The New Guys of Downton Abbey

Downton Abbey is getting a testosterone boost this upcoming season. Several new male characters have been added to the cast as I’ve mentioned before. In the U.K., the actors are stars. On this side of the fence, not so much. So who are they? Here is your quick guide to the the new guys coming to Downton Abbey (and one not so new face.)

Tom Cullen

-Plays Lord Anthony Gillingham, Lady Mary’s childhood friend and love interest

Native Land: Aberystwyth, Wales, UK
Age: 28
Big Break: 2011 Film Weekend where he starred as a gay man who develops a deeper relationship with a one night affair. He nabbed a Most Promising Newcomer at the British Independent Film Awards, Best Actor award for the role.
Where You’ll See Him Next: The sci-fi flick Last Days on Mars with Liev Schrieber which comes out in December; Desert Dancer about Iranian dancer Afshin Ghaffarian who defied Iran’s national ban on dancing.

Julian Ovenden

- Plays Sir Charles Blake, Lady Mary’s other childhood pal and love interest.

Native Land: Sheffield, England, UK
Age: 36
Big Break: Singing at St. Paul’s Cathedral choir as a kid. His dad is the Queen's chaplain. He’s a professionally trained opera singer but has used his talents in musical theater. American fans may recognize him from the 2002 Masterpiece drama Foyle’s War. He played Andrew Foyle. He’s also appeared in the defunct tv show Smash and A Christmas Carol: The Musical movie.
Where You’ll See Him Next: A mysterious project with Seth McFarlane as per the below tweet. (Family Guy cameo maybe?)

Excited to be doing a little bit more work with @SethMacFarlane next month in LA. More to follow...

— Julian Ovenden (@JulianOvenden) September 7, 2013

Nigel Harman

- Plays the valet Mr. Green

Native Land: London, England, UK
Age: 40
Big Break: The BBC drama Tenko as a teen. Brits know him as the star of the soap The Eastenders. Pay attention to Lark Rise to Candleford, American fans. You’ll spot him as Sam Braby.
Where You’ll See Him Next: Head to London next year and you’ll see him playing Simon Cowell in I Can't Sing! The X Factor Musical, which opens in March 2014.

Gary Carr

- Plays the jazz singer Jack Ross

Native Land: London, England, UK
Age: 26
Big Break: National Theatre's production of Nation won rave reviews. He also starred on the fish out of water drama Death in Paradise which has aired on PBS. For BBC America fans, you might spot him on episodes of Law & Order: UK.
Where You’ll See Him Next: The film short Last Days

Not So New Guy

Charles Edwards -Plays Michael Gregson, newspaper editor and Lady Edith’s married flame

Native Land: Haslemere, Surrey, England, UK
Age: 44
Big Break: Appearing in the stage play Blithe Spirit in his 20s. He also can be seen in Batman Begins
Where You’ll See Him Next: He plays Patrick Jephson in the new Diana movie which stars Naomi Watts.