Since Season 3 of Downton Abbey remains so far away, we must whet our appetites with casting updates. We’ve already told you that Oscar-winner Shirley MacLaine and War Horse star Matt Milne will join the cast this season, and now, we’ve received word of two lovely ladies joining the cast as maids.

We’ve fallen for many of the maids in the past (we’ve even come around to O’Brien at some points), so the addition of two new maids is big news for our favorite period drama.

According to Zap2it, Cara Theobald (pictured left) will play a new kitchen maid named Ivy, and Lucille Sharp (pictured right) will play a lady’s maid named Miss Reid. She serves of MacLaine (who portrays Cora’s American mother). The photo is also courtesy of Zap2it.

What are your thoughts on the new additions? Any predictions on what their characters will be like?