Findlay reveals friends' anguish after Downton death
Jessica Brown Findlay received an "onslaught" from devastated friends when her 'Downton Abbey' character died.
The 23-year-old actress played Lady Sybil in the period drama, and admits she wasn't ready to face the incoming grief from the loss of her character after she passed away during childbirth in the last series.
Speaking to HuffPostUK, Jessica said: "The day Sybil died I was flying out to film in New York. Normally when you land somewhere, you get a couple of messages, but I had an onslaught from people saying, 'You could have warned me.'
"Even my parents knew I was dying, but they didn't know how, so my mum was in bits. My dad had to tell her, 'You can call her on the phone.' "
Despite being part of the successful show, the brunette beauty was "desperate" to hang up her corset in favour of exploring other roles.
She said: "Julian [Fellowes, writer] did such an amazing job with Sybil that it was a really exciting way to go out. I had to keep very quiet about it. I was desperate to do more, to push myself creatively. I'd been off to do 'Black Mirror', 'Misfits' and 'Labyrinth' during a gap, and it was such a fruitful time, and I learned so much."
Jessica has had a busy schedule this year after leaving 'Downton Abbey', taking the lead role in 'Labyrinth' and now filming 'Winter's Tale' alongside Russell Crowe and Eva Marie Saint.
She said: "The director had never seen Downton, which was great, but Eva Marie Saint adores the show. She told me she was really excited to meet me, and I thought, 'That's ridiculous.' "
