Edinburgh’s Fringe always throws up plenty of strange sights.
But few would have expected to see Downton Abbey’s Lady Cora dishing out flyers in the middle of the Royal Mile.
Actress Elizabeth McGovern reveals: “My daughter was performing in a show, so I was in Edinburgh for a couple of weeks and completely fell in love with everything about it.
“We were both on the streets handing out flyers along with everyone else.
“There were some people who recognised me from Downton Abbey, but I think they felt it was interesting to talk to Lady Cora.”
Elizabeth who won an Oscar nomination for her role in James Cagney’s final cinema release Ragtime in 1981 loved last year’s Fringe so much, she’s back this year with her own show. But it’s a million miles from her character in the ITV drama. In fact, the 52- year-old began a nine-night run with her band Sadie And The Hotheads yesterday.
They’ll be in the capital until August 25 but Elizabeth insists there’ll be no chance of bumping into the Earl of Grantham at her gigs. “The temptation after Downton Abbey was to capitalise on its success and use it for the band,” says Elizabeth, who also appeared with Scottish rockers Big Country on stage at last year’s Isle of Wight Festival.
She adds: “Some people may come along because of Downton Abbey, but they’ll be in for a shock.
“I can tell from looking into the audience which ones have bought a ticket to see Cora I think they’re expecting a string quartet but it’s quite different.
“By the end of the show they’re always smiling.”
Sadie And The Hotheads play Edinburgh’s New Town Theatre until August 25.
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