In the Downton Abbey movie, the Crawley family learns that King George V and Queen Mary are coming to their large estate in the English countryside, Downton, for a visit. While the wealthy family members practice their curtsies, the staff prepares a royal luncheon, parade and dinner. King George V is portrayed by Simon Jones. Queen Mary is portrayed by Geraldine James.
Historical note: Queen Mary later became grandmother of Queen Elizabeth II, who was born in 1926.
Americans will recognize actress Geraldine James from her roles in the Sherlock Holmes movies with Jude Law and Robert Downey, Jr. as landlady Mrs. Hudson, in the Alice in Wonderland movies with Johnny Depp as Hamish’s mother Lady Ascot, in Rogue One: A Stars Wars Story as pilot Blue Three, and in the Oscar winning 1982 biopic Gandhi with Ben Kingsley as Mirabehn, among others.
James is also well recognized for her roles on stage including Portia in the 1989 Broadway revival of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice (opposite Dustin Hoffman), for which she was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actress.
Americans can watch James in the BBC dramatic comedy TV series Back to Life, which will makes its premiere this fall in the US on Showtime. James plays the mother of a 36-year-old woman who returns home after serving 18 years in prison for murder. And yes, it’s funny and brilliant. When James‘s character finds an effigy of her daughter outside the house she remarks, “This is exactly what she wears” — insert beat — “but ironed.”
NBC’S RETURN TO DOWNTON ABBEY: A GRAND EVENT airs Thursday, September 19 at 8 pm.
