A new love interest will officially join Downton Abbey in season 4, and will appear alongside a familiar face. Plus, check out the very first promo image from the upcoming season! Mild spoilers ahead.
The lucky man set to woo Lady Mary has finally been cast. Actor Tom Cullen will join the cast of Downton Abbey season 4 in the role of Lord Anthony Gillingham, a young aristocrat who will allegedly try to coax Mary out of mourning for her late husband, Matthew Crawley.
Downton Abbey has been searching for the right actor to fill the role for at least several weeks (news of the role broke in January) and it looks like they have chosen a relatively unknown face to tackle the challenge of filling Matthew Crawley’s still-warm shoes.
Lord Gillingham won’t have to start from square one, however; the character is allegedly a childhood friend of Lady Mary, whose excellent breeding is certainly suitable for the future Countess of Grantham’s husband.
It has also been reported recently that Shirley MacLaine will reprise her role as Cora’s mother Martha Levinson in Downton Abbey season 4, though the length of her English stay is uncertain.
Joining the cast as well will be Julian Ovenden as aristocrat Charles Blake (perhaps another suitor for Mary?); Dame Harriett Walter as Lady Shackleton, a friend of Lady Violet’s; Joanna David as the Duchess of Yeovil; and a valet named Green, played by Nigel Harman.
In addition to the casting news, ITV has released the first official image of Downton Abbey season 4, which you can view right here:
The image is certainly a good indication of the Mary-centric nature of the coming season, and perhaps hints at the long road ahead of Mary before she can find happiness again. ITV’s description also notes (and we are rather relieved to see) that Mary has not taken Branson’s route and named her new child after her deceased spouse. Her and Matthew’s son is called instead call “George”. (And he can totally rock the sailor outfit.)