Crawley (Dame Maggie Smith) Fellowes told the Radio Times “I’d love to see Shirley [MacLaine] come back, I hope she does come back, because I thought they were great together”.

Actress Shirley MacLaine played Martha Levinson, mother of Cora (Elizabeth McGovern), in the first two episodes of Downton’s third season; the character certainly clashed with Violet on several occasions during her brief stint. Martha also declined to bail out Downton following Robert’s (Hugh Bonneville) financial misfortune.

Fellowes words though should not be taken as confirmation that the actress is returning to Downton Abbey.