Page 31 - atoday

PEOPLE & ARTS A31
Wednesday 30 December

Jim Carter serves ‘Downton Abbey’ as its beloved butler

FRAZIER MOORE (Sunday, 9 p.m. EST on PBS’ Britain’s Kate Duchess of Cambridge, left, chats with actor Jim five years ago, has reigned
AP Television Writer “Masterpiece”), Mr. Car- Carter, who portrays the butler Carson, during an official visit to as a lavish and literate
NEW YORK (AP) — In the son’s humanness will be the set of the TV series “Downton Abbey”, at Ealing Studios in phenomenon.
grand domain of splen- exposed more than ever London. With “Downton” returning for its sixth and final season For the British-born Carter,
did characters at Down- as his torturously arm’s- on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016, Mr. Carson’s humanness will be 67, the road to “Downton”
ton Abbey, Mr. Carson is length courtship of head exposed more than ever. began long that when he
perhaps the first among housekeeper Mrs. Hughes dropped out of law studies
equals. Among the superb (played by Phyllis Logan) (AP Photo/Chris Jackson, Pool) at the University of Sussex
cast of “Downton Abbey,” finally blossoms. and joined a fringe theater
a similarly towering figure is “It was the slowest-burning chelle Dockery), deign to their dream of parenthood troupe he equates with
Jim Carter, who plays him. romance of all times,” says say yes to her latest suitor? cruelly denied? “a door to the promised
After all, this is the saga of Carter with a laugh. “But Will the sad-sack valet Mr. Viewers have awaited land.”
a noble estate and those the audience seemed to Bates (Brendan Coyle) and these and other answers Stage, film and TV jobs fol-
who populate it during Brit- want it to happen — as did his wife, lady’s maid Anna from a costume drama lowed in a career that has
ain’s post-Edwardian era, we.” (Joanne Froggatt), see that, since its U.S. debut kept him busy and happy,
and Mr. Carson, as its but- What happens, including enjoying the process of
ler, is the one who makes an unlikely interlude in this playing each role free from
that house run. He bridges first episode “which hope- worry over how the finished
the gap between the up- fully will melt hearts across product might fare with
stairs elite and the servants the country,” is only one critics or the public.
bustling downstairs. His among many resolutions “I have no ambitions in the
word, putting forward the as the series comes in for acting world,” he explains.
policies and whims of the a landing in the mid-1920s. “I just need to get out of
aristocratic Crawley clan, is What will be the fate of the the house and work and
law for those in his charge. financially distressed Down- be with people.”
Bringing him to life is an ac- ton Abbey estate, presid- After auditioning for Mr.
tor who makes Carson’s ed over by Lord and Lady Carson, he thought that
crustiness heroic, his un- Crawley (Hugh Bonneville piece of acting work
wavering sense of duty lov- and Elizabeth McGovern) would be nice to land,
able to the viewer. with a less and less sure “and I came away think-
With “Downton” returning hand? Will their daughter, ing, ‘I should be very cross
for its sixth and final season headstrong Lady Mary (Mi- if I don’t get it.’”q