Daggers at Downton as Maggie Smith raps sleepy co-star

MAIL ON LINE
By CHARLOTTE GRIFFITHS FOR THE MAIL ON SUNDAY
PUBLISHED: 17:50 EST, 11 October 2014 | UPDATED: 03:56 EST, 12 October 2014

The withering put-downs she delivers portraying the Dowager Countess of Grantham have become the stuff of Downton Abbey legend. 

And in real life, it seems, Dame Maggie Smith can be just as formidable as her on-screen persona.

According to a cast member on the ITV drama, 79-year-old Maggie took a dislike to Richard E. Grant, who plays art expert Simon Bricker, when he was filming the current series – and gave him a cutting nickname, which has re-ignited a secret 20-year feud between the two great stars.

An source tells me: ‘Maggie called him “Richard E. Can’t” on set. It’s a nickname she originally gave him years ago when they acted together in The Importance of Being Earnest, but she resurrected it when she caught him nodding off during a scene.

‘She told him sternly: “If I can stay awake, you should be able to too.” To be fair to Richard, it was a dinner scene being filmed on a hot day and the lights were boiling.’

Richard and Maggie first worked together in 1993 on a BBC adaptation of the Tennessee Williams play Suddenly Last Summer with Rob Lowe and Natasha Richardson, which was considered a flop.

Later that year they went on to work together again on a theatrical production of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance Of Being Earnest at the Aldwych Theatre, and it was there that Richard claims their bitter feud first began. As the 57-year-old actor explains on his website: ‘I was tortured by Maggie Smith the entire time.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2789564/girl-town-s-daggers-downton-maggie-raps-sleepy-star.html#ixzz3FwPPZ0gR 
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'Downton Abbey' Season 5: The First Trailer, With Passion And Fire (spoilers)

FORBES
Neil Midgley
Contributor
August 30, 2014



A surprise tonight from ITV in Britain.

Before the season opener of The X Factor – still a very big event in the British television calendar, and all the more so since Simon Cowell returns to the judging panel tonight for the first time in four years – ITV ‘premiered’ the trailer for the upcoming season 5 of Downton Abbey:

The trailer confirms some of what’s already been reported – such as the impending fire that burns through the great house itself – and teases forbidden passions and new characters (such as the guest roles for Richard E Grant and Anna Chancellor).

And it features the Earl of Grantham (Hugh Bonneville) delivering the chilling line: ‘Our grandchild is about to be stolen from us forever.’ Does he mean Sybbie or George? Or is this perhaps an even more explosive scene, when he has discovered Edith’s secret?

READ MORE HERE: http://www.forbes.com/sites/neilmidgley/2014/08/30/downton-abbey-season-5-the-first-trailer-with-passion-and-fire/

Joanne Froggart takes pictures on her phone as she films scenes for Downton Abbey season five

MAIL ON LINE
By NOLA OJOMU
PUBLISHED: 12:38 EST, 26 April 2014 | UPDATED: 08:16 EST, 27 April 2014

Her character - Anna Bates - was at the centre of one of the most shocking storylines of Downton Abbey during the last series.

And now Joanne Froggatt is back on set to films scenes for season five of the popular ITV drama.

With fans eager to see their favourite characters back on screen, all eyes will be on Anna, Lady's Maid to Lady Mary Crawley, as she and her husband John Bates move forward after the death of her attacker.

With her blonde hair hidden under a black hat, the actress also sports gloves as her character makes her way to her destination.

In between takes, Joanne kept warm in mauve puffy jacket black sheepskin boots as she took a few pictures of the set on her smartphone.



Plot details for the new series, slated for an autumn return, are being kept under wraps, but Hugh Bonneville, (Lord Grantham), Michelle Dockery (Lady Mary), Allen Leech (Tom Branson) and Daisy Lewis (Sarah Bunting) have also been filming over the past week.

Rob James-Collier, (Thomas Barrow) will make a return and show favourite, Dame Maggie Smith was also seen back in costume as her character, Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham.

New faces on the show are expected, including Richard E. Grant, who will play Simon Bricker, an art historian who is a house guest of the Crawley family.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2613932/Joanne-Froggart-stops-capture-moment-films-scenes-Downton-Abbey-season-five.html#ixzz308IgJ5ns 
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Downton Abbey cast receive warning from Fellowes

TELEGRAPH
By Tim Walker7:28AM BST 04 Apr 2014



Just as the Earl of Grantham occasionally has to discipline the staff of Downton Abbey, so, too, does Julian Fellowes, his-real life counterpart in the House of Lords, when his actors err.

Of Richard E Grant’s decision to post a picture of himself on a social networking site in costume on the Downton set, the show’s creator says: “He’s very naughty. The trouble we’ve had with things like Twitter.”

Speaking at the launch of Grant’s fragrance, Jack, at Liberty, Fellowes added: “We had to explain to the cast about the dangers of tweeting as no one realised how interested everybody was in the show. You’re in a bubble when you’re filming.

“You’re just tweeting these nice things and you don’t realise there are millions of people worldwide trying to pick up the plot.”


READ MORE HERE: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/downton-abbey/10743082/Downton-Abbey-cast-receive-warning-from-Fellowes.html

'Downton Abbey' Season 5 Spoilers, Cast Update: Richard Grant Joining Cast, Has Lady Mary Chosen a Suitor?

BREATHECAST
By Louis Kahn, BREATHEcast News Reporter
Mar 26, 2014 11:21 AM EDT



Many are antsy over the new season of "Downton Abbey" which is being filmed right now in the U.K. The new season will feature Richard E. Grant as an Art Historian named Simon Bricker. It also will feature Rade Serbedzija, who will play a Russian refugee that is staying with the Crowleys because of the Russian Revolution. The biggest surprise may be Lady Mary finding love with one of her suitors. Will the Crowley heir find her match in the new season?

Richard E. Grant tweeted recently that he was enthusiastic about being chosen for a role in "Downton Abbey:" "First day on 'Downton Abbey' duty. I was downstairs in Gosford Park. Have been promoted upstairs. Progress? Will wait and see." The 'upstairs' section is the domain of Lords and Ladies, as opposed to the downstairs which is usually populated by servants.

The Russian revolution will send a refugee named Kuragin to England to be a character in the coming season. Sources say this character fled Russia after the violent revolution at the end of WWI.


READ MORE HERE: http://www.breathecast.com/articles/downton-abbey-season-5-spoilers-cast-update-richard-grant-joining-cast-has-lady-mary-chosen-a-suitor-14777/

‘Downton Abbey’ Season 5 SPOILERS: Twins Cast To Play ****** Baby Daughter; Filming Begins With New Cast Members

FASHION AND STYLE



There are, or will soon be, two new little members of the “Downton Abbey” cast: a Twitter user revealed that “Downton Abbey” began filming this week and that the show held auditions for twin baby girls to play Edith’s daughter.

A Twitter source told Wetpaint, “filming starts this week until August. Edith returns with her baby. I know this because my twins had an audition!”

Another new actor on the show, Richard E. Grant, revealed that Season 5 had begun filming on Twitter.

“First day on DOWNTON ABBEY duty. Was downstairs in GOSFORD PARK. Been promoted upstairs. Progress? Will wait and see,” Grant tweeted on February 15.

He also tweeted a picture of part of his costume: a pair of black leather gloves. “Must be true ‘cos they’ve got my name on it,” he wrote.

As we previously reported, Grant – who has appeared on “Girls” and “Doctor Who” – will play a character named Simon Bricker, who visits Downton as a guest of the Granthams. He was one of three new cast members revealed earlier this week.

Anna Chancellor (“Hysteria,” “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”) will play Lady Anstruther, in a guest role.

Rade Sherbedgia (“The Legend of Hercules,” “In The Land of Blood and Honey”) will play Kuragin, a Russian refugee who has fled the Russian revolution after WWII.


READ MORE HERE: http://www.fashionnstyle.com/articles/16639/20140221/downton-abbey-season-5-spoilers-twins-cast-to-play-edith-baby-daughter-filming-begins-with-new-cast-members.htm

‘Downton Abbey’ Season 5 SPOILERS: ‘Girls’ Actor Richard E. Grant, Others Join Cast List; Will ******** Leave The Show?

FASHION AND STYLE

New cast members have been announced for “Downton Abbey” Season 5 – and that’s good news, because new rumors say that Michelle Dockery may leave the show after the season.

Deadline reports that Richard E. Grant, who has had multi-arc guest starring runs on shows including “Girls” and “Doctor Who,” will play Simon Bricker, who visits Downton as a guest of the Granthams.

Anna Chancellor (“Hysteria,” “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”) will play Lady Anstruther, in a guest role.

Rade Sherbedgia (“The Legend of Hercules,” “In The Land of Blood and Honey”) will play Kuragin, a Russian refugee who has fled the Russian revolution after WWII.

“We are delighted to welcome these talented actors to the world of Downton,” said executive producer Gareth Neame. “The characters they play are set to bring yet more excitement and intrigue to the show.”

Returning guest cast members Dame Harriet Walter (Lady Shackleton) and Peter Egan (Lord Flintshire) are also set to reprise their roles.

The new actors may be needed, as new rumors suggest that star Michelle Dockery is considering leaving “Downton Abbey” to pursue a film career.

A source told the Daily Mail that Dockery, 32, will return to “Downton,” but that Season 5 will be her last.

“Michelle loves Downton, but things are taking off for her and the TV filming schedule is seven months long, leaving little time for anything else,” the source said.

“She’s the talk of Hollywood. Steven Spielberg is said to have asked for a meeting.”


READ MORE HERE: http://www.fashionnstyle.com/articles/16483/20140217/downton-abbey-season-5-spoilers-girls-actor-richard-e-grant-others-join-cast-list-will-michelle-dockery-leave-the-show.htm

Jude Law, Richard E. Grant and Emilia Clarke Talk About Their Dom Hemingway Roles [Video]

CONTACT MUSIC
by Jack de Aguilar | 01 October 2013



Larger than life, outspoken and vulgar, this was a chance for Law to let loose, as he explained on the red carpet at the Toronto International Film Festival.

“He's got the most extraordinary, poetic and yet vulgar way of expressing himself. He loves the sound of his own voice; he does have an almost Falstaffian power with words,” explained Law. “I like that idea that he was a man who had completely gone to seed and really let himself go spiritually, physically and mentally, but didn't quite realise it himself.”




READ MORE HERE:http://www.contactmusic.com/in-depth/don-hemingway-interviews-jude-law-richard-e-grant-emilia-clarke_3887349

JUDE LAW: Great trailer for DOM HEMINGWAY (CONTACT MUSIC)

This gritty British crime thriller has been directed and written by Primetime Emming winning Richard Shepard ('The Matador', 'The Hunting Party', 'Oxygen'). It has a wicked humour in all the right places but looks like it could be a pretty touching story too. It is set to be released on November 15th 2013