# Could this Downton Abbey actress have been several months postpartum when this was filmed? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 21, 2013, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122 "2013-07-21T17:14:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122/201 "2013-10-15T12:40:26Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > Baroness Munchausen by Preggy Syndrome Downton Abbey Normal ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122/202 "2013-10-15T12:43:11Z")
So to recap, Claire believes that the actress who plays Daisy on Downton Abbey has been pregnant since no later than October 2008, as evidenced by various shadows, hints of a belly, and the fact that she has been photographed holding a doll. I took AP Biology in high school, but that seems like a pretty airtight argument. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122/203 "2013-10-15T13:00:42Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > So to recap, Claire believes that the actress who plays Daisy on Downton Abbey has been pregnant since no later than October 2008, as evidenced by various shadows, hints of a belly, and the fact that she has been photographed holding a doll. > > I took AP Biology in high school, but that seems like a pretty airtight argument. I believe you are misrepresenting Claire’s observations. As the thread title indicates, she believes the actress had a child already, and presumably has been turning out other hidden children with the regularity of a brood mare. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122/204 "2013-10-15T13:03:28Z")
And getting Twitter to delete any evidence. ---
**Author:** ![Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4bbf92/32.png) [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122/205 "2013-10-15T13:16:13Z")
Okay, but seriously you guys… do you think one or more of [these actresses](https://www.google.com/search?q=pregnant+actresses+2013&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=Tz5dUvSyLoydkQfRuIDgAw&ved=0CDYQsAQ&biw=1680&bih=895#imgdii=_) could be pregnant? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122/206 "2013-10-15T13:28:07Z")
> [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Okay, but seriously you guys… do you think one or more of [these actresses](https://www.google.com/search?q=pregnant+actresses+2013&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=Tz5dUvSyLoydkQfRuIDgAw&ved=0CDYQsAQ&biw=1680&bih=895#imgdii=_) could be pregnant? That’s crazy talk. [Except this one](http://www.google.com/imgres?sa=X&biw=1680&bih=895&tbm=isch&tbnid=v-_H28pZYYXS6M:&imgrefurl=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/expecting-jamie-lynn-sigler-cutter-dykstra-baby-rep-confirms-article-1.1261969&docid=2ffq-Mcr0sMn5M&imgurl=http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1261967!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/jamie13f-2-web.jpg&w=635&h=484&ei=cEJdUtzVC7GA2QWruYGgAQ&zoom=1&ved=1t:3588,r:22,s:0,i:162&iact=rc&page=1&tbnh=170&tbnw=211&start=0&ndsp=26&tx=153&ty=55), you can tell by the huge boobs. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122/207 "2013-10-15T14:36:17Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > So is that OTHER woman in that picture also pregnant? She has more of a protruding belly! Re-posting, I’m hoping for an answer from the OP. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122/208 "2013-10-15T23:37:28Z")
Now, **Claire** , IANAFP, but I used to play one in high school, and I believe we can get to the bottom of your neurosis by talking it out. Please, lie down on my sofa. Let’s start by getting to know you better. In what country do you live? How old are you? How long have you been watching _Downton Abbey?_ When did you first suspect Ms McShera hid her pregnancy? You like children and wish you had a child of your own, don’t you? How was your relationship with your parents? Did you love your father? Were you jealous of your mother because your father gave her a child but he never gave one to you? Or did he, but made you abort it or give it up? Did you know that your mental illness will not stand in the way of your becoming a happy, fulfilled, if single, parent with loads of new friends down at the DCFS? Indeed, did you know that men need to be constantly reminded to NOT “put it in the crazy” so you should have no problem finding a sperm donor? I hope this session was helpful. Next week at the same time? ---
**Author:** ![want2befree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3e96dc/32.png) [@want2befree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2befree)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122/209 "2013-10-16T00:39:19Z")
> [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Okay, but seriously you guys… do you think one or more of [these actresses](https://www.google.com/search?q=pregnant+actresses+2013&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=Tz5dUvSyLoydkQfRuIDgAw&ved=0CDYQsAQ&biw=1680&bih=895#imgdii=_) could be pregnant? Hey, I already used that argument a few posts up, lol. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122/210 "2013-10-16T03:16:15Z")
I don’t believe any of them are really pregnant. They are just pretending because that woman nobody’s heard of on _Downtown Abbey_ made it all hip and shit. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122/211 "2013-10-16T06:07:35Z")
> [@Claire98909](#): > > Protruding belly here, too (from S4E1): > > [http://i.imgur.com/D5ZuONY.png](http://i.imgur.com/D5ZuONY.png) > > Laugh all you want, guys, but when the news comes out that she’s pregnant I think in all fairness you guys should give me $100 each. If we do, will you use it for mental health treatment? ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Shine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr_shine/32/464_2.png) [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122/212 "2013-10-16T06:23:15Z")
> [@TashaKitty](#): > > What? “Quarter of three” very clearly means a quarter hour BEFORE three. 3:15 is “quarter AFTER three”. > > And don’t forget, you might be living under the British boot if not for New England (and Massachusetts in particular) 😃 Quarter \*\*of \*\*3 is clearly 0.75, i.e a quarter to 1 or 12:45. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2013, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122/213 "2013-10-16T10:28:21Z")
> [@Claire98909](#): > > Protruding belly here, too (from S4E1): > > [http://i.imgur.com/D5ZuONY.png](http://i.imgur.com/D5ZuONY.png) > > Laugh all you want, guys, but when the news comes out that she’s pregnant I think in all fairness you guys should give me $100 each. Now, now. I’ve already conceded that is within the realm of possibility that a woman of child-bearing age might at any time be possibly pregnant. However, none of your photos suggests that, even if today she announces she pregnant. Or was back in 2008. Or 2009. Or any of the other times you think she was pregnant or post partum. ---
**Author:** ![Claire98909](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Claire98909](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claire98909)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2013, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122/214 "2013-10-20T19:24:16Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > It’s a stupid joke about [this picture](http://twitter.yfrog.com/h71xhpnj?sa=0), the implication being that she’s hanging around with black men and must therefor have children out of wedlock - real funny, right? :rolleyes: > > So please give it a rest **Claire98909** , your obsessing and need to move on. Do you guys think she did that black guy? ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2013, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122/215 "2013-10-20T19:32:41Z")
> [@Claire98909](#): > > Do you guys think she did that black guy? Oh, for the love of FUCK! Leave it alone! I should have known better :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2013, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122/216 "2013-10-20T19:33:17Z")
> [@Claire98909](#): > > Do you guys think she did that black guy? If we say no, will you be convinced? ---
**Author:** ![Claire98909](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Claire98909](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claire98909)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2013, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122/217 "2013-10-20T20:04:42Z")
I just can’t think of a reason why a woman would pose like that with any man if they weren’t gonna get down to business. Besides, it looks like they were in a hotel room or something. Judging from her clothes and hairdo this was either before or after (probably after) the 2011 Bafta awards, so he might have been a fan that she hooked up with or something. ---
**Author:** ![TashaKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d26b3c/32.png) [@TashaKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TashaKitty)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2013, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122/218 "2013-10-20T20:58:40Z")
> [@Claire98909](#): > > I just can’t think of a reason why a woman would pose like that with any man if they weren’t gonna get down to business. Besides, it looks like they were in a hotel room or something. Judging from her clothes and hairdo this was either before or after (probably after) the 2011 Bafta awards, so he might have been a fan that she hooked up with or something. Well OF COURSE she had sex with him! Didn’t you know? Just like her character, she has sex with everyone, male or female, old or young, human, canine, or bovine, that she ever encounters. I heard that her latest conquest was Maggie Smith. According to CNN, “Smith and McShera had just wrapped up a photoshoot for Entertainment Weekly when McShera lunged at the 78-year-old veteran actress, tore off her clothing, and proceeded with a violent scissoring session that left Smith with a fractured pelvis.” ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2013, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122/219 "2013-10-21T03:01:37Z")
Did it also leave her pregnant? ---
**Author:** ![Not\_Carlson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc79bd/32.png) [@Not\_Carlson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_Carlson)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2013, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122/220 "2013-10-21T03:24:46Z")
> [@TashaKitty](#): > > Well OF COURSE she had sex with him! Didn’t you know? Just like her character, she has sex with everyone, male or female, old or young, human, canine, or bovine, that she ever encounters. I heard that her latest conquest was Maggie Smith. > > According to CNN, “Smith and McShera had just wrapped up a photoshoot for Entertainment Weekly when McShera lunged at the 78-year-old veteran actress, tore off her clothing, and proceeded with a violent scissoring session that left Smith with a fractured pelvis.” Now you’re just giving him more material to masterbate to. (And \*\*Green Bean \*\*just provided the money shot.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122.md?page=12)