Lady Mary intrigues gay playwright Noel Coward in exclusive 'Downton Abbey' clip
Audiences have seen the Crawley family of Downton Abbey through the sinking of the Titanic, through WWI, marriage, death, relatively hard times, the roaring 20s, and plenty of high-brow barbs. Now, after 5 seasons, three movies (including the upcoming one), and 15 years in real time, the Crawleys will take their final bow with Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale.In this last chapter, Thomas (Rob James-Collier), the Crawley familys gay footman turned butler, who departed Downton in Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022), to follow a dashing American actor and love interest, Guy Dexter (Dominic West), rubs elbows with the glitterati of Londons West End, including playwright Noel Coward. Throughout Julian Fellowes's Downton Abbey, from its beginnings in 1912 through to the 1930s in the final film, Michelle Dockerys Lady Mary has pushed the boundaries of a womans place in society. She became the manager of the estate, engaged in dalliances outside of marriage, and supported Thomas as he came to terms with his gay identity. In The Grand Finale, she's the subject of tabloid journalism and an outsider due to her divorce from adventurer Henry Talbot (Matthew Goode).Out has the exclusive clip of Lady Mary sipping her martini while taunting Coward (Arty Froushan) with the details of her failed marriage.We fought like cats. He wanted to be kingpin, but I was the heiress, and he was just the husband. He hated that, Mary tells Coward when he unceremoniously asks about the divorce.How intriguing, Coward replies as the wheels appear to turn in his mind. Mary has already questioned his curiosity about her private life as research for his next play. The gay playwright of plays including Blithe Spirit, Private Lives, and Design for Living, Cowards biting wit and scandalous subject matter led him to become the toast of the West End in the 20s and 30s.Watch the exclusive clip of Lady Mary, Noel Coward, and Guy Dexter above. Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is in theaters Sept. 12.