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Julian Ovenden

Born November 29, 1976 (Sagittarius)

The multi talented Julian Ovenden is both a singer and an actor. Ovenden was interested in a music career (opera) until he started studying more about stagecraft at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. He had a music scholarship at both Eton College and New College in Oxford. But Ovenden first came on the ladies’ radar when he appeared in a Diet Coke commercial in the UK. Julian Ovenden also has an increasing number of stints on American TV shows like Smash, Charmed, and The Assets.

Ovenden’s real life pedigree is worthy of Lady Mary’s hand in marriage, being the son of Queen Elizabeth II’s chaplain, attended the elite private boys’ school, Eton, and graduated from Oxford University. On Downton Abbey, Ovenden plays Charles Blake, a handsome and wily government man increasingly capable of keeping Lady Mary’s attention.

Downton Abbey costs an average of one million pounds per episode to produce.

As of 2013, Downton Abbey is the highest rated PBS "Masterpiece" drama series of all time, seen by an estimated 120 million viewers in 200 countries and regions.

Gillian Anderson reportedly turned down the part of Lady Cora Grantham.

The real estate that "plays" Downton Abbey, Highclere Castle, has been the home of the Carnarvon family since 1679. In 1922, George Herbert, the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, co-discovered the Tomb of the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun. On the show, the names of the Earl of Grantham's beloved dogs, Isis and Pharaoh, are nods to the real castle's connection to Egyptian history.

According to Julian Fellowes, the parts played by Hugh Bonneville, Brendan Coyle and Maggie Smith were written for the actors.

It was reported that Steven Waddington auditioned for the part of Bates.

When Downton Abbey first aired, Julian Fellowes (creator and producer) was annoyed at the media for pointing out anachronisms like TV aerials and the use of the word 'boyfriend'. (The word 'boyfriend appeared in print in 1889, long before the period setting of Downton). Fellowes said "they think to show how smart they are by picking holes in the program to promote their own poshness and to show that their knowledge is greater than your knowledge". In a later article coinciding with the start of the second season, Fellowes apologised and commented "I behaved rather badly by getting the hump."

Julian Ovenden

Downton Abbey Trivia

Hunks of Downton Abbey

Extras

Shirley Maclaine Interview