‘Downton Abbey’ season 4 notes: Hugh Bonneville, Amy Nuttall, Phyllis Logan
Like the Dowager Countess making barbs at some of the fellow residents of Downton Abbey, our show notes should feel like a worn-in coat at this point. A few snapshots of what the actors are doing during season 4 production, talk about it, and relate it back to the series. It’s a lovely way to be reminded of just how busy and ambitious some of these people are, that even though they have a job on one of television’s finest creations, they still have an inkling to do other things.
Take for instance, the Emmy-nominated and rather lovely man that is Hugh Bonneville, who said recently following his hosting of the Olivier Awards that there is still an enormous part of him that begs to dive back into his first real love in performing on the stage:
“I spent a lot of my career in the theatre, and I miss it. I’m really keen to do some more, and I’ve been talking to lots of producers about different possibilities. All those old clichés about missing the live sensation are true. My happiest time on stage was when I was with the RSC.”
One of the greatest luxuries about a show like “Downton Abbey” is that the time for more theater work is available, at least if Hugh can organize his many months off from the show to take part in some sort of production.
Phyllis Logan – Meanwhile, the woman behind Mrs. Hughes is taking on a completely different sort of event. Organizers for the Bedford Park Festival in Chiswick announced this past week that she will not only be helping to open the festival on Saturday, June 8th, but she will judge a competition involving children’s dress. It’s rather nice to see that the actors remember where they come from, no?
Amy Nuttall – This weekend marks the BAFTA TV Awards in London, but shockingly, “Downton Abbey” was not nominated for any major categories despite being an Emmy darling here. So did this lead to Amy Nuttall pouting on the red carpet? Hardly, but she did tell Heatworld that she was slightly “indifferent” to picking a winner since her show did not pick up a nod. We don’t know how much of a future Nuttall really has on the show as Ethel, but we will be anxious to find out in the many months ahead.
Looking for more scoop on your favorite “Downton Abbey” stars? How about Michelle Dockery at the Met Gala, or a TV interview featuring Laura Carmichael? Both of these stories are present at the links mentioned here for your leisure.
Photo: ITV