Downton Abbey star says role felt like a ‘straitjacket’ at times

• Elizabeth McGovern, who plays Cora Crawley in Downton Abbey, has stated she wished her character had been given "more interesting" storylines.
• The actor said she found it challenging to portray Cora due to the "straitjacket" of the period, reflecting the limited agency women had at that time.
• However, McGovern said that it would have been historically inaccurate to grant Cora more political or social power.
• The popular period drama ran for six seasons and has produced two films, with a third, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, scheduled for release this September.
• McGovern also commented that the presence of the late Dame Maggie Smith, who played Violet Crawley, still "permeates" the filming atmosphere.

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Elizabeth McGovern wishes her Downton Abbey character ‘had more interesting stories’