Q&A: Laura Carmichael, actor, 35

English actor Laura Carmichael on her Downton Abbey downtime in Australia, her creepy new thriller and her guilty TV pleasure.

Actor Laura Carmichael. Picture: supplied

At school in southeast England you were voted “most likely to be famous”. Why? I think because I was the most annoying [laughs], constantly trying to show off. From quite a young age I’d decided I wanted to be on stage, and so I was dancing, and singing, and doing all the plays I could...

After 52 episodes (2010-2015) and two Downton Abbey films, have we seen the last of Edith Crawley? I really don’t know; it feels like we’ve been doing our farewell tour for a while. It’s such a nice job and everyone is so great; it’s no hardship at all to get back together. But I know no one wants to keep boring people if they’re not into it. So if there is an appetite for it, and if it feels like there’s another story...

Did you get to keep any clothes? No! And there’s so much stuff that would be wonderful – really glam coats... But the costumes are on a world tour now.

You came to Australia to work last winter after a hiatus of more than two years – what had changed in that time? I’d become a mum and shot another Downton film, so I was getting used to working as a mother. And we were in Australia for a very quick month in the end. Everyone was very protective of the shoot [for season two of TV thriller The Secrets She Keeps], trying not to shut down production by getting Covid. But it was a special feeling, everyone trying their hardest to get through it, working towards one thing...

Why Australia? I’d visited with my partner and I left Sydney going, “My God, it’s so great, wouldn’t it be amazing to get back there?” It wasn’t long after that I read the script. So I do feel like I manifested the job. And I was definitely excited to do something so different.

It’s a big leap from Lady Edith to Agatha the creepy supermarket shelf-stacker. What did you relish about this role? I never really think of Agatha as creepy [laughs]. As an actor you have to play a game... in your mind it’s “OK, she’s just doing what would make sense”. She felt immediately exciting to play and she wasn’t just the baddie – she had a past that was interesting. You’re trying find the reality of how someone could [be pushed to a certain point] and I think Michael Rowbotham had done that so well in his novel.

How did becoming a mother inform your acting? It just heightens your emotions – I guess your empathy scale is affected. It probably felt more raw this time, having recently given birth to Luca.

So, from tiaras to Target – was the wardrobe a shock? I loved it! It’s great fun not having to think about what you look like. And you can get so much done in a day when you don’t have a three-hour hair and makeup change.

What’s your guilty TV pleasure? Oh my God, I only watch reality nonsense at the moment. I’m so bad. When we were shooting Downton, Michelle Dockery got me into Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. I’m so ashamed... no I’m not!

You’ve worked in theatre, film and TV – what’s next? I really don’t know – it’s quite exciting, and a bit scary. It’s been a busy time: the pandemic, having a baby, doing Downton, coming to Australia... It’s great to have some time for family at the moment. I’m reading things; I’ll get back to work when the right thing comes along.

Season 2 of The Secrets She Keeps premieres on Paramount+ on July 12