She has a surprisingly short acting career overall, and Laura Carmichael has spent most of it on TV as our favorite luckless-but-incredibly-wealthy middle daughter. And her most well-known role is returning this month, so let’s look at what she’s done in historical costume.
Sal in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)
Early 1970s, so past our time period, but I’m stretching because it’s her first screen credit!
Henriette in Madame Bovary (2014)
She’s the lady’s maid in the most recent, meh adaption of the meh French novel.
Lady Edith Crawley in Downton Abbey (2010-2015)
She starts out as the loser middle daughter. #pooredith
And she ends up running a newspaper, having an illegitimate daughter, marrying a marquess, and living in a castle! #winning
Muriel Williams in A United Kingdom (2016)
Based on a true story occurring in post-WWII Britain, Carmichael plays the female protagonist’s sister.
Daphne in Man in an Orange Shirt (2017)
Laura Carmichael plays a small role in this miniseries that begins after WWII.
Maggie Pole in The Spanish Princess (2019)
All I can say is I hope she got paid A LOT for this travesty.
Lady Edith Pelham, Marchioness of Hexham, in Downton Abbey (2019)
Bringing the fam back to the Abbey.
Now she’s the highest titled lady!
Are you hoping Laura Carmichael does more historical costume movie and TV roles?
Lady Edith Marchioness of Hexham is my favourite.
I think you mean early Edith was the “loser middle daughter.”
Heh. Well she did get pregnant out of wedlock!
as iconoclast and rebellious-ish as she became I for one shall never deign to forgive her for ratting out Mary with the dead hot Turkish ambassador, even if that aquamarine art deco gown is utterly divine.
Lady Edith/Lady Hexham is my fashion idol when she hits the 20s. As a sister ginger, everything she wears would look great on me, too. That last image (green, heavily beaded) rocks my world.
I saw the Downton Abbey exhibition in Boston and it was interesting seeing the costumes in person. One thing I always thought was that the costume designers took pity on Lady Edith and put her in the best clothes – she looks so great in 1920’s clothing. The costumes were stunning in person.
Can’t wait for the film!! She had GREAT clothes in DA! I hope to see her in more roles. Honestly, I hope she does more contemporary work, too, because I think she could easily be pigeon-holed into period British dramas because of her looks. I’d like to see her break out of that mold!
Her working wardrobe at the newspaper was simply astounding.