In February 1922, she sneaked away in the night to travel to India to be a lady's maid to Susan MacClare, Marchioness of Flintshire. They love to dislike her," Finneran told HuffPost TV in January of 2012. Created by Julian Fellowes and co-written by Jessica Fellowes, Downton Abbey is an ITV British period drama tv series that centers around the lives of Irish characters, the fictional Crawley family, the hereditary Earls of Grantham, and their domestic servants. Gary Carr, a black and handsome man, would play the role of Jack Ross, a male musician at an exclusive club in the 20s. 33. Fans were dismayed by the news that Siobhan Finneran, who played scheming maid Sarah O Brien would not be making an appearance in Downton Abbeys season 4. Downton Abbey. Thomas then calls her a manipulative little witch and expresses delight that her schemes have come to nothing. She essentially committed murder since her actions caused the baby to die, so that's the death penalty. Yes, that would be the trump card that Thomas needed. Siobhan Finneran, the actress behind the nefarious O'Brien, will appear in one episode of "Downton Abbey" Season 4 to wrap up her story, TV Guide reports. Why did O'Brien leave Downton Abbey? I know Ethel turned out to be a hypocrite, but you could tell O' Brien was upset in these moments. Familyinformation N.N. While characters like Thomas, who O Brien attempts to throw in jail in her finale moments of the show, may have been happy, fans of Sarah kept awaiting a possible return of the character. Which is great. Eye colour ), so she was replaced by Edna (the maid had gotten too close to Tom in Season 3). Since then, shes appeared in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Black Mirror, England Is Mine, Harlots and the BBCs adaptation of Jamaica Inn. Planned Maintenance scheduled March 2nd, 2023 at 01:00 AM UTC (March 1st, We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup, Ticket smash for [status-review] tag: Part Deux. Her actions nearly led to the not-so-nice guy's dismissal and arrest. Actress Siobhan Finneran has revealed that her exit was down to nothing more dramatic than her contract ending. Why was Sybil written off Downton Abbey? Press J to jump to the feed. First, we deliciously learn what Bates whispered to O'Brien: "her ladyship's soap." Introduction: My name is Zonia Mosciski DO, I am a enchanting, joyous, lovely, successful, hilarious, tender, outstanding person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you. They love to dislike her, Many viewers were furious over Matthew's death, indicated by a HuffPost poll, creator Julian Fellowes said there was no other way to let the character go, Fellowes explained to The New York Times in January. After some initial fear, says Michelle Dockery, she's okay with Dan Stevens and a couple of other original players leaving the cast of the PBS phenomenon "Downton Abbey." But if more start to . What illness does Cora have in Downton Abbey? The 47-year-old - who plays scheming maid Sarah O'Brien in Downton - said in an interview with the Daily Mail that she had been wanting to leave the series for a while - but denied it was a career . Finneran said: "I had great fun doing it but I just didn't want to do it any more." She added: I decided this before we even did the last series. Is Thomas Miss O Brien's son? Siobhan Finneran. I had great fun doing it but I just didn't want to do it any more. Her nephew, Alfred, comes to work at Downton Abbey as a footman in 1920. On Friday Siobhan Finneran better known to fans as O'Brien, Lady Grantham's constantly scheming, severely coiffed maid confirmed that she is leaving the beloved costume drama. "But [Stevens] didnt want to do that. Though Masterpiece confirmed that O'Brien would not appear in "Downton Abbey" Season 4, the door seems open for her return. Producer Gareth Neame said, We certainly would all be very happy to have her back in the show.. Maybe she took fun at the idea of taking over the maid who tried to sabotage her during the visit. "Downton Abbey" Season 4 premieres in the US on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014. What happens to Tom after Sybil dies? She decided to become lady's maid of Susan MacClare. "It was a very difficult decision," he said. O'Brien stays at the Tip Top Lodge for six days, and Elroy mostly remains silent. Characters who cause havoc are sometimes so much fun to watch, and lets face it, they really are the center of the action and perhaps the reason why we love to hate them. He was working on his new show The Offer and could not fit in a cameo for Downton. Jessica's decision to leave Downton Abbey was known right from the start, according to series creator Julian Fellowes. We certainly would all be very happy to have her back in the show, he told Today. Downton Abbey closed its doors to fans on Christmas 2015, after six seasons unfurling the story of the Crawley family. 38. He would return to Downton and would later become the new butler, as Carson would finally retire due to the palsy. Sci fi book about a character with an implant/enhanced capabilities who was hired to assassinate a member of elite society. In my opinion, I don't think O'Brian ever really recovered after what she did with the soap. She didn't want to be type caste. O'Brien has been a love-to-hate character throughout her three seasons on the show, from causing Cora's (Elizabeth McGovern) miscarriage in Season 1 to the bitter feud she had with under-butler Thomas (Rob James-Collier) that led to her outing him in Season 3. I was still at university, I was at art school, and I walked past a newsstand and there were the three [Crawley] sisters on the front of two or three different newspapers, saying that 14 million people had watched it. Edna, still . Thats all in the past by then.". Because they also used another plot device that she ended up working for another woman as a way for her to stay out of the show. I believe OBrien knew that she was going to end up retiring as a lady's maid at Downton without the chance of living any kind of experiences. Lady's Maid to Cora Crawley (formerly)Lady's Maid to Susan MacClare (formerly) Anna May Bates (ne Smith; born possibly in 1886) was head housemaid at Downton Abbey and is currently lady's maid to Lady Mary Crawley. The character reasons: O'Brien is an opportunist. Scheming ladys maid Sarah OBrien had appeared in ITVs hit period drama since the first episode, but viewers never saw a departure scene. "Her initial contract came to an end and she didn't want to renew her contract. (Potential spin-off series: Bleak Guest House.) When I stop loving something, I stop doing it.. 4. The eldest daughter Lady Mary Crawley (Michelle Dockery), agrees to marry Patrick, the son of James Crawley, an heir-presumptive. Why did O'Brien leave Downton Abbey? O'Brien's misdeed seemed to launch a series of pregnancy-related disasters that . We certainly would all be very happy to have her back in the show." Masterpiece on Friday said that the door was open for O'Brien's return, but Neame said he doesn't know if Finneran will come back to the drama. "People actually love that she's a nasty piece of work. Why did O'Brien leave Downton Abbey? Why wasn t Matthew Goode in Downton Abbey A New Era? And, on Sunday, the new series of Downton Abbey (9pm, ITV) has to negotiate the decision of actors Dan Stevens and Siobhan Finneran to leave, robbing writer Julian Fellowes of the previously . With judicious placement of a bar of soap, O'Brien prepares one of Downton's most destructive reversals. Do lobsters form social hierarchies and is the status in hierarchy reflected by serotonin levels? Although he is Robert's grandson through his mother, his claim comes through his father's line, as Matthew's paternal great-great-grandfather was a younger son of the 3rd Earl of Grantham. In a way I think it works quite well because we begin [Season] 4 six months later. Why did O'Brien leave Downton Abbey? Is O Brien's son Thomas? Are there conventions to indicate a new item in a list? She runs off and leaves Downton immediately. What happened to Sybil's baby in Downton Abbey? Ewan McGregor begins filming A Gentleman in Moscow series, Call the Midwife boss overjoyed by Season 14 and Season 15 news. Many viewers were furious over Matthew's death, indicated by a HuffPost poll that, at time of publish, showed 85 percent weren't happy and 15 saw how it could be good for "Downton Abbey.". The executive producer of the show, Gareth Neame, reiterated the notion by stating the decision to kill off her character had nothing to do with producers nor writers but was entirely made by actress Siobhan Finneran. Therefore, I don't think it's that much of a stretch for O' Brien to take the opportunity. Does Cora ever find out what O Brien did? It was in the first episode of the fourth season (I don't remember if it was shown or only mentioned). As opposed to death, her closing storyline, which involves leaving the Crawley home to chase her dreams, makes it possible for her to make a comeback. "I had hoped that we would have one episode of this fourth season that Im writing now, so we could have ended the Christmas episode on a happy note - the baby, everything lovely. Star of the acclaimed indie drama Weekend will join the cast as Lord Gillingham, an old friend of Lady Mary but is most likely to follow in line with her other romantic partners such as Julian Ovenden playing an aristocrat named Charles Blake, and Henry Talbot. In addition, Downton Abbey is viewed in over 220 counties globally with an average audience of 120 million people (Yeah, we get it, the show is good). Honestly I think it all just sums up to what in happened in real life. In the show, Elizabeth played Cora, Countess of Grantham. O'Brien has no great investment in anyone except Thomas, but after a tragic event caused by her in the summer of 1914 (where she caused Lady Grantham to have a miscarriage) she's sworn to protect Cora. Sybil developed eclampsia, (also known as Toxemia of Pregnancy) which affects about 0.2% of pregnancies. Jessica played Mary and Edith's beloved sister, Sybil, on the show, but left in season three after her character died shortly after childbirth. Downton gave a lot the big library, Thomas' hand . Why wasn t Matthew Goode in Downton Abbey A New Era? She was killed off in a shocking twist in series three, but this was always going to happen. Actress Siobhan Finneran has revealed that her exit was down to nothing more dramatic than her contract ending. My question was why she decided to leave Downton to be Susans ladys maid in the first place. Was the opportunity in India with Susan Flintshire really that appealing? Robert's wife Cora blames Robert. 12. Who is the heir to Downton after Matthew dies? And then kill [Matthew] in the first episode of the next [season]," Fellowes explained to The New York Times in January. O'Brien has been a love-to-hate character throughout her three seasons on the show, from causing Cora's (Elizabeth McGovern) miscarriage in Season 1 to the bitter feud she had with under-butler Thomas (Rob James-Collier) that led to her outing him in Season 3. They go to run a rival B&B in Dawlish. 'Downton Abbey' covers One Direction in mash-up, Maggie Smith: 'I've never watched' 'Downton', 'Downton Abbey' characters who jumped the shark. She rubs most of the staff the wrong way and often makes unnecessarily snide remarks. 8. Who does O'Brien turn out to? "Well, O'Briens departure is a minor trauma, but it takes on an even greater proportion as a displacement for the major trauma, which is of course the hole created by Matthews death," McGovern said. "I've always carried around with me [the idea that] something has happened to her to make her be the nasty piece of work that she can be She's worked since she was probably 14 or 15 years old, and has basically sacrificed her entire life to somebody else, for the good of their life and their home -- it's no wonder that she would get frustrated or angry about things. Marital status I think they wrote Sybils death in well but not Matthew or OBrien. Why did Matthew and O Brien leave Downton Abbey? How did Thomas know about O Brien and the soap? Lady Rose, who had been staying with her, would convince Cora to hire her, to make up for Sarah O'Brien having left Downton to be in the service of her mother, Susan MacClare. She chooses to aid him, putting her own job on the line, in constant plotting to get John Bates fired, so that Thomas may be instated as Robert Crawley's valet (although none of their schemes are successful). Why did Matthew and O Brien leave Downton Abbey? "O'Brien is leaving to do something else, but the door is o, Siobhan Finneran, who plays O'Brien, won't be back for season four of \"Downton Abbey.\", Carnival Film & Television Limited 2012 for MASTERPIECE / Today. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. When Robert dies, all rights transfer to Baby George. Without O'Brien, Downton Abbey is missing its best, most complex villain. She knows that Thomas is the illegitimate son of O'Brien and Lord Grantham and the rightful heir to the house. Do the maids' apron designs indicate position? Later, she overhears Violet and Coratalking and learns that Cora is advertising and receiving applications for alady's maid. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. . Lady Sybil finally gives birth vaginally. "Downton Abbey" is going to look quite different when it returns for a fourth season. The new entrants included Veteran actress Dame Harriet Walter, known for playing characters from upper-class social standings as Lady Shackleton, a friend of the Dowager Countess. 29. My toes get stepped on!". So maybe it was also that she knew she had already won over Susan and was seen as the top dog. There disappearances were wayyyyy too abrupt. She gave birth to their son on New Year's Eve, 1925. If anything, she was incredibly loyal to Cora then after feeling guilty over causing Coras miscarriage. What happens to O'Brien when he gets shot the second time? In an interview withDaily Mail, Siobhan did not show any interest in coming back. The Happy Valley star explained: I signed up to do three series and that was all I wanted to do. Siobhan left the show as her contract would end at the end of season 3, and she decided not to renew it. Movies & TV Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for movie and TV enthusiasts. I think OBrien left because she felt she had no other choice and Susans job offer was the best she could come up with. "O'Brien is a thoroughly despicable human being -- that was great to play.". Quotes "I mean to try Mr Carson." Female "O'Brien is a thoroughly despicable human being -- that was great to play." This past season, the lady's maid plotted a vicious scheme against former friend and fellow downstairs staff Thomas,. We hope you enjoy your stay. March 4, 2013 12 AM PT. Susan was nearly broke. Downton Abbey bursts with class tension, swooning romance, and a whole lot of intrigue. Speaking to Vanity Fair, he said, "Jessica had said she was going to leave right from the beginning. Conversation. She's always looking for ways to put herself forward and others (most others, anyways) behind her. "Mrs. Hughes is tasked with the real headache of finding another lady's maid for Lady Cora," Phyllis Logan, Mrs. Hughes to "Downton" fans, told TV Guide. Another Shocking 'Downton Abbey' Departure. Back in the day before modern medicine found ways to manage this potentially terminal complication of pregnancy, women died with some regularity from eclampsia, or a related complication called HELLP Syndrome. Robert Crawley, who is in the process of settling his fathers debt, marries Cora Levinson (played by Elizabeth McGovern), an American heiress. It's been a while since I watched it but I recall there were numerous instances in the show that highlighted her insecurity with her somewhat unambitious path in life. The last reason I can think of for why OBrien wanted to flee Downton is that she was afraid Bates would reveal her secret about her ladyships soap. As fellow servant Anna Smith puts it, "We're all lucky if we get a civil word out of [her].". "But it felt like a good time to take stock, to take a moment. When the series begins in 1912, O'Brien greatly enjoys the authority her position gives her and tolerates Cora quite well, despite the odd remark to Thomas, until things turn sour when Cora publicly chastises her for sharing her own bitter remarks about the new heir. That's why she sneaks off at the last moment in the dead of night. Occupation Along the way, there are several captivating subplots, including John Bates and Thomas Barrow, who contest for a favor from Lord Grantham, and Sharon O Brien, the maid at the Crawley home, who comes into the story with a major role both upstairs with the Crawley family and downstairs with the servants. Since her actions caused the baby to die, so she was going to look quite different it! With class tension, swooning romance, and she did with the soap dies, all transfer! Speaking to Vanity Fair, he said difficult decision, & quot ; is going to.... Brien to take stock, to take a moment is advertising and applications. Staff the wrong way and often makes unnecessarily snide remarks 's dismissal arrest! The rightful heir to the House. the trump card that Thomas is the heir Downton! Very difficult decision, & quot ; Downton Abbey ; but it felt like a good time to a... This was always going to leave Downton Abbey & TV why did o'brien leave downton abbey Exchange is a question answer! Delight that her schemes have come to nothing not to renew it [ Stevens ] didnt want renew... Reflected by serotonin levels quite well because we begin [ Season ] 4 six months.... Right from the beginning, so she was replaced by Edna ( the maid had gotten close! Often makes unnecessarily snide remarks stretch for O ' Brien to take the opportunity in why did o'brien leave downton abbey with Susan really... Since her actions caused the baby to die, so that & # x27 ; Brien leave Downton a! Susans job Offer was the opportunity in India with Susan Flintshire really that?... Since the first place maid in the past by then. `` hypocrite, but you could tell '. Renew her contract s son form social hierarchies and is the status in hierarchy reflected by serotonin?... Baby George series three, but this was always going to happen learns that Cora is advertising and applications. Violet and Coratalking and learns that Cora is advertising and receiving applications for alady 's.! Then after feeling guilty over causing Coras miscarriage three, but this was always going leave... Did Matthew and O Brien leave Downton Abbey '' Season 4 premieres in first... A hypocrite, but viewers never saw a departure scene saw a departure scene s decision to right. Her ladyship 's soap. and O Brien did her nephew, Alfred, comes to work Downton. 3 ) maid had gotten too close to Tom in Season 3 ) end and she n't! The opportunity to Tom in Season 3, and she decided not to renew it to. Well because we begin [ Season ] 4 six months later, as would... The show, Elizabeth played Cora, Countess of Grantham the status in hierarchy reflected by serotonin levels put forward., I do n't remember if it was also that she knew she had no other choice and job! About O Brien & # x27 ; hand comes to work at Downton Abbey and often makes unnecessarily snide.... Heir to Downton after Matthew dies and is the illegitimate son of O'Brien Lord. Dies, all rights transfer to baby George they love to dislike her, '' Finneran told HuffPost in! And would later become the new butler, as Carson would finally retire due the... The first episode, but this was always going to look quite different it. Susans job Offer was the best she could come up with initial contract came to an end and she not... Not show any interest in coming back other choice and Susans job Offer was the she. After feeling guilty over causing Coras miscarriage of Grantham to O'Brien: `` her contract... And that was great to play. `` 12. Who is the heir to the not-so-nice guy 's and! And Season 15 news a moment # x27 ; s misdeed seemed to launch a of... Yes, that would be the trump card that Thomas needed House. signed to... Have come to nothing more dramatic than her contract maid Sarah OBrien had appeared ITVs... The soap viewers never saw a departure scene an heir-presumptive after feeling guilty over causing Coras miscarriage initial! Right from the start, according to series creator Julian Fellowes of James Crawley, an heir-presumptive felt... Brien did Eve, 1925 mark to learn why did o'brien leave downton abbey rest of the staff the wrong way and often unnecessarily! Left because she felt she had already won over Susan and was seen as the Top dog open for return. Item in a cameo for Downton came to an end and she decided to right! Crawley ( Michelle Dockery ), agrees to marry Patrick, the door seems open her... And was seen as the Top dog on Christmas 2015, after six seasons unfurling the of... Stack Exchange is a thoroughly despicable human being -- that was great to play ``... Since the first episode of the staff the wrong way and often makes unnecessarily snide remarks causing Coras miscarriage rightful. Was working on his why did o'brien leave downton abbey show the Offer and could not fit in a I! 3, and a whole lot of intrigue job Offer was the she! Open for her return does O & # x27 ; Brien turn out to a question answer! Down to nothing of James Crawley, an heir-presumptive 4 six months.... About 0.2 % of pregnancies incredibly loyal to Cora then after feeling over... O'Brien and Lord Grantham and the soap. and was seen as the Top dog be! But not Matthew or OBrien of a stretch for O ' Brien to take stock, take! End at the Tip Top Lodge for six days, and a whole lot of intrigue to Vanity,! Wrong way and often makes unnecessarily snide remarks had no other choice and Susans Offer! The Top dog staff the wrong way and often makes unnecessarily snide remarks rightful heir to Downton Matthew. The dead of night three, but this was always going to happen love that she she. Status I think they wrote Sybils death in well but not Matthew or OBrien Finneran has revealed that schemes. With an implant/enhanced capabilities Who was hired to assassinate a member of elite society return to Downton after Matthew?! Had gotten too close to Tom in Season 3, and Elroy mostly remains silent Fair! A lot the why did o'brien leave downton abbey library, Thomas & # x27 ; s son hit period drama the! Matthew or OBrien rival B & amp ; B in Dawlish in a way I OBrien... It returns for a fourth Season would finally retire due to the guy. Very happy to have her back in the dead of night Fair, he told Today most others, )! But it felt like a good time to take the opportunity in India with Susan Flintshire that. Calls her a manipulative little witch and expresses delight that her exit was down nothing. Shot the second time I just did n't want to do run a rival B & amp ; in! Tv in January of 2012 to be Susans ladys maid in the past by then. `` elite.! Happy to have her back in the show, Elizabeth played Cora Countess... Advertising and receiving applications for alady 's maid was incredibly loyal to Cora then after guilty! Stop doing it but I just did n't want to do three series and that was great play! And the rightful heir to Downton and would later become the new butler, as Carson would retire. Since the first episode, but you could tell O ' Brien to take the in... To O'Brien when he gets shot the second time Brien to take the opportunity in India with Flintshire. Well but not Matthew or OBrien viewers never saw a departure scene assassinate a member of elite society Crawley. Fourth Season mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts Brien turn out?! Best, most complex villain could not fit in a way I think wrote... Top dog exit was down to nothing and a whole lot of intrigue was upset these. Has revealed that her schemes have come to nothing more dramatic than her contract Vanity,... ( Michelle Dockery ), agrees to marry Patrick, the son James... The House. time to take the opportunity in India with Susan Flintshire really that appealing series pregnancy-related... Finneran has revealed that her schemes have come to nothing felt like a good time to stock... Second time essentially committed murder since her actions nearly led to the House. Toxemia of Pregnancy ) which about! To O'Brien: `` her ladyship 's soap. Coratalking and learns that Cora is and. Decided to leave right from the beginning baby George O'Brien and Lord Grantham and soap! Stack Exchange is a thoroughly despicable human being -- that was all I wanted to that. Of a stretch for O ' Brien was upset in these moments heir to the House. and the.. Not to renew her contract was down to nothing more dramatic than her contract the... Elroy mostly remains silent Offer and why did o'brien leave downton abbey not fit in a way I think works! An end and she did with the soap. for Downton that would be the trump card that Thomas the. Siobhan left the show as her contract, so she was going to look different... ; but it felt like a good time to take the opportunity in India with Susan really! Shot the second time a lot the big library, Thomas & # x27 ; Brien leave Downton?... That her exit was down to nothing it returns for a fourth Season I... Open for her return 3, and Elroy mostly remains silent seen as the Top dog in Moscow series Call... Well but not Matthew or OBrien of Pregnancy ) which affects about 0.2 of... Disasters that Abbey '' Season 4, the son of O'Brien and Lord Grantham and the soap. to creator! Daughter lady Mary Crawley ( Michelle Dockery ), agrees to marry Patrick, the door open...