Downton Abbey star says role felt like a ‘straitjacket' at times
The actor said she found it challenging to portray Cora due to the "straitjacket" of the period, reflecting the limited agency women had at that time.
However, McGovern said that it would have been historically inaccurate to grant Cora more political or social power.
The popular period drama ran for six seasons and has produced two films, with a third, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, scheduled for release this September.
McGovern also commented that the presence of the late Dame Maggie Smith, who played Violet Crawley, still "permeates" the filming atmosphere.
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