Dan Stevens- Actor of the Week

Dan Stevens

OK, I admit it. I have a soft spot for the English intellectual actor. What is it do you think, the Oxbridge posh accent or the wonderful witty banter when interviewed? Am I alone ladies? Here we have another cutie from Cambridge (Emmanuel College/English Lit) Dan Stevens, who is riding the Downton Abbey wave of popularity at the present. He does seem to be a truly decent guy. He gives the "I'm not really posh" line that we hear regularly from Hugh Grant, however he is happily married with a young daughter and so seems to be a decent guy- very like his character Matthew Crawley from Downton!

Dan Stevens as Edward Ferrars in Sense and Sensibility 2008

Most of us got our first glimpse of Dan as the sexed-up Andrew Davies version of Edward Ferrars in Sense and Sensibility 2008. Infinitely preferable to Hugh Grant's stiff necked Edward in S&S 1995, we had him chopping wood in the rain (wet shirt) to get us interested. A very good outlet for the pent up frustration of the character as he wrestles with his conscience and his libido at the same time! Oh, poor Edward.

Dan Stevens as Matthew Crawley in Downton Abbey

As the utterly likeable Manchester lawyer Matthew Crawley, Dan really upped his profile. When he became heir to the Downton Estate, even Mary started to view him differently, but when he returned for season 2 all buff and in his uniform...well...phwoar!

Dan Stevens in uniform as Captain Crawley

Do you agree? A bit edgier, no? Anyhoo...he has lots of fans now and we look forward to seeing him in Season 3. I wonder what American Granny Shirley MacLaine will make of him?

Dan Stevens in Vamps

As the love interest of NYC vampire girl Krysten Ritter in this year's Vamps starring Alicia Silverstone and written and directed by Clueless genius Amy Heckerling, I want to like this one but the early buzz is not good. And the tag line is "NICE GIRLS SUCK". Rats!

Dan Stevens and Domenic Cooper

More promising is the reunion of Dan with S&S alumni Domenic Cooper and Hattie Morahan in Summer in February. It is billed as "A true tale of love, liberty and scandal amongst the Edwardian artists' colony in Cornwall" and is in post-production due out later in the year. Fingers crossed.

And here he is in a BAFTA interview being adorable and demonstrating a bit of that posh Cambridge accent.

 

So let's hope for more wonderful roles in the future for this supremely talented young man!

Downton Abbey Season 2: Episode One

Downton Abbey Season 2

Well, after waiting patiently since this time last year, it is finally here! I hope you were able to catch the season opener of Downton Abbey. I made sure I was plastered to the TV screen at 9 o'clock. We are two years later and the Great War has been taking its toll on the whole of Europe, Downton Abbey included. Matthew and Thomas are at the front and Lord Grantham and William are champing at the bit to get to the action. The Dowager Countess is manipulating things behind the scenes as usual, and everyone else is trying to do their part and to keep up with the changing times.

Lady Sybil learning to cook in Downton Abbey Season 2

Lady Sybil has been trained as a nurse in York, and has come back to work in the Downton Hospital, helping tend to wounded soldiers sent back from the front. She has even learned basic cookery skills which makes her mother proud.

The Earl of Grantham and his heir presumptive- Downton Abbey Season 2

Matthew is now Captain Crawley (my, sounds like Vanity Fair now doesn't it?) and the Earl has been given an honorary title and kept at home to "help boost morale". Ouch!

Lady Mary heartbroken- Downton Abbey Season 2

Lady Mary has seen Matthew and his new fiancee Lavinia Swire, which has made her realize her true feelings for Matthew. Poor Lady Mary. Longing glances abound.

Lavinia Swire Downton Abbey Season 2

Matthew Crawley's fiancee Lavinia Swire is one of the more interesting of the new characters this season. What is her hidden secret?

Sir Richard Carlisle and Lady Mary- Downton Abbey Season 2

Sir Richard Carlisle is Lady Mary's new beau this season. Will he be her saviour or will he be just another in the long line of Mary's ex-suitors? Points to anyone who recognized Iain Glen as Mr. Preston from Wives and Daughters. He still makes my skin crawl!

Maggie Smith as Violet, Dowager Duchess in Downton Abbey Season 2

While we have other new characters such as the new Valet Lang, the cheeky new housemaid Ethel and Bates's evil wife Vera, the best lines still come from Dame Maggie Smith as the delightfully haughty Dowager Duchess Violet.

Violet: Oh that's a relief. I hate Greek drama. When everything happens off stage.

Violet: Ridiculous! You're not Toad of Toad Hall.

Violet: Amputation in the dining room? Resuscitation in the pantry? I forbid it!

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So, here's to another great season of Downton Abbey. Thank goodness for ITV and PBS Masterpiece Theater for giving us something to look forward to during the long winter months ahead.  I am so glad now that I didn't watch this online in the fall. It was worth the wait!

P.S. My husband, who I affectionately refer to as The Squire, watched this with me all last year and at the very end of the first episode of season 2 said:

 "What is this, a soap opera?"

To which I replied: "Um....yes!?!?" He is usually pretty perceptive, but I think the costumes threw him off. Yes, honey, this is truly a soap opera in costume, and I'm enjoying every moment.