The woman we love to loathe: Why Maria Doyle Kennedy relishes her role as Downton Abbey's most evil character
She's the manipulative villain who returns to Downton Abbey to ruin the life of her husband John Bates.
But actress Maria Doyle Kennedy says she has no problem with playing the most hated woman on TV.
In a revealing interview, the 46-year-old explains exactly why playing evil Vera is so much fun.
Villain: Maria Doyle Kennedy, pictured here as her manipulative character Vera, loves playing Downton Abbey's most-hated woman
Talking to The Sun, the actress said: 'She’s such a terrible b**** — and b*****s are the best to play.'
Maria last graced our screens as Vera on Sunday, when she arrived at Downton to announce herself as the estranged wife of valet John Bates.
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Vera's heart of stone was immediately apparent, as she threatened to ruin her husband's employers unless he left Downton and his true love, Anna the house maid.
ISome drama in the mix: Maria's co-star Brendan Coyle, pictured, agrees that Vera is an exciting addition to the cast
Maria obviously relishes the drama of the role, as she divulged: 'I’ve got some awful things to say like: ‘Isn’t this tea lovely? And, by the way, I’m going to wreck your life completely.’
Naturally Maria is keen to distance herself from her character personally, and stressed that the two shouldn't get muddled up.
'I was filming and they said, "How do you feel now that you’re about to become the most hated woman in Britain?" she explained.
True love: Vera threatens to separate her estranged husband John (played by Brendan Coyle) from his sweetheart, housemaid Anna (Joanne Froggatt)
'I just think ‘You have to remember
Maria has previously starred in BBC series The Tudors alongside Jonathan Rhys Meyers
it’s not me — it’s Vera!"'
Maria's co-star Brendan Coyle, who plays her on-screen husband John Bates, agreed that the show is all the better for a character like Vera.
'While we’d love for Anna and Bates to be happy, it’s much more fun to play the drama,' he admitted.
Vera arrived on the Downton scene after discovering that her husband had come into an inheritance.
Shamelessly mercenary, Vera threatened to tell all about his employer Lady Mary's illicit affair with a Turkish diplomat unless he allies himself with her.
Maria, who has previously starred in hit BBC series The Tudors, is next due to appear in ITV's drama Titanic, written by Downton Abby creator Julian Fellowes.
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