Joanne Froggatt prefers 'later' Downton fame

Joanne Froggatt has confessed she is enjoying fame much more the second time around with Downton Abbey than she did with Coronation Street.

The actress - who plays head maid Anna in the hit ITV period drama - told Metro her fame was much easier to deal with than it had been when she played troubled teen mum Zoe Tattersall in Corrie, aged just 17.

Joanne, 33, said: "I just wasn't ready for being recognised everywhere I went. Coronation Street was my first job, Zoe was a controversial character and I wasn't used to everyone looking at me.

"It happened wherever I went in Manchester. It was a scary experience. I found it quite disturbing at that age. But I'm glad I went through it because now with Downton I can really enjoy it."

Although Downton is popular in the US, Joanne promised she wouldn't be relocating to Hollywood any time soon.

She said she didn't feel any temptation to move: "I've got an agent in LA but no, not really. I'm still finding new things in Anna, I still feel there's a lot of her story to tell.

"Last time around I was doing my Miss Marple thing with all the scenes in jail with Mr Bates. She's a very strong-minded character, she's very forthright in the way she does things. But I don't feel yet that Anna has been explored to the extremes."

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With over 20 years’ experience writing about TV and film, Vicky currently writes features for What’s on TV, TV Times, TV & Satellite Week magazines plus news and watching guides for WhatToWatch.com, a job which involves chatting to a whole host of famous faces. Our Vicky LOVES light entertainment, with Strictly Come Dancing, Britain’s Got Talent and The Voice UK among her fave shows. Basically, if it’s got a shiny floor, she’s all over it! When she’s not watching TV, you might find Vicky in therapy… retail therapy that is!