Downton Abbey’s Matthew Goode joins period drama about the “original dangerous woman”

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Matthew Goode, known for his role in Downton Abbey, is joining the cast of the upcoming period drama The Custom of the Country. The series, based on Edith Wharton’s 1913 novel, has already announced that Sydney Sweeney from Euphoria will star as the main character, Undine Spragg.

The story centers on a determined woman from the Midwest who is working hard to climb the social ladder in New York City during the early 1900s.

So, I’m playing this game as Undine, and she’s seriously impressive. She’s not just beautiful, but she’s incredibly driven and determined. She’s taking on a really powerful, established group, and isn’t afraid to stir things up – she actually wants to challenge the status quo. It’s a tough fight, but the story hints that things will eventually turn around for her, with both love and success in her future.

The show also features Leo Woodall (known for his role as Vladimir), along with new cast members including Josh Finan (from Say Nothing), Louis Garrel (Little Women), Rose Leslie (Game of Thrones), Martha Plimpton (Task), Irène Jacob (The Affair) and Dominic West, and Hugh Dancy (Downton Abbey: A New Era).

The cast also includes Miranda Richardson (known for Chicken Run), Ian Hart (Mr Bates vs the Post Office), James McArdle (Mary Queen of Scots), Rosie Sheehy (Pillion), Louisa Harland (The Walsh Sisters), and Ronkẹ Adékọluẹ́jọ́ (Chevalier).

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Josie Rourke, who directed Mary Queen of Scots, is now filming The Custom of the Country – she also wrote the screenplay.

Rourke called Spragg “the original dangerous woman,” and previously noted that Edith Wharton’s character has always captivated, charmed, and frustrated readers.

Edith Wharton’s novel, The Custom of the Country, is considered her masterpiece and tells the story of Undine Spragg, a woman who navigates a rapidly changing America and Europe with ambition and speed.

The story feels incredibly fresh and current, and while I was adapting it, I kept picturing Sydney Sweeney in this role. It’s almost like Edith Wharton wrote the part specifically for her, even a hundred years ago.

You can purchase Edith Wharton’s classic novel on Amazon now, just in time for the upcoming film adaptation.

The Custom of the County is yet to confirm a cinema release date.

I’m so excited! The new issue of Living Legends magazine is out, and it’s all about Harry Styles! It’s a beautiful, full-colour 100-page special, and you can grab a copy at newsstands or order it online. Definitely checking this out!

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2026-03-12 15:51