Joanne Froggatt has accomplished so much since "Downton Abbey" wrapped.
Of all the roles she’s played, which project has her starring alongside an
actor returning to TV screens for the first time in over a decade? Keep watching to find out!
Joanne Froggatt took off her maid's apron for her first post-"Downton Abbey" role.
In fact, a costume wasn't required at all for her to voice Wendy in "Bob the Builder,"
which she did from 2015 to 2018. Aside from a 2014 episode of "Doc McStuffins,"
this was her first professional role in animation, and she was excited to take
on the part. She told the Mirror that she was drawn to the character, saying
"Wendy is a strong and positive female role model."
"Right team. Muck will stay and help Bob tie to the yard, and I'll come with the
rest of you to get the football pitch ready for tonight's big match! Ready?"
Surprisingly, Froggatt found even more fame from "Bob the Builder" than she did
from "Downton Abbey." She told The Guardian that people recognize her
voice in the oddest places, like in Prague when she went for surgery.
She's even been spotted as the voice of Wendy as far away as Australia,
where she recalled a young boy approaching her after hearing how familiar she sounded.
Joanne Froggatt has appeared in both film and television roles since "Downton Abbey" wrapped,
but you might not have heard of some of the independent flicks she's done.
Movies like 2016's "A Street Cat Named Bob," 2017's "A Crooked Somebody," 2018's "One Last
Thing," and "Starfish" from 2019 may only ring a bell for the most dedicated of film aficionados.
But starring in the flicks broadened Froggatt's horizons after spending most of her
career on television. They also offered her the opportunity to play a wide variety of characters,
from a drug counselor in "A Street Cat Named Bob" to a woman supporting her husband
through a sepsis diagnosis in "Starfish." She got to be a dental hygienist in "One Last Thing"
and the partner of a traveling psychic in "A Crooked Somebody."
As for just how different all of those characters were from Anna of "Downton Abbey,"
that was just what Froggatt was going for. She once told The Sunday Times,
"I loved ‘Downton,’ but I didn't want to play another nice maid. I get bored easily."
It's almost hard to picture that on "Downton Abbey," Anna was accused of murder,
since the sweet-natured character seems like she wouldn't hurt a fly.
On the other hand, Joanne Froggatt is quite a versatile actress who can just
as convincingly play someone who would commit not just one murder, but several.
Enter her role as real-life serial killer Mary Ann Cotton in the 2016 mini-series "Dark Angel."
While still a period piece — one that takes place in the 19th century — the character of Mary Ann is
quite different from Anna. Froggatt commented on the contrast on British Heritage, saying,
"[I'd like to] play a murderer or something completely different [after finishing ‘Downton.’]"
Cotton is believed to have killed at least 21 people.
If true, this would make her the most lethal female serial killer in the U.K.
Even so, it should be noted that she was only convicted of one murder,
which is what led to her execution. Of her "Dark Angel" character, Froggatt told Show Patrol,
"I can't say I like this person because I don't. But I am fascinated by her."
"Downton Abbey" fans will no doubt remember Anna's heartbreaking fertility struggles on the show
and how excited she was to become a mother. The loving mom she played in the series
serves as a sharp contrast to her role of a wicked stepmother in the biopic "Mary Shelley,"
which centers on the "Frankenstein" author's relationship with poet Percy Bysshe Shelley.
Froggatt starred opposite Elle Fanning in the film, playing what she referred to as
a "horrible stepmother" in an interview with The Irish News.
While Mrs. Shelley was less than pleasant, Froggatt had a blast on set.
"I had such a lovely time on that job. It was such a talented cast and I just
loved all of them, they were brilliant and such fun to be around."
Fans who weren't content with seeing Joanne Froggatt star in the many projects she landed
after "Downton Abbey" were given a treat when she reprised the role of Anna. That’s right!
Fans of the series rejoiced with the release of a film that continues the story of the Crawley
family and their servants. The film came out in 2019 and saw the return of most of the main cast.
Froggatt couldn't have been happier to reunite with her castmates after several years apart,
telling The Telegraph,
"it was like a lovely school reunion."
During a panel for Variety, she revealed that getting back into her lady's maid costume was,
quote, "very surreal," but that she quickly readjusted to the character.
"It's just joyous to be able to go back and have a reunion and
relive this special time of my life and all our lives."
While revisiting the world of "Downton Abbey" was a thrill for Froggatt,
she admitted to Collider that she didn't think the movie would become as beloved as it did.
"We hoped that people would want to see it, and we hoped it would get an audience at the cinema,
but none of us dreamed it would be as popular at the cinema as it was."
In 2019, Joanne Froggatt tried her hand at a dystopian thriller,
playing Eadie Boulay on the show, "The Commons." Set in a not-so-distant future,
"The Commons" explores a world ravaged by climate change where in vitro fertilization treatments
become astronomically expensive whenever a prospective parent hits their late 30s. For Eadie,
the clock is ticking as she desperately tries to conceive before reaching the cutoff age.
Froggatt was drawn to the script,
telling Mamamia that she was moved by Eadie's fertility struggle. She added,
"She’s having a really traumatic time trying to have a baby,
which is something that happens to so many women and couples."
Although it’s a fictional story, it covers a relatable subject for many viewers,
and Froggatt was excited to bring it and all of its complexities to the screen.
"There's an epic nature to this story,
but it's also about Eadie thinking about the type of world she's going to bring her child
into [...] It's not a subject matter that we ever talk about very much."
Joanne Froggatt may make acting look easy, but she puts a lot of work into her roles.
That's especially true of "Liar," in which she plays Laura — a woman who
accuses her date of sexual assault. The 2017 series explores the investigation
and whether she is telling the truth. Froggatt told Elle,
"As a woman it was very interesting [...] The questions that are thrown up feel socially and
emotionally important: how easy or difficult it is to find out the truth of any situation,
and how easy it is for things to be misconstrued."
The show was renewed for a second season, which premiered in 2020.
Froggatt told BT that she received much positive feedback for her portrayal of Laura, saying,
"It was probably one of the biggest reactions to anything I've done,
emotionally […] I was very pleased with that."
With that said, Froggatt explained that portraying Laura wasn't exactly a walk in the park.
She cited her research into assault and the flaws in the legal system,
such as how only a small percentage of reported rapes ever make it to trial. While the show may
be fictional, Froggatt was very aware of, quote, "all of those real things surrounding" assault.
One of Joanne Froggatt's more surprising roles following her time on "Downton Abbey" is that of
Police Sergeant Jackie O'Hara on "The Harrowing". Not only is a supernatural thriller a stark
departure from the world of "Downton," but it is also a story told in a relatively new format:
a podcast. Per Apple Podcasts, the show takes place on a remote Scottish island where
"a barbaric crime sets off a chain of events which heralds the rise of an ancient evil
and threatens to change the course of history."
The spooky story unfolds throughout eight episodes and also features "Bridgerton"
star Regé-Jean Page. When speaking to Deadline about the role, Froggatt said:
"It was an absolute pleasure to work on this dark, supernatural thriller.
The pull between good and evil, and heaven and hell sets the tone for this incredible story."
The titular role in "Angela Black" was yet another chance for Joanne Froggatt to break
out of her "Downton Abbey" shell. Reading the script, she found herself intrigued by the
psychological thriller. As Deadline explains, the show focuses on a woman whose, quote,
"seemingly perfect life" is anything but, as she lives with an abusive husband.
In an interview with British Period Dramas,
Froggatt said she believes it’s important to tell Angela's story and for the media to
explore "sensitive subject matters," such as domestic abuse. She explained,
"I feel passionate about that because I feel that drama and entertainment can be
a window into a subject matter for an audience [where it] may never have been on their radar."
Froggatt expressed a similar sentiment to Express, telling the outlet that
she believes "Angela Black,” quote, "opens up conversations" about a difficult topic to discuss.
Outside of the role, she is an outspoken advocate for ending violence against women,
telling The Guardian that she believes the key is to spread awareness. She added,
"My male friends have started seriously thinking about how
women can feel vulnerable and making the streets safer."
Since "Downton Abbey" wrapped, Joanne Froggatt has had a lot on her plate. She's had pretty much her
pick of roles thanks to her growing popularity. The actress also reached the milestone age of 40.
Hitting her 40th birthday in 2020 made her feel, quote, "empowered," as she told The
Guardian. Froggatt explained that she feels she gets better with age saying,
"I know my mind and feel the most comfortable in my own skin I ever have."
While the acting industry can often seem obsessed with youth,
Froggatt added that this isn't necessarily the case anymore and that "times are changing."
In her interview with The Guardian, she mentioned,
"Age is something to be embraced. The older you get, the better an actor you are"
In an interview with the Independent, Froggatt opened up further about turning 40,
saying she doesn't understand why the age is so often viewed negatively. She added,
"It's like as women, we still have to be reduced to whether
we're attractive to other human beings or not."
The unexpected success of the 2019 "Downton Abbey" film had fans begging for another
one. Joanne Froggatt told Collider in 2020 that, while she wasn't sure how filming another movie
would work "logistically," she was definitely willing to wear Anna's apron once again, adding,
"We'll have to just wait and see, but it would be lovely to do a second one."
Moreover, the actress has hinted that she'd be happy to portray Anna for years to come,
telling Harper's Bazaar,
"I think this story can be never ending when you've got that many different characters,
personalities, relationships — whether they be romantic or friendships or feuds."
Fortunately for fans, they got their wish. Another film, with Froggatt reprising her role yet again,
was announced the next year. Originally slated for a Christmas 2021 release,
the second "Downton" film – just one of many movie sequels in the works — was pushed to March 2022.
In September 2021, it was announced that Joanne Froggatt would join the cast of "Last
Light" — a mini-series based on the novel of the same name. According to Deadline,
the show will consist of five episodes and center on a family living in a post-apocalyptic world.
Froggatt is set to portray family matriarch Elena Neilson — a dedicated mother who quits her job to
spearhead fundraising efforts to research an eye condition that her son, Sam, has been diagnosed
with. Elena is also struggling in her marriage to the point where it’s about to collapse.
"Last Light" marks the television return of "Lost" star Matthew Fox, who focused on film
projects after the series wrapped in 2010. Fox is set to play the husband of Froggatt's character,
making for quite the star-studded cast. The show is slated for a 2022 release.
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