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'Downton Abbey' adds first real character in season 4

By KRISTEN BUTLER, UPI.com
New Zealand soprano Dame Kiri Te Kanawa performs. (File/UPI/Rune Hellestad)
1 of 3 | New Zealand soprano Dame Kiri Te Kanawa performs. (File/UPI/Rune Hellestad) | License Photo

New Zealand-born opera singer Dame Kiri Te Kanawa will appear in season four of "Downton Abbey" as the show's first real character -- opera singer Dame Nellie Melba.

Her cameo as one of the most famous voices of the Victorian era is set during a house party hosted by the Earl of Grantham.

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The renowned soprano will perform Giacomo Puccini's "O Mio Babbino Caro" and Antonin Dvorak's "Songs My Mother Taught Me." At a launch event for the show's upcoming season, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa gave a special performance before a cast and crew press conference.

In addition to a visit from a famous opera star, "Downton Abbey" will introduce another singing cast regular; Gary Carr will play Jack Ross a jazz singer from Chicago.

After a shocking season three finale that drew record ratings of more than 8 million viewers for PBS, new characters and storylines will emerge around Lady Mary, played by Michelle Dockery, and Tom Branson played by Allen Leech.

Both have been widowed and left with young children, and neither Branson nor Lady Mary will have any shortage of love interests.

Paul Giamatti will also join this season as Harold, the brother of Cora, played by Elizabeth McGovern. Other additions include Tom Cullen, Nigel Harman, Dame Harriet Walter, Joanna David, Julian Ovenden.

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"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," said executive producer Gareth Neame. "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 finale."

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