‘Downton Abbey’ season 4: Why we’re not seeing a touch of sci-fi

It is certainly understandable if you have become very used to seeing Elizabeth McGovern in the role of Lady Cora on “Downton Abbey” over the past several years, but what you may be a little surprised to know about what that she was not the only actress that producers were looking at.

It was first revealed earlier this year that Gillian Anderson, former star of “The X-Files,” was offered the part as Cora on the show years ago. However, she ended up turning down both that and a role on another hugely successful series in “Game of Thrones.” So what is the reason for that? Speaking to the Daily Mail in an effort to promote her new series “The Fall,” the actress admits that most of it had to do with her desire to prioritize family more so than any other aspect of her life:

“My 18-year-old cannot believe that I would turn down Game Of Thrones or Downton — things she loves to watch. But if I am going to be spending that amount of time working on something I would rather be working with a director like Martin Scorsese.”

Anderson clearly is at a great place in her career where she can take whatever sort of opportunities that she wants, and still find a way to spend time with her family and not simply focus on work. Meanwhile, “Downton Abbey” is doing more than fine with McGovern, who has been an Emmy nominee. The ITV series is shooting season 4 now, and “Game of Thrones” will be doing the same this summer.

Want to see a more entertaining side when it comes to “Downton Abbey”? If you want to check out a hilarious take on the show coming to us via “The Simpsons,” all you have to do is head on over to the link here.

Photo: ITV