Countess.

Anna Smith-Bates

Anna May Bates (née Smith) (b. 1886; played by Joanne Froggatt) is the head housemaid at Downton. Anna was the member of staff who helped Lady Mary and her mother Cora carry the corpse of Kemal Pamuk out of Lady Mary's bedroom. After a long and somewhat secretive courtship she married valet John Bates in 1919 in a secret ceremony at a registar's office. Shortly after their wedding night, Bates is arrested for murdering his previous wife, although Anna and the rest of the residents at Downton are convinced that he is innocent. When Bates is deemed guilty and is sentenced to be hanged, Anna breaks down and briefly prepares to leave Downton Abbey with Lady Mary, offering to accompany her mistress on an extended holiday to America. When she helps to reduce Bates's sentence to life imprisonment, she decides to stay at Downton, although she vows that she will not rest until Bates is free. Anna is promoted from head housemaid to Lady's Maid to Mary during Bates's incarceration. During the time apart from Bates, Anna refuses to fall into hopelessness or despair, though there is a brief period that this wavers, when letters and visits with her husband are stopped for a time. Her efforts to prove her husband's innocence become a success when Mrs. Bartlett, Vera's friend, inadvertently tells Anna details of their last meeting which proves that Vera committed suicide in order to have her husband convicted and hanged for the crime. Bates is freed, and the reunited married couple move into a cottage on the grounds shortly after.

Joanne Froggatt

Joanne Froggatt (born 21 August 1980) is an Emmy-nominated English actress of stage, television, and film, most notably appearing in Downton Abbey as Anna, the head housemaid. She earlier had a regular role in Coronation Street and has also appeared in many other television dramas including Bad Girls, dinnerladies, Nature Boy, Red Cap, A Touch of Frost, Other People's Children, The Street, Rebus, Island at War, and Life on Mars.

Previous threads: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

ScarletCourt

TFTNT!

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TFTNT Nadine, great start!

Also I updated the OP with links to the previous threads.

Countess.

Yes, I've thought about it, too. But I didn't want to do it without asking

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You can do it without asking, of course.

Funny interview with Sophie talking about Joanne.

Downton Abbey stars reveal that Joanne Froggatt is the worst behaved on set! | heatworld.com

carrie.suze

Joanne looking pretty in pink in Venice. Downton Abbey star Joanne Froggatt looks a vision in Venice in pretty blouse and skirt ensemble | Mail Online

Enora

Yes she's very pretty.
I love what she wears and especially the pink skirt.

carrie.suze

lovely thanks, she's one of my favourite actors in Downton.

Enora

Not my favourite actress but I really enjoy her scenes.
She does a great job on the show and looks cute on pics.

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Thanks for the pics girls! I love what she wore at Venice. That entire outfit is gorgeous, I especially love that pink skirt! Her husband is so handsome.

At the "Still Life" premiere in Venice. Another gorgeous dress.


Credit

Enora

Joanne is beautifull.
I love her red dress and it suits her very well.

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The one with the pink skirt is still my favourite. That's an entire outfit I would love to have now.

Enora

I prefer this outfit too: the skirt with the blouse. Perfect!

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She's also on the cover of Psychologies Mag Oct. 2013

Enora

Oh she's cute and I love her smile!