Cora Crawley

Background
Cora Levinson (b. June 18, 1868) was born in 1868. Her parents were Isidore Levinson, an Jewish self made American millionaire, and Martha Levinson. In 1889, when she was 21 years old, she married Robert Crawley, who admitted that he was a fortune hunter and did not come to love his wife until after their marriage. Robert's father, Patrick, insisted that the money be entailed, so that the money she brought into the marriage was attached to the entailment of the estate and both would go to whoever inherited the title of Earl. As Robert's wife, Cora gave birth to three daughters: Mary, Edith and Sybil. The nearest male heir was James Crawley, Lord Robert's cousin, and Patrick Crawley becomes engaged to Mary, which all the Crawleys welcome as it would keep the money and estate with Robert's daughter.

Season One
When both James and Patrick drown on the Titanic, Matthew Crawley becomes heir to the title, the estate and Cora's dowry. At first, Cora and Violet try to break the entail but they learn that this will require a private Bill in Parliament which can only be passed if the estate is in danger. After that, she and Violet try to get Mary to marry Matthew. In the summer of 1914, Cora is surprised to find that she has become pregnant. However, when her maid O'Brien is mistakenly led to believe that Cora intends to replace her, she intends vengeance by deliberately leaving a bar of soap beside the bathtub. O'Brien soon has an attack of conscience, but before she can act Cora slips on the soap and suffers a miscarriage.

Season Two
When the First World War begins, the cottage hospital in Downton village is being used for soldiers from the battlefield. After a soldier needing rehabilitation kills himself. Isobel Crawley convinces them to convert Downton into a convalescent hospital. Cora enjoys the new responsibilities, but finds herself clashing with Isobel. this s solved by bringing in Thomas, the former footman who is now a medic, to run the hospital, as he is deferentto her. Robert, who has no responsibilities almost has an affair with a new housemaid, but ultimately stays true to his vows. In the Influenza epidemic of 1919 Cora contracts the illness but recovers.

Season Three
Cora's mother Martha Levinson is coming to England for Mary's wedding. Cora says that she will be bringing he own drama. Cora is against the plan of Mary and her mother-in-law, Violet, to ask Martha for the money to save Downton, as she does not think that the Levinsons should pay for the financial problems that the Crawleys created. Cora considers cancelling a dinner party, when the stove breaks, but Martha saves the day. Sybil asks her mother to intercede on Tom's behalf with Robert, when he is considering becoming a mechanic. As Sybil subsequently died due to complications in childbirth, Cora swears an oath to the dead Sybil that she will look out for and take care of Tom and Baby Sybbie. Robert had taken the advice of London obstetrician Sir Tapsell not to submit her to a caesarian, over the advice ofDr. Richard Clarkson; Cora subsequently blames Robert for Sybil's death and their marriage is in jeopardy. The Dowager Countess heals the rift by persuading Dr. Clarkson into pointing out the she would likely have still died, and Cora forgives her husband.

Personality
Cora frequently disagrees with Robert, Violet, and the very English Mary. Her American cultural and social origins (having self-made parents) conflicts with the traditional English nobility of the Crawleys. While outwardly she embraces the life, she is forward-thinking and open-minded, believing that they should change with the time and adapt. She is the only one who tries to be positive about losing Downton and moving to a smaller house She defends Matthew's decision to keep working as a lawyer, even after being named heir, as well as Sybil being a nurse during the war.

Behind the Scenes
Cora Crawley is portrayed by Elizabeth McGovern.