Jessica Brown Findlay shocked by onslaught of grief after Lady Sybil died in Downton Abbey (LONDON EVENING STANDARD)

The death of Lady Sybil in Downton Abbey left actress Jessica Brown Findlay facing an "onslaught" of grief from devastated friends, she revealed.

Jessica, 23, admits she wasn't prepared for the outpouring after her character died from eclampsia during childbirth in the last series.

Speaking to HuffPostUK, Jessica said: "The day Sybil died I was flying out to film in New York. Normally when you land somewhere, you get a couple of messages, but I had an onslaught from people saying, 'You could have warned me.'

"Even my parents knew I was dying, but they didn't know how, so my mum was in bits. My dad had to tell her, 'You can call her on the phone.' "

Despite being part of the successful show, Jessica was "desperate" to hang up her corset in favour of exploring other roles.

READ MORE: http://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-news/jessica-brown-findlay-shocked-by-onslaught-of-grief-after-lady-sybil-died-in-downton-abbey-8557766.html

Downton Abbey: Five Things You Must Know Before Sunday's 'Downton Abbey' Finale By Justine Ashley Costanza. Posted on Feb 15th 2013. (CELEB LOVE)

Consider yourself warned: The season ends with an unexpected bang.

Season 3 of Downton Abbey saw the marital union of Lady Mary and cousin Matthew, the near end and recovery of Lord Grantham’s estate, and the shocking death of Lady Sybil.

If the finale is anything like the rest of the episodes that aired this season, it’s sure to rouse a few laughs, gasps, and even tears. So arm yourself with tissues and these five teasers about Sunday’s Christmas Special, “A Journey to the Highlands.”


1. Spoiler Alert: After the shocking finale aired in the U.K. last December, the episode received extensive media coverage. With all of those ruin-the-surprise articles floating around, avoid searching online for "Downton Abbey finale" like the plague.

2.  A Little R&R: We’ve witnessed the Crawleys endure a series of setbacks and heartbreaks this year but rest assured, the family enjoys a much needed vacation during a trip to Duneagle Castle in Scotland.

3. Timeline Shift: In the promotional clips released by PBS, we see an older baby Sybil being held by Mr. Carson, so it’s clear the episode occurs sometime after episode 6.

READ MORE: http://www.yourtango.com/2013174371/five-things-you-must-know-sundays-downton-abbey-finale

'Downton Abbey' Season 3 Spoilers: Moving Forward After Lady Sybil's Death By Bobby Pollier, EnStarz | Jan 31, 2013 10:53 AM EST

"Downton Abbey" continues to flourish in the U.S., but although many fans remain loyal to the British-American drama, there are several who aren't too thrilled with the recent death of Lady Sybil.

While losing characters in a show will always be a mixed bag in terms of fan response, executive producer Gareth Neame told People that he sees the situation of Sybil's death when giving birth to her child as an opportunity for the series to go in a new and exciting direction.


"These exits can be good opportunities for the drama because they allow you to take the story in a different direction and change things in a way you hadn't quite thought of," he said. "It can be seen as a blow to lose characters, it can very often be as much an opportunity as it is a loss."

"Downton" creator Julian Fellowes said the public is smart enough to realize "that when Sybil dies or when [another character, whose identity is being concealed] dies, it is because the actor wanted to leave" the series - rather than a character dying just for the sake of the plot.

Read more at http://www.enstarz.com/articles/12485/20130131/downton-abbey-season-3-spoilers-moving-forward-after-lady-sybils-death.htm#DlcV61xRw0FSb4xX.99