"Downton Abbey" changed my life. The television show helped me discover my passion for writing (thanks Edie!). And now I work as a journalist for an entertainment magazine. It's been the best so far but little did I know that, thanks to my work, I'd step foot in Downton Abbey myself.
When my boss assigned me to interview the cast of "Downton Abbey: A New Era," the franchise's latest film—and probably their last!—I was elated. This was my ticket to finally seeing the iconic mansion in person, as well as the fantastic cast who I fell in love with through the small screen. To say that this was my best assignment ever is an understatement! I never would've gotten this job if not for the TV show! Now that I got to see the actual set in person and meet its stars, I was on cloud nine all the way!
As I expected, Highclere Castle, where the series and the films were set, is grander than in person. The exterior alone took my breath away! You can clearly feel its history and heritage at first glance. And when I spotted some of the cast members nearby, I was instantly filled with goosebumps!
Everyone was there—Michelle Dockery, Hugh Bonneville, Jim Carter, Elizabeth McGovern, and more! My mind immediately went back to the time that I was enjoying the show on my TV in my first studio apartment, fresh out of college. And standing there, seeing everyone in costume, practically drew me to tears.
Fortunately, the cast was extremely pleasant. I'm sure I couldn't hide my excitement as I interview them but they were so nice and polite about it. They could've easily humiliated me by showing their annoyance but they didn't! They were all smiles and answered all of my questions perfectly! I was particularly enamored by Michelle Dockery. She's so much like Mary Crawley that I could barely separate the two. I kid you not! I even bowed slightly when I met her. I'm sure she noticed it and I think I even heard a little giggle, but after that, she treated me with so much respect. What a true lady!
Before I went home as if to give me a reward, they gave me copies of the movie poster signed by many cast members. They apologized that they weren't able to get Dame Maggie Smith to sign but I said it was more than enough that they signed it! Never in a million years would I have imagined they'd give such a thing to a measly reporter but then I discovered that they made it somewhat of a tradition whenever someone visits on set. And of course, it's further publicity for the movie too!
So with lots of gratitude, I accepted the posters. I had one framed in the office and another in my apartment. The rest, however, I decided to share with the rest of the world. I hope many of my fellow "Downton Abbey" fans get their hands on these posters too!
Please note: Our inventory is limited as we may have only received a few posters in total. Most of our items are obtained from film premieres, studios, and from autographed hounds such as the one in the story above.
