11. Gillian Anderson: Lady Cora Crawley in Downton Abbey
It’s easy to imagine how the role would have been extremely different had Anderson been cast in the famous house.
Since the X-Files ended, Anderson has been quite busy acting in Europe, having received multiple award nominations for her role in Bleak House as well as starring in a new British TV adaptation of Great Expectations.
In addition to saying no to “Downtown Abbey”, she also turned down a role in “Game of Thrones” due to scheduling conflicts.
“Downton Abbey” is a British drama series that takes place in a sprawling mansion in the Yorkshire countryside. It follows the lives of the wealthy Crawley family and their small army of servants that reside within the mansion.
Binge Watch “Downton Abbey” – Click Here and Buy
The series has been incredibly successful and is one of the most watched TV shows in the world with an audience of around 120 million. It has received a staggering amount of awards including Golden Globes, Primetime Emmys, BAFTA Craft Awards and National Television Awards.
It has been almost universally acclaimed and launched many of the characters into stardom whilst reviving the careers of others.
