How much is Phyllis Logan like her character Mrs. Hughes from "Downton Abbey"? Was she actually
married to one of her co-stars? And what has she been up to since? Keep watching to find out!
"Downton Abbey" ran for six successful seasons, and it also inspired two spinoff movies. Fans
worldwide have swooned over the period piece's depiction of life both upstairs and downstairs
in a British castle at the start of the 20th century.
One of the most popular characters was the no-nonsense head housekeeper Mrs. Hughes.
But what does the actor who plays Mrs. Hughes actually look like in real life?
The character captured fans' hearts due to her stoic nature,
tender heart, and commitment to getting the job done right. She didn't exactly rule with
an iron fist, but Hughes knew what needed to be done and took no nonsense from her underlings.
Moreover, her sweet love affair with the equally stoic Mr. Carson
further endeared the housekeeper to everybody watching at home.
Offscreen, however, actor Phyllis Logan is
worlds away from the buttoned-up housekeeper. Far from having a relationship with Mr. Carson,
she's actually married to a totally different "Downton Abbey" actor!
Yes, in real life, Logan is happily married to fellow actor Kevin McNally,
who portrayed Horace Bryant in three episodes of "Downton Abbey."
Fans of the show will remember him as the grandfather of Ethel's baby Charlie.
Logan and McNally met all the way back in 1994 while working on the miniseries
"Love and Reason" but didn't get married until 2011. They keep their relationship mostly private,
but in a 2017 interview with The Guardian, Logan confirmed that they, quote, "make sure [they]
speak to each other every day," regardless of how busy their work schedules might be.
The "Downton Abbey" star was initially hesitant about dating a fellow actor,
but she admitted that, quote, "you can't legislate for love."
The happy couple share a son, David, and they live in Chiswick, England.
Like everyone else in the world, Logan and her family have had their share of struggles
during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns. But she told Town & Country that she's glad
her work on "Downton Abbey" helps give fans some comfort during these difficult times.
"It is a bit of escapism, and there's nothing wrong with that in this particular moment in time,
when it's all a bit too real and all a bit oppressive. ["Downton Abbey"] offers an escape
into another world, a world which is kinder in many respects, and one that looks more beautiful."
"I loved it, and, you know, and I'm-I’m proud of it, and I thought it was terrific."
Despite the huge success of the show, though,
Logan told The Mirror that she's in no hurry to pursue a career in Hollywood.
"Downton's success did take us all by surprise and especially the love of it in the States.
They are mad for it! But it's pointless me rocking up to LA now and saying 'OK I am here!'"
Logan reasoned that her younger colleagues might be eager to move,
but she doesn't feel the need because, as she explained,
"There are so many roles now on offer for my age group in the UK."
In fact, after "Downton," Logan appeared in shows like
"Good Karma Hospital" and "Guilt," confirming that she's still in high demand. She said,
"People like Maggie Smith and Judi Dench,
in their 80s, have shown they are still vibrant and getting plaudits."
Logan's heart will always be in Downton, though,
with the actor sharing that the ensemble cast had a good time making the film sequel
"Downton Abbey: A New Era." But despite all her success, she still remains grounded. She said,
"I am 'Phyllis who goes to the butchers.' People in my area in London know me mainly
as I have lived there 25 years. I don't read much about what people say and certainly don't think
people think of me as a 'national treasure'. Maybe Mrs. Hughes and that's fine by me!"
Given the success of "Downton Abbey" around the world, both
Logan and Mrs. Hughes are more like international treasures.
And like everyone else around the world, we can't wait to see what both of them do next!
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