Sharon Small was born on January 1, 1967 in Drumchapel, Glasgow, Scotland. This puts strain on the couple, as Anna is too frightened to ask John the truth of his trip to York. Though Jack loves her, he fears the repercussions of an inter-racial romance. Poor Alfred is used as a pawn in his aunt's scheming, which eventually comes to nothing. For a brief time before entering into household service, Mr Carson was a music hall performer in the vaudeville duo the "Cheerful Charlies" alongside former friend Charlie Grigg. In the third episode of the fourth series, Anna is violently assaulted and raped by Lord Gillingham's valet while the rest of family members and staff are attending a concert above stairs in the house. Bates becomes protective over Anna at the car racing at Brooklands, when she insists in running after Lady Mary after a fatal crash on the track. She later tells Mrs Patmore that she is ready to start planning her wedding to Andy. During the First World War with the men away fighting, Mr Drake needs help on his farm. Alfred Nugent (played by Matt Milne) was the new footman brought on to replace William Mason and is introduced in series three. Upon Robert's death, he will become the 8th Earl of Grantham, though Mary will speak for his interests until he comes of age. The older Mr Mason later explains to Daisy that William was his only surviving child and he had realised that William married Daisy not just because he cared for her but so his father would have someone to keep company. In 1921, he hosts the Crawleys at Duneagle Castle, his family's Scottish estate. When Rose responds that the prince was very popular, the king dryly remarks that "the prince is never short of popularity." Edith changes her mind at the very last second, and she and Rosamund concoct a ridiculous story that they would like to take a holiday in Switzerland for a few months to "improve their French." He also helps cover up the scandal that the murder trial of Downton valet Bates would cause. Eventually, Jimmy decides that the only thing to do is to satisfy her and hope it'll get her out of his hair. During the Great War, after William is brought back to Downton mortally wounded, the Dowager Countess summons him to wed William and Daisy before William dies. Tony later calls off his engagement to Mabel, because of his interest in Mary. and he got the part of the womanising pub landlord. In series one, he tries to blackmail his former lover, The Duke of Crowborough. Small is perhaps best known for her appearances in the Inspector Lynley series. Anna May Bates (ne Smith) (played by Joanne Froggatt) (b. Bates informs the judge that Bates paid her to agree to a divorce, and the judge can withdraw the decree for divorce. Tom doesn't learn her true identity until later. Anna, however, tells him that the news is nothing sad and that actually, she's pregnant and expecting their child. Leech's audition for the role convinced Julian Fellowes to expand his role and to transform Branson into an Irishman. "[17] Finneran believed that O'Brien "was great to play. Lord Grantham bursts into Lady Anstruther's room to sound the alarm and discovers her with Jimmy. When she discovers that Andy sabotaged a pump because he thought she was flirting with a plumber, she assures him that she was not, and admits that she is impressed by his strength of feeling. That leads Baxter to guess that Anna is pregnant. Further, Edith discovers she is pregnant with Gregson's illegitimate child. The actress was also in BBC crime drama The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, playing the role of DS Barbara Havers alongside Nathaniel Parkers DI Thomas Lynley. Birthplace She is an actress, known for About a Boy (2002), The Inspector Lynley Mysteries (2001) and National Theatre Live: The Threepenny Opera (2016). Sharon was in an episode of BBC crime drama Death in Paradise. Bates goes with her, and it is thought that his romance with Anna is over. The final series also deals with Carson downsizing staff to adjust for the current times. However, Edith reveals to him that she is pregnant, and the child's birth will coincide with Bertie's departure date. Read more: Recognise Mark Bradwell in The Bay? Gregson arrives in Munich, then vanishes with no word. After Lady Edith has a letter published in a newspaper proclaiming support for women's rights, Michael writes to her at least twice offering her a column in his magazine. Bates is subsequently charged with murder. The neighbour mentions she saw Vera cleaning crust from under her nails, confirming she made the pie herself. He also nearly weds Edith to Anthony Strallan before he jilts her at the altar (Travis and the Dowager discussed Strallan's first wife beforehand). After a long and somewhat secretive courtship she married Mr Bates in the end of the second series in a private ceremony at a registrar's office. Thomas tells O'Brien that his father was a clockmaker. Michael encouraged Edith to never be afraid to speak her mind and to write about whatever she wanted, even if it was not expected of a woman. Violet hopes to persuade him to allow the Downton village hospital to remain under the control of the Crawley family, instead of having it merge with a major hospital in York. In between serving in the Anglo-Boer War and joining the staff at Downton Abbey, John Bates went to prison for a theft that Vera had committed. Alfred's largest rival is fellow footman Jimmy Kent, who is shorter than Alfred, but quite handsome. TV Shows. He previously served in the Army alongside the earl as his batman during the Boer Wars and suffered an injury to his right leg. Small was amazing as Detective Constable Barbara Havers in the Inspector Lynley Mysteries. After spending the weekend together, he talks of their engagement, but she realises he is not the man for her. Also in series four, Alfred is still caught up in the downstairs "love square". She searches for anyone Vera may have been in contact with, and finds a neighbour who saw her the day of her death. In the second film, their son, Peter, is an infant, and Edith is once again involved in the day-to-day running of her publishing company and writing articles. She is coerced by O'Brien into telling Edith, who writes to the Turkish Ambassador. Michael follows Edith and her family to Scotland in 1921, where he meets her family. Though both Prince Kuragin and Violet were married, they fell in love and attempted to run away together, but did not succeed. This engagement is broken off and during the war he is injured. Sharon was also in Downton Abbey. Small is the eldest of five children. In series three, Edith and Anthony reconnect and are soon engaged. Edith stays on (she had intended to resign because she was repulsed that a married man was flirting with her) after Michael expresses his hope that she will, citing how much it cheers him to meet her when they do and to read her column. O'Brien, always against Bates, writes to Vera to tell her where he is and about his and Anna's blossoming romance. John Drake (played by Fergus O'Donnell) is a tenant farmer on the estate of the Earl of Grantham. In the first film, she is seven years old and continues to be raised with her first cousins George and Caroline, at the estate. The younger Crawleys often use Rosamund's home at 35 Belgrave Square as a place to stay when visiting London, on which occasions Rosamund takes the opportunity to catch up on family gossip. Tom struggles both with grief over Sybil's death in childbirth and with being accepted by the Crawleys and their servants as a new member of the Crawley family. In 1921, Rose's relationship with her mother has soured, though her relationship with her father is better. After Ethel attracts considerable gossip, the Dowager Countess intervenes, having Lady Edith place an advertisement for Ethel, so she may find a position elsewhere and have a fresh start. Bates sneaks up behind Anna, surprising her, then pulls her aside. During and after the war, Violet remains a strong influence at Downton Abbey but finds her influence under threat as social norms change, particularly from Isobel Crawley, with whom she has a tendency to quarrel, and her daughter-in-law Cora, both of whom are more forward-thinking and strong-minded women. Tom Branson plays a major role in the first feature film, saving the king's life and courting Lucy Smith, who is the daughter of Lady Maud Bagshaw, lady-in-waiting to Queen Mary and a cousin of the Crawleys. While he is recuperating, Jimmy comes to speak with him. When she feared what he might do next and knew what was about to happen, Anna hid in the dark, waiting for him with a knife. Sir Herbert leaves Downton the next morning with no knowledge of the incident. At the end of series three, Jimmy is promoted to first footman, but he holds a grudge against Thomas into the Christmas Special. However, Rosamund also supports Edith throughout Edith's unplanned pregnancy and with finding a way to raise the child. He is initially reticent about his family, but mentions that his great-grandfather and his family were Russian Jews from Odessa who had emigrated to England during the 19th century and eventually anglicised their family name. Series six deals with Carson's and Hughes' marriage and life as a married couple. Eventually Mary breaks off the engagement to him after the pair argue with increased frequency, and after Lord Grantham discovers the truth from Lady Grantham and advises Mary not to be unhappy with someone she does not love. Mr Mason gave some books to Andy, and he reveals to Thomas that he can write no more than his own name; Thomas offers to teach him to read and write. A shocked Anna begins to ask how the case is sorted out but Bates silences her, saying they will speak of it later. She names her son Charlie after his father, before moving away from Downton to start a new life. She had one favourite brother who had shell shock and later died during the Great War. In The Bay, she plays Rose Marshbrook, wife of Stephen Tompkinsons character Stephen Marshbrook, who was brutally murdered in front of his son at the family home. In series four, the staff at Downton Abbey receive a letter from Gwen where she tells them she is married. Anna insists that they marry so that she will have legal rights if the worst happens. When he was at school he fooled around and never learned how to read or how to write anything but his own name. While the family, guests and staff listen to Melba's performance upstairs, Green sexually assaults Anna in the servants' quarters. She calls it off with him but he becomes angry and refuses to break it off with her. Because Alfred quickly becomes enamored with the new kitchen maid, Ivy Stuart, Jimmy also takes an interest. His attitudes occasionally clash with that of the more progressive and pragmatic Cora. There also isnt a huge number of parts for women my age, so you have to take what you can. His death puts suspicion on Bates due to Bates having previous experience being around unusual deaths of his enemies. Unlike Carson, she privately views Lady Mary as a silly girl whose misfortune comes mostly from her own mistakes; her attitudes have likely softened over the years. 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