Dan Stevens confirms rumors that he is leaving “Downton Abbey”

Wed, 26 Dec 2012 17:00:00 +0000

Actor Dan Stevens, who rose to international fame for his role as Matthew Crawley in British period drama "Downton Abbey," has confirmed rumors that he will not be returning to the show's fourth season. Considering that the show's Season 3 Christmas special just aired in Britain, Stevens joked that “It is very strange to make it official especially since we are talking about it in the future perfect." He added, “I am not sure exactly what tense it is, but it is something very weird.” (Making it weirder still for Americans, as Season 3 premieres in the U.S. on Jan. 6.)

But in an exclusive interview with The Telegraph, Stevens admits that he made the decision before filming for the third season had even begun. “We were always optioned for three years,” he said. “And when that came up it was a very difficult decision. But it felt like a good time to take stock, to take a moment. From a personal point of view, I wanted a chance to do other things."

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Dan Stevens confirms rumors that he is leaving “Downton Abbey”