The actress told EW: “I imagine Mary will not be able to move on very quickly. It will be very difficult to replace the love of her life. The thing is that for the third [season] Mary was largely happy and content and they got the money to save Downton.”

Dockery added: “I find myself smiling more often as the character and my guess is that I will not being that smile again for awhile. I’m sure she won’t come out of mourning too quickly.”

Executive producer Gareth Neame previously teased: “…what we’ve been able to do is reset [Lady Mary]. She has to start again, and that will be much more interesting.”

The fourth series begins filming soon.

What are your hopes for Series 4? Let us know below…

> Order Series 4 on DVD on Amazon.

> Buy the complete Series 1-3 boxset on Amazon.

Watch the Series 3 trailer…