STACK #140 Jun 2016

DVD & BD Q&A

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Deaths and marriages, seduction and scandal. There's never a dull moment at Downton... MEMORABLE DOWNTON MOMENTS

As Mrs. Hughes, the housekeeper of Downton Abbey, Phyllis Logan has been with the beloved British series from the very beginning. She shares her thoughts on her time with the Crawley family in their very big house in the country. By Scott Hocking

Any moment featuring Maggie Smith's acerbic Dowager Countess.

Are you happy with the way things turned out in the final episode? I think so. I thought it was a nice way to end without being overly sentimental, or wrapping things up in a pink bow. I thought it was touching, moving and realistic; he did a really good job, Julian.

How’s life after Downton Abbey ? PHYLLIS LOGAN: Quieter. It’s actually been quite a while now since we were on the set; we finished mid-August last year. So I’m getting used to the idea that it will never happen again.

A Day at the Beach – no surprise that it's one of Phyllis's favourite bits.

DVD & BD

Is a Downton movie still a possibility?

Did the romance and eventual wedding of Mrs. Hughes and Carson surprise you, or did you see it coming ? It quite surprised us when he actually proposed and I said, “Of course I’ll marry you, you old booby.” It was only then that we thought, gosh, this may well happen [laughs]. The public response… everyone seemed very enthusiastic about the idea I have to say, so that was nice. What do you think Mrs. Hughes really thought of the family? She respected them. But of course she didn’t think it was fair that they had it all and other people had nothing. I don’t think she kowtowed to them in any way. I’m just thinking of one storyline when she thought she might have had cancer, and Lady Cora said, “We’ll always look after you” – I think that maybe changed her perception of the family because she was quite touched by the fact that the household, the Crawleys, weren’t going to kick her out for being ill. They were going to look after her like part of the family.

Turkish diplomat Kemal Pamuk's sole appearance was memorable for Lady Mary!

It hasn’t been discounted at all. You probably know as much as I do. It’s not a definite yes, but not a definite no either. Did you ever imagine that the series would become a global phenomenon? No. I don’t think any of us could have envisaged quite the amount of hype that it garnered, and also the popularity. People have just taken it to their hearts. It’s been amazing, really. What do you think has been the key to its success? There are a number of factors, I guess. There was a wonderful script written solely by Julian Fellowes, great characters, intriguing storylines, and set in that beautiful castle which is a star in its own right. The attention to detail, from the smallest piece of costume, to the hairstyles and props, was absolutely so well done by the design team. Then there is that extra, unknown factor that makes something a success – if we all knew what that was, we’d bottle it and use it every time.

I thought it was a nice way to end without being overly sentimental

Marital memories: Lady Edith left at the altar, wounded William's widow's pension for Daisy, Mrs. Hughes and Mr. Carson tie the knot. Take your pick.

One of the strengths of the show is how it reflects changing times and key periods in history, and their impact on the characters. We kicked off in 1912 and finished up in 1926. It’s only 14 years but there was a massive global shift that went on during that time, not just women’s emancipation, but people’s general attitude towards life became more liberal. And we found ourselves in 1926 with a Labor government – who would have thought it? The changes were massive and it’s no wonder the likes of Mr. Carson, who was so much rooted in the Victorian/Edwardian era, found it difficult to adjust to these momentous changes.

What’s your fondest memory of working on the series? Oh, there’s so many. The day we had down by the seaside – when Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes walked into the sea hand-in-hand to have a paddle – that was rather lovely. I’ll always remember that because it was such a glorious day and the crew and everybody jumped

into the sea at lunchtime, and everyone was having such a great time. It was like being on holiday.

• Downton Abbey: Season 6 is out now

JUNE 2016

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