Shirley MacLaine to join Downton Abbey’s cast

Washington -  Shirley MacLaine is joining the cast of Britain’s popular television series ‘Downton Abbey,’ when they start filming next month.

The Oscar-winning actress will be playing the mother of Lady Grantham, portrayed by Elizabeth McGovern, in the third season of the hit period drama, which took Golden Globe and Emmy  prizes for best miniseries or TV movie, Fox News reported.

Gareth Neame of Carnival Films, which produces the show, said on Monday that MacLaine’s character would be a “wonderful combatant” for Maggie Smith’s Dowager Countess.

The series have acquired large numbers of fans in Britain, the U.S. and elsewhere.