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Makers of Downton Abbey plan to make prequel series focusing on young Lady Violet's racy love life - but who will play her?
Downton Abbey producers are hoping to capitalise on the popularity of Lady Violet Crawley (played by Dame Maggie Smith, 89) with a prequel series focusing on her racy love life.
Dame Maggie Smith, 89, has played Lady Violet Crawley until now, but work is set to begin on a series based on the Edwardian matriarch's younger years. Top contenders for the role are likely to be Viola Prettejohn, the 21-year-old actress who played the young Princess Elizabeth in The Crown, Emily Carey, 21, from House Of The Dragon, and Ella Purnell, 27, who has previously appeared in Julian Fellowes' Belgravia series. Downton Abbey producers are hoping to capitalise on the Dowager Countess of Grantham's popularity with a prequel series focusing on her racy love life.
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