Smallscreen News

Siobhan Finneran to leave Downton, Shirley MacLaine to return, casting news

By April Neale Mar 4, 2013, 13:49 GMT

It was announced that actress Siobhan Finneran, who plays the always watching Sarah O\'Brien in the wildly popular historic drama, will not return for the fourth season of the show.

Bangs haters everywhere rojoice, and fans of the villainous lady's maid 'O'Brien' will weep as the actress is reportedly leaving the worldwide hit, "Downton Abbey."

It was announced that actress Siobhan Finneran, who plays the always watching Sarah O'Brien in the wildly popular historic drama, will not return for the fourth season of the show.

Shirley MacLaine will reprise her role as Martha Levinson, Lord Robert Crawley's blunt American mother-in-law.

The fourth season of Downton Abbey is currently in production.

The death count for season three was high. At the end of season 3,  Dan Stevens' character Matthew Crawley died in a tragic car accident just moments after his first son was born. The actor was staring at the sky filled with happiness and hjoy, not seeing the truck that smashed him to smithereens. Stevens had to go because of a role. He's cast in the WikiLeaks drama "The Fifth Estate." This was on the heels of lady Sybil' death, who died in childbirth.

O'Brien's departure will leave a mark, The despicable, schemer made everyone on edge with her clever words used to turn servants against each other.

Along with Shirley MacLaine back as Martha Levinson, newcomers include Tom Cullen and British character actors Nigel Harman, Harriet Walters, Kiri Te Kanawa, Joanna David and Julian Ovenden.