Downton Creator: Known as “Evelyn”
I must confess that I really don’t give a fig about Julian Fellowes, the creator of “Downton Abbey,” entering a second season in Britain but not here until January. I’d rather read about the series’ scene stealer Maggie Smith, wouldn’t you? Alex Witchel apparently doesn’t agree. She profiles Fellowes for this Sunday’s New York Times magazine. To middling avail, methinks. Fellowes’ day-to-day existence does resemble a modern-day “Downton” in certain respects. Fellowes lives on an estate, with a name (Stafford House), and his home boasts two wings, one built in 1633, the other in 1840; he’s titled nobility — the Baron Fellowes of West Stafford, or Lord Fellowes — but, like the Downstairs-friendly Earl Grantham, he encourages informality among his staff (they call him Julian); and, most delightfully, he has an exacting mother-in-law who insists on calling him Evelyn. Of course. What else do you expect of a Tory?
