Marie Claire UK Marie Claire UK
  • Fashion Fashion
      • Fashion
        • View all Fashion
        • Fashion Trends
        • Shopping
        • Watches and Jewellery
        • Fashion News
  • Beauty Beauty
      • Beauty
        • View all Beauty
        • Fragrance
        • Hair
        • Make Up
        • Skincare
        • Nails
        • Marie Claire Beauty Awards
  • Health Health
      • Health
        • View all Health
        • Fitness
        • Nutrition
        • Female Health
        • Wellbeing
  • Life Life
      • Life
        • View all Life
        • Opinions
        • Travel
        • Sustainability
        • Weddings
        • Money & Work
        • Competitions
  • Culture Culture
      • Culture
        • View all Culture
        • TV and Film
        • Celebrity News
        • Books
        • Royal News
  • Vouchers Vouchers
      • Clothing
        • View all Vouchers
        • Mint Velvet
        • Karen Millen
        • H&M
        • nobody's child
        • ASOS
        • ARKET
        • MANGO
      • Designer Clothing
        • View all Vouchers
        • Reiss
        • THE OUTNET
        • SSENSE
        • Mytheresa
        • Liberty London
        • Selfridges
        • Farfetch
      • Accessories
        • View all Vouchers
        • AllSaints
        • Aspinal of London
        • Charles & Keith
        • River Island
        • FitFlop
        • Kate Spade
        • Vagabond
      • Jewellery
        • View all Vouchers
        • Pandora
        • Abbott Lyon
        • Goldsmiths
        • Beaverbrooks
        • Astrid & Miyu
        • Swarovski
        • Angara Jewellery
      • Beauty
        • View all Vouchers
        • Sephora
        • Cult Beauty
        • Space NK
        • Dyson
        • Clarins
        • Look Fantastic
        • Clinique
      • Activewear
        • View all Vouchers
        • Lululemon
        • Gymshark
        • Sweaty Betty
        • Nike
        • adidas
        • New Balance
        • Helly Hansen
  • NEWSLETTER Signup to our newsletter
  • logoCreated with Sketch.
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • Women in Sport 2026
    • Marie Claire Masters
    • Spring Summer 2026
    • Nail Trends 2026
    • Best Investment Bags
    • Best Perfumes
    • Digital Issues
    • Women Who Win
    1. Celebrity News

    Downton Abbey's New 'Playboy' Cast Member Revealed!

    Downton Abbey residents are in for a shock during season 4, if new reports are anything to go by…

    By Marie Claire
    Published 24 June 2013 In News

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    Downton Abbey series 4
    Downton Abbey series 4
    (Image credit: REX)
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    Downton Abbey residents are in for a shock during season 4, if new reports are anything to go by…

    Downton Abbey residents could be in for quite a shock during season 4 of the hit show. Bosses have revealed a brand new character is set to shake things up in the Grantham household, confirming a 'maverick playboy' is coming to town.

    And not just that. The character in question will be played by none other than one of Hollywood's hottest faces - actor, Paul Giamatti.

    PICTURES: DOWNTON ABBEY SEASON 4 BEHIND THE SCENES

    It's thought Giamatti will star as Harold, the 'free-spirited' brother of Cora, Uncle of Mary and Edith and son of Martha in the ITV series.

    You may like
    • We Finally Know What To Expect From Leighton Meester’s Character in Nobody Wants This One Surprising A-Lister Is Joining the Nobody Wants This Season Three Cast
    • The Fifth Avenue Hotel Inside New York’s Most Whimsical New Luxury Hideaway
    • The Duke and Duchess of Sussex in Colombia Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Had a Secret UK Home in the First Year of Their Marriage

    Confirming the Downton Abbey appointment, Carnival Films' managing director, Gareth Neame said: 'We're excited that Paul Giamatti will be joining us on Downton to play Cora's brother Harold, the rather free-spirited uncle to Mary and Edith.

    'We can't wait to see him work alongside Shirley Maclaine, who are both sure to upset the Grantham's apple cart in this year's Christmas Day episode.'

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    Giammati, who has starred in Tom Cruise's Rock Of Ages, and Robert Pattinson's Cosmopolis in recent years, joins new new cast members Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Tom Cullen, Julian Ovenden, Nigel Harman, Joanna David and Dame Harriet Walter.

    We. Can't. Wait.

    Paul Giamatti - Downton Abbey Cast Member - Downton Abbey Season 4

    Paul Giamatti - Downton Abbey Cast Member - Downton Abbey Season 4
    (Image credit: Rex Features)

    Earlier this year, P.Diddy had us in stitches, after filming a spoof trailer, and claiming to have joined the Downton Abbey cast.

    What to read next
    • Massimo Dutti Lyst This High Street Store Is Competing With Chanel, Miu Miu, Dior and Saint Laurent—According to the 2026 Lyst Index
    • Ella Bright Off Campus How Ella Bright’s Character in Off Campus Proves Boobs Don’t Have to Be the Main Focus—For Once
    • Zendaya Vintage T-shirt This Trending T-Shirt Style Comes Approved by Zendaya and Alexa Chung—And It's So Easy to Throw On With Anything

    Meanwhile, filming for series four of the show has been ongoing in the village of Bampton, in Oxfordshire.

    The Downton Abbey cast rock the red carpet in LA

    The Downton Abbey cast rock the red carpet in LA
    (Image credit: Rex)

    WATCH the Downton Abbey cast in action…

    Are you looking forward to season 4 of Downton Abbey? Or do you think the hit show has run its course? Let us know in the comments box below…

    Got a tablet? You can now download Marie Claire magazine straight to your iPad , Kindle (just search the store for 'marie claire magazine'), Nook or Google Nexus.

    PICTURES: DOWNTON ABBEY SEASON 4 BEHIND THE SCENES

    LATEST CELEBRITY NEWS

    Marie Claire
    Social Links Navigation

    The leading destination for fashion, beauty, shopping and finger-on-the-pulse views on the latest issues. Marie Claire's travel content helps you delight in discovering new destinations around the globe, offering a unique – and sometimes unchartered – travel experience. From new hotel openings to the destinations tipped to take over our travel calendars, this iconic name has it covered.

    Read more
    We Finally Know What To Expect From Leighton Meester’s Character in Nobody Wants This
    TV and Film One Surprising A-Lister Is Joining the Nobody Wants This Season Three Cast
    The Fifth Avenue Hotel
    Travel Inside New York’s Most Whimsical New Luxury Hideaway
     
     
    The Duke and Duchess of Sussex in Colombia
    Royal News Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Had a Secret UK Home in the First Year of Their Marriage
    Massimo Dutti Lyst
    Fashion This High Street Store Is Competing With Chanel, Miu Miu, Dior and Saint Laurent—According to the 2026 Lyst Index
     
     
    Latest in Celebrity News
    Olivia Rodrigo performing on stage in a babydoll dress that sparked online debate, later prompting the singer to speak out about the sexualisation of girlhood and double standards facing young women.
    Celebrity News “We Really Normalise Pedophilia in Our Culture”: What Olivia Rodrigo's Babydoll Dress Backlash Reveals About Girlhood
    Meghan Markle in 'With Love, Meghan'
    Celebrity News Meghan Markle’s Sweet Glimpse Into Sussex Family Life Is Going Viral
     
     
    Anne Hathaway attends the premiere of The Devil Wears Prada 2
    Celebrity News Anne Hathaway Has Spoken Out About Her 10-Year Health Battle
    The Prince and Princess of Wales visit the Isles of Mull and Iona
    Royal News Royal Experts Predict a Major Milestone From Princess Kate This Autumn
     
     
    Latest in News
    Kinda Chic Trend
    Shopping Is "Kinda Chic" Kinda Cringe? Everyone's Favourite Fashion Word Just Went Completely Out of Fashion
    Beauty Digest
    Beauty The Beauty Digest: The Foundation Using Exosome Technology, the Treatment That Transformed My Skin Texture—Plus, the Ever-Earlier Advent Calendar Race
     
     
    Kaia Gerber
    Shopping Everything Kaia Gerber Wears Is a Masterclass in Minimalism—These Are the Pieces and Brands She Always Goes Back to
    Copenhagen Fashion Week street style
    Shopping Kitten-Heel Sandals, Lace Dresses and the Season's New Favourite Shade of Blue— These are the Copenhagen Fashion Week Street Style Trends to Note
     
     
    logoCreated with Sketch.
    • Site Archive
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Terms and conditions
    • Advertise with us
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • About us
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire UK is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.