What does “Downton Abbey” think about Brexit, the upcoming vote in the United Kingdom over whether to leave the European Union?
Turns out the period drama phenomenon is divided just like the Britain in which it was set. (Yes, we know it was a fictional show…)
Dan Stevens, who rose to fame playing heartthrob Matthew Crawley in the hit period drama, wants to stay in the EU.
He told Heat Street at the premiere of his new film “The Ticket” at the Tribeca Film Festival that “millions of lives [are] at risk”, if British people vote to leave as many prominent political figures have proposed we should do.
“I think the whole thing is a really shameful chest-beating display on the part of those competing to be the next leader of the Conservative Party,” declared Stevens who now lives in New York.
“I don’t think the interests of the British people are at the heart of the argument. It’s going to be just another television event that will put millions of lives at risk and some politicians somewhere will benefit. It’s pretty shameful.”
Was Stevens thinking of London Mayor Boris Johnson who is Brexit’s highest-profile supporter? “Whoever ends up as the next leader. It will be one of those characters.”
But just as the sinking of the Titanic and the outbreak of the First World War provoked lively differences of opinion in “Downton Abbey”, so too does Brexit.
Stevens’ erstwhile boss “Downton Abbey” creator and writer Julian Fellowes has just come out as supporting cutting ties with the European Union.”I believe we should be out,” he said. “It’s about philosophy… it’s about democracy versus autocracy.”
He added: “It’s like a family argument. It’s like when sisters say they will never speak to one another again but come Christmas they will still be opening their presents together.”
It will be highly unlikely that Stevens, who left the show at the end of 2012, will return to the family fold by appearing in the “Downton Abbey” movie that has reputedly been in development ever since the sixth and final season ended on PBS in March.
The EU seems to be on Stevens’ mind. He said of his new film “The Ticket”, in which he plays a blind man who recovers his sight alongside “Billions” actress Malin Akerman: “It’s an American tale told in a real European style. The pace, depth and vision were all new to me and the director [Ido Fluk]. He challenged me to go to places I had never been before.”
Unlike Julian Fellowes, those places were presumably not out of the European Union.
