Page 43 - WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE DISCOVERING ENGLAND

who ironically could be called the most
middle class today. Her older sister, Lady
Mary, grieving for her late husband Mat-
thew, has created an opening for Edith to
push into the forefront of the series.

In Season 4, Lady Edith is leading the
charge into the world of the Moderne,
breaking shibboleths about what should
be a gentrified woman’s place in the
world. Indeed, Time magazine says Lady
Edith this season “makes a run for femi-
nist-icon status.”

That’s a lot of heavy lifting for Carmi-
chael, who came out of the background
as the forgotten daughter of the series.
But she has proved herself up to the chal-
lenge. Pretty good for a newcomer who a
few years ago was an office receptionist
trying to land acting roles.

“She’s had a lot of hard knocks,” said Car-
michael of Lady Edith, who is scoffed
at by her father (Hugh Bonneville) and
dismissed by her older sister (Lady Mary,
played by Michelle Dockery). “She’s am-
bitious and she’s a fighter.”

How low does Edith start out?
Consider this conversation between her
father (Lord Grantham) and mother
(Lady Cora). Lord Grantham: "Poor old
Edith. We never seem to talk about her.”
Lady Cora: "I'm afraid Edith will be the
one taking care of us in our old age."
Lord Grantham: "Oh, what a ghastly
prospect!"

This season, Carmichael said, Lady Edith
has been allowed by Fellowes to spread
her wing. She finds a job - of all things
- as a newspaper columnist, and a new
love interest emerges after she was left at the intrusion of new technology, such as last year visited Haiti to support a char-
the altar. Carmichael said this new turn an electric mixer, into her decades-old ity hospital she helps support.
of events for Edith comes from leaving kitchen routine. The next thing, she fears,
the manor and dashing down to London. is that her job will be taken over by some And a slew of Downton products is now
There, she can wear the latest in fashion “lady from the village.” on the market, ranging from wines to
while sipping cocktails at the Criterion costume jewelry.
and return home at 6 a.m. to a disapprov- The series has opened many doors for
ing aunt. But is she somehow putting her both actresses. New scripts to consider, Still, said Carmichael, “It is slightly
family’s centuries-old good name at peril the A list of celebrities clamoring for face alarming to see your face on a bag.”
by exploring these new avenues? time and repeated pilgrimages made to
awards shows are all part of the mystique.
While Carmichael, 27, pulls the plot into “We call it the Downton Effect,” said Nicol. Above: Lady Edith Crawley played by Laura Carmichael.
the Roaring Twenties, her good friend, a “These doors weren’t open before.” There’s Opposite: Mrs. Patmore played by Leslie Nicol.
60ish Nicol, is risk averse, worrying about also a chance to give back. Carmichael

Winter 2014 winedineandtravel.com 43