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'Downton Abbey' Star Joanne Froggatt To Star As Victorian Poisoner In Period Drama 'Dark Angel'

'Downton Abbey' Star Turns Evil For Another Period Drama
Caroline Frost

'Downton Abbey' star Joanne Froggatt will tap into her dark side for another period drama, starring in the extraordinary true story of Victorian poisoner Mary Ann Cotton.

The two-part drama will also star Alun Armstrong ('New Tricks'), Jonas Armstrong ('Edge of Tomorrow') and Laura Morgan ('Torchwood', 'Suspicions of Mr Whicher').

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Joanne Froggatt stars as poisoner Mary Ann Cotton in 'Dark Angel'

In the drama, which just started filming, we meet Mary Ann as a loving wife and mother, freshly returned to the North of England. But when she is faced with abject poverty and an ailing husband, we see her moved to extremes to get the better life she believes she deserves...

And so she becomes a serial killer, a poisoner whose methods leave no trace, except a tally of victims and no suspicion from Victorian society who believe they must be looking for a man - no woman would do such a thing...

This will be welcome news for fans of Joanne Froggatt, who took home a Golden Globe award earlier this year for her troubled role of Anna Bates in mega-hit 'Downton Abbey', which closes its doors for the final time after the forthcoming series.

As Anna, Joanne has had the chance for happiness on screen - finally marrying her love Mr Bates - but also trauma, with her character being subjected to a violent rape, and later a murder charge against her assailant. With 'Dark Angel', it doesn't look as though things will be quietening down.

'Downton Abbey' returns in the autumn.

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RICHMOND, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: Lily James attends as BAFTA celebrate 'Downton Abbey' at Richmond Theatre on August 11, 2015 in Richmond, England. (Photo by Danny Martindale/WireImage) (credit:Danny Martindale via Getty Images)
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RICHMOND, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: Lily James attends as BAFTA celebrate 'Downton Abbey' at Richmond Theatre on August 11, 2015 in Richmond, England. (Photo by Danny Martindale/WireImage) (credit:Danny Martindale via Getty Images)
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RICHMOND, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: Dan Stevens attends as BAFTA celebrate 'Downton Abbey' at Richmond Theatre on August 11, 2015 in Richmond, England. (Photo by Danny Martindale/WireImage) (credit:Danny Martindale via Getty Images)
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RICHMOND, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: Jim Carter attends as BAFTA celebrate 'Downton Abbey' at Richmond Theatre on August 11, 2015 in Richmond, England. (Photo by Danny Martindale/WireImage) (credit:Danny Martindale via Getty Images)
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Laura Carmichael and Michelle Dockery arrive at the BAFTA Downton Abbey Celebration at the Richmond Theatre - London (credit:David Jensen/EMPICS Entertainment)
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Brendan Coyle and Joy Harrison arrive at the BAFTA Downton Abbey Celebration at the Richmond Theatre - London (credit:David Jensen/EMPICS Entertainment)
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Brendan Coyle and Joy Harrison arrive at the BAFTA Downton Abbey Celebration at the Richmond Theatre - London (credit:David Jensen/EMPICS Entertainment)
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Dame Maggie Smith arrives at the BAFTA Downton Abbey Celebration at the Richmond Theatre - London (credit:David Jensen/EMPICS Entertainment)
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