After a season that already saw the deaths of two characters, Downton Abbey is losing yet another when it returns next season, furthering its evolution into a show where eventually Maggie Smith sits all alone at an ornate dining table, haughtily starving to death. This time it’s actress Siobhan Finneran, who plays the constantly scheming, forever staring, occasionally miscarriage-causing, generally awful maid Mrs. O’Brien, with Finneran telling The Mirror, “I’m not doing any more. O'Brien is a thoroughly despicable human being—that was great to play.” Unlike the previous exits for Dan Stevens and Jessica Findlay-Brown, Finneran seems likely to escape the punishment of being killed, seeing as Masterpiece is leaving the door open for her to return someday. That certainly suggests O’Brien will be spirited away to India by that awful Scottish lady who took such a liking to her hairstyling. Or maybe she’ll discover the joys of reefer and run off with a jazz musician?
Join the discussion...