Roaring Twenties were awful for women, says Downton Abbey actress Only Edith's aunt Rosamund, played by Samantha Bond, and the Dowager Countess, Dame Maggie Smith, know about her pregnancy. During an interview with Grazia magazine, Carmichael said: "You see her having to live with the pressure of two older relatives having this secret of hers. It's a killer storyline. It would have been completely scandalous for the time. There is no way I'd have wanted to live in the Twenties. It was really crap for women. The most recent series included a controversial episode in which lady's maid Anna Bates was raped. The scene, which saw actress Joanne Froggatt punched in the face then dragged down a corridor by her hair, led to more than 200 complaints to Ofcom despite being screened after 9pm. Carmichael said: "I still get shocked by the storylines, but I was amazed by the fuss made around Anna's. After all, it is a drama. I think the reaction was testament to how well Jo did it. They shot a lot more scenes than were shown. Nigel was great. He's so loveable and charismatic normally. It was a tough year for the women of Downton, but it's those storylines that make it such a great show. The actress, who posed with co-star Elizabeth McGovern for a photoshoot for Grazia, said she was looking forward to a Christmas break. She said: "I am so excited about having time at home. Last year I was doing a play and I only got a day and a half off. I'll be wearing a reindeer onesie for the majority. Jonathan Ross gave it to me a couple of years ago when I appeared on his show. Downton fans can also look forward to a two-hour long Christmas Day special at 8.30pm which will feature a visit to Buckingham Palace as part of Lady Rose's "coming out."