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'Downton Abbey' creator's niece dishes about show, Julian Fellowes

From the plot lines to the inspirations behind some of the most beloved and controversial characters, the niece of "Downton Abbey" creator Julian Fellowes, Jessica Fellowes, has a unique perspective when it comes to the sixth and final season of the hit public television series.

Fellowes, an author herself, is scheduled to speak at 3 p.m. Sunday at the College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center in Glen Ellyn about all things "Abbey."

Her appearance is sponsored by the MAC in collaboration with the Daily Herald Author's Circle Book Club and the College Lecture Series. Tickets are $45 and details are available at www.atthemac.org/events/jessica-fellowes/.

Fellowes recently spent time with the Daily Herald in advance of her appearance, dishing about her up-close look.

Q. Can you talk about your relationship with your uncle, Julian Fellowes, and how it may have inspired your writing career? Are you two the only writers in your family or are there more?

A. Julian and I have always been close - he was a young uncle when I was born, and as he didn't get married until I was 16 years old. I was his surrogate kid - we'd go on holidays with friends of his and their families. So there was a lot of talking together, and we talked mostly about all the stories from our family - many of whom inspired characters in "Downton Abbey." My father, Julian's older brother, was an animator but has started writing in the last few years, too.

Julian Fellowes arrives at the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards in 2011. Associated press

Q. What are some favorite memories you have with him?

A. Julian and I used to go and stay with good friends in their holiday home in Mallorca - we had a lot of fun there. Julian always treated me like a grown-up, listening to what I had to say and allowing me to feel that we were discussing important things.

He is great at giving advice because he's such a good listener - that's where all those stories come from. ... But he's also huge fun.

One of my favorite memories is of him and my mother at a New Year's Eve party when I was about 10 years old, dancing out a history of music from the Middle Ages to the present day.

Q. How do you feel "Downton Abbey" has changed public television?

A. "Downton Abbey" has definitely changed period drama by giving it the pace of a modern series. As for public television, it seems to have created a wonderful knock-on effect in that they now show so many great dramas - "Mr. Selfridge," "Call The Midwife," "Sherlock" - which has brought even bigger audiences to the network.

I fully support the work that public television sets out to achieve and it's a good thing if "Downton" has given them the weight they needed to go further.

Q. How long ago did you know the sixth season would be the final season? What are you most surprised by?

A. There were whispers of it for a while, but I knew from when they started filming in January last year. But when they sent out the official news release, it hit me that it was real. I had a moment of feeling really quite sad - this huge thing, which has been such a massive part of my life for the last five years, was now over.

But at the same time, we're all excited about the new opportunities that the show has brought to us and exploring those is going to be great.

As for what I'm surprised by - after witnessing the phenomenon that is "Downton," all over the world, very little surprises me now!

This photo provided MASTERPIECE shows, from left, Laura Carmichael as Lady Edith Crawley, Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary Crawley, Jessica Brown-Findlay as Lady Sybil Crawley in "Downton Abbey." Associated press

Q. Characters are often inspired by those we encounter in real life. Are any of the Downton characters - Carson, Mrs. Hughes, Bates or Edith, for instance, based off people you or your uncle know?

A. Yes, quite a few. ... Violet is based on Julian's great-aunt, Isie Stephenson - he says they both share "the same mix of severity and kindness of heart." O'Brien was based on a lady's maid to Julian's grandfather who was famed in the family for being "as polite as a courtier with a black heart." Edith represents those upper-class young women whose lives were completely changed by the war - there simply weren't as many men around, and the women had to approach life differently now they couldn't get married. As a result, they paved the way for feminism - it might have taken a good deal longer otherwise.

Q. Do you feel you've had any impact on the writing of the show? Has your uncle sought advice from you for time to time? Can you talk a bit about how you collaborate with your work?

A. Impact and advice - none whatsoever! Julian was the sole scriptwriter for the show - there was no team.

But for the books - yes. I used to talk to him at length about the characters, the plot lines, and where they had come from. It was a really fantastic aspect of the work for me, that we had this excuse to meet for long lunches. We could get a good bit of gossip done at the same time!

Michelle Dockery, far left, Joanne Froggatt, third from left, Julian Fellowes, fourth from left, and Elizabeth McGovern, right, are seen backstage with the award for outstanding miniseries or movie for "Downton Abbey" at the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards in 2011. Associated press

Q. Can you give us a sneak peek into your upcoming talk at the McAninch Arts Center?

A. I'll be talking about the real-life inspirations behind the show - those stories from our family and social history that Julian looked to when creating the characters and plots. We'll have fun - it's a TV show, after all! Bring your questions and your laughter.

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