- I don't know, actually.
I've really enjoyed portraying both.
I loved playing Anna Bates.
I've loved being with her for six years, but it was really fun to play Mary Ann.
(laughs) It was challenging.
It was challenging in a different way.
It was great to have that challenge of really trying to understand the psychology of somebody and the complexities of her, and a character that was just so polar opposite from Anna.
I guess that's what I enjoyed so much about it, because I love to do something different from the last thing I've just done.
So, for me this was sort of the perfect next role.
I was very fortunate that I had Brian Percival directing me on "Dark Angel," who is amazing.
He also set up "Downton."
So we had a shorthand and a very close relationship.
I was very keen for Brian to do it, when we both were texting each other saying, "Are you gonna do Dark Angel, are you gonna do Dark Angel?"
I said "Oh, I'm gonna do it, I'm gonna do it."
And I said "I'm doing it!
Please say you're doing it."
And he did so I was very pleased about that.
But I finished filming "Downton" and then two days later we started rehearsals for "Dark Angel."
We just had five days of rehearsals, which is more just chatting through the script, really, and just reading through the scenes, but it was really, really valuable to do that because her journey, her emotional journey is so complex.
- [Mary Ann] Died of scarlet fever by the will of God.
- You can't be angry with him, love.
- Who else do you suggest?
- I'm not sure Anna would have found the good in Mary Ann, because Anna's... She does always find the good in people but she's also quite strong-minded as well.
Anna has a very strong moral code.
Mary Ann's is practically non-exist... In fact, non-existent.
So, I don't think Anna would have thought very highly of Mary Ann Cotton, no.
(dramatic music)
