# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Sudden\_Kestrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Sudden\_Kestrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudden_Kestrel)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122/21 "2013-07-22T05:52:03Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > I agree. Those are most certainly the fingers of a woman with child. Tis obvious. Are there ridges on her nails? 'Cause everybody knows ridges on your nails means you’ve given a secret babby up for adoption. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122/22 "2013-07-22T13:57:33Z")
Your preoccupation with pregnant actors is odd at best, and mildly alarming at worst. Whether your are doing this out of jest or complete seriousness, my advice would be to take a break and talk to a counselor. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122/23 "2013-07-22T14:06:59Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > Holy shit! I must be pregnant! If it’s a girl Imma name it Adipose. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122/24 "2013-07-22T16:32:36Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > If it’s a girl Imma name it Adipose. [Awwww, she’s such a cute baby!](http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20091222163914/tardis/images/2/20/Adiposeinthesink.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Claire98909](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Claire98909](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claire98909)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122/25 "2013-08-26T18:34:32Z")
It still just seems weird that they hid her belly in “Survivors”. I mean yeah, she was only on screen for about three minutes, but during that time they had her wearing a large fur coat, they shot her from the back, they had her pick up a large box, and they had her sitting in the backseat of a car partially hidden by boxes of supplies/suitcases. Just seems odd coupled with those pictures from “Waterloo Road” where she’s got the belly. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122/26 "2013-08-26T19:40:40Z")
Omg. Shut. Up. ---
**Author:** ![Claire98909](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Claire98909](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claire98909)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122/27 "2013-08-28T23:45:11Z")
What about the bumpy thing she has in this photo from this month (indicated by the green arrow)? [http://i.imgur.com/zagyzpO.png](http://i.imgur.com/zagyzpO.png) I know that Taylor Swift has one too, but it seems more like she just has bad posture: [http://i.imgur.com/DVI08D0.png](http://i.imgur.com/DVI08D0.png) Katy Perry has something similar (she herself has admitted that she has a “fupa”), but hers looks more like a mass of fat, as opposed to a protruding uterus.: [http://i.imgur.com/M9gZe5d.png](http://i.imgur.com/M9gZe5d.png) ---
**Author:** ![want2befree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3e96dc/32.png) [@want2befree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2befree)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122/28 "2013-08-28T23:49:11Z")
I’m curious. Is there a name for what claire is doing? Or a consequence? ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122/29 "2013-08-28T23:52:40Z")
> [@Claire98909](#): > > What about the bumpy thing she has in this photo from this month (indicated by the green arrow)? > > [http://i.imgur.com/zagyzpO.png](http://i.imgur.com/zagyzpO.png) > > I know that Taylor Swift has one too, but it seems more like she just has bad posture: > > [http://i.imgur.com/DVI08D0.png](http://i.imgur.com/DVI08D0.png) > > Katy Perry has something similar (she herself has admitted that she has a “fupa”), but hers looks more like a mass of fat, as opposed to a protruding uterus.: > > [http://i.imgur.com/M9gZe5d.png](http://i.imgur.com/M9gZe5d.png) Yes, that’s called an abdomen. Some people call it a tummy. It is not a sign of pregnancy. Just curious…can you show me a picture of a healthy, normal weight woman who does not have that “bump”? (And isn’t selling girdles or “shapewear”?) ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122/30 "2013-08-28T23:59:07Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Yes, that’s called an abdomen. Some people call it a tummy. It is not a sign of pregnancy. > > Just curious…can you show me a picture of a healthy, normal weight woman who does not have that “bump”? (And isn’t selling girdles or “shapewear”?) I’m sure she can. I’m 10lbs overweight and when it’s not that special week of the month when I retain 5-6lbs of water, even my clothed belly is much flatter looking than all of the pictures she cites. ---
**Author:** ![FeAudrey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7feea3/32.png) [@FeAudrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FeAudrey)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122/31 "2013-08-29T03:56:54Z")
> [@Gullible\_s\_Travels](#): > > Seems that OP (or someone using almost the same wording) is asking this question on several message boards. And “Claire999” over on the board without pity is getting pretty much the same reaction as the OP is here. 😛 ---
**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:** [August 29, 2013, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122/32 "2013-08-29T04:28:28Z")
I know from crazy and I would like to join the chorus from across the internet suggesting that the OP would benefit from counseling and, possibly, medication. This appears to be an odd and completely uncontrolled obsession and I am sure she would feel better if she could put it behind her. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122/33 "2013-08-29T12:39:00Z")
OK, everyone’s made their point regarding the OP. Either answer the question or don’t, but don’t toss around insults. ---
**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:** [August 30, 2013, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122/34 "2013-08-30T05:27:35Z")
They are not all insults. Many are based in a genuine concern for her mental health. She has an apparent odd obsession and many Dopers, myself included, recognize it as a symptom, based on our own mental health histories or those of our loved ones. However, in answer to the OP, I don’t know what “several months postpartum” is supposed to look like on an actress because so many race to get back the figure they once had, I don’t know if she ever had all that “Hollywood-great” a figure though she is lovely in that yellow dress (though it doesn’t really fit well and is probably off-the-rack), people have “pooches” or “paunches” because they need some place to put their fluid-filled innards and fluids are not compressible, I have no idea what the picture of her hands is supposed to tell me because the background is out of focus and hardly shown and they could be the hands of a hand model for all I know, and mom jeans make everybody look like they are moms and are a fashion faux-pas everywhere except at PTA meetings. It’s IMHO and I can give medical advice? Fine. **Claire98909** , please print out your recent posts and show them to your therapist. If you don’t have a therapist, get one and ask her to tell you we are the disturbed ones. Show me I’m wrong. Please. I won’t take it personally because people here tell me I’m wrong all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Claire98909](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Claire98909](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claire98909)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2013, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122/35 "2013-08-31T00:50:21Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > I’m sure she can. I’m 10lbs overweight and when it’s not that special week of the month when I retain 5-6lbs of water, even my clothed belly is much flatter looking than all of the pictures she cites. Then do you agree with me? ---
**Author:** ![Claire98909](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Claire98909](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claire98909)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2013, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122/36 "2013-08-31T01:12:17Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Just curious…can you show me a picture of a healthy, normal weight woman who does not have that “bump”? (And isn’t selling girdles or “shapewear”?) Yes. [http://i.imgur.com/QsNKLGA.png](http://i.imgur.com/QsNKLGA.png) [http://i.imgur.com/Qk4sPIt.png](http://i.imgur.com/Qk4sPIt.png) [http://i.imgur.com/0NPLm5r.png](http://i.imgur.com/0NPLm5r.png) [http://i.imgur.com/I0Uo1va.png](http://i.imgur.com/I0Uo1va.png) Yes, the actress in the last picture does have a bit of one, but it’s not as large or as “firm”-looking. And by the way, I’m not crazy, simply curious. ---
**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:** [August 31, 2013, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122/37 "2013-08-31T01:49:25Z")
The first and third ones are sucking it in and pushing their shoulders back to make them look bustier to the camera, which also tightens their abdominal muscles. Old tricks in posed photos. The second is a bit stoop-shouldered, which can de-emphasize the belly. What they have in common is that they are very slender and, in an effort to fit in their dresses and look their best on the red carpet to people like you who nitpick their every gram, probably have eaten even less than normally the past few days and their innards are empty and need less space. Let’s see how those dresses fit on Boxing Day. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_Hey\_Paula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hey\_Hey\_Paula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_Hey_Paula)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2013, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122/38 "2013-08-31T01:58:40Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > The first and third ones are sucking it in and pushing their shoulders back to make them look bustier to the camera, which also tightens their abdominal muscles. Old tricks in posed photos. The second is a bit stoop-shouldered, which can de-emphasize the belly. What they have in common is that they are very slender and, in an effort to fit in their dresses and look their best on the red carpet to people like you who nitpick their every gram, probably have eaten even less than normally the past few days and their innards are empty and need less space. Let’s see how those dresses fit on Boxing Day. Not to mention that some or all of those ladies are rockin’ the Spanx in those photos. When I was severely underweight (5’3, under 100 lbs), I still had a small tummy bump. It’s just the way my body is made. Now that I’m getting close to being overweight (according to the BMI chart), well, guess where most of the excess fat has gone? If you guessed “the tummy” you’re a winner! Claire, just curious, why are you so concerned about this particular actress? I don’t watch Downton Abbey (yet) so I’ve never even heard of her. ---
**Author:** ![TashaKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d26b3c/32.png) [@TashaKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TashaKitty)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2013, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122/39 "2013-08-31T02:09:08Z")
Downton Abbey rocks! ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2013, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122/40 "2013-08-31T02:13:19Z")
> [@TashaKitty](#): > > Downton Abbey rocks! So you’re saying the actress was, in fact, stowing \*\*\*rocks \*\*\*rather than appearing to have either been pregnant several months prior or had possibly consumed what we would call a ‘meal’ on perhaps several consecutive occasions? That’s a bizarre assertion, can you back it up? To the OP, the only time I don’t have some roundness of belly is when I’ve had food poisoning. Intestines have a purpose and it looks like this actress has them like other humans. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-downton-abbey-actress-have-been-several-months-postpartum-when-this-was-filmed/664122.md?page=3)