Downton Abbey star Joanne Froggatt, 44, gives birth to first child just two months after she revealed she was pregnant

DOWNTON Abbey star Joanne Froggatt has given birth to her first child.

The 44-year-old was pictured pushing a pram this week and is said to have welcomed her baby earlier this month.

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Joanne is yet to comment on her happy news.

The actress,  best known for playing for playing Anna Bates, first revealed she was pregnant in June of this year when she revealed her bump on the red carpet.

Joanne split from her ex-husband James Cannon in 2020 after eight years together.

She said at the time: "We've actually been separated for a little while. I'm looking to the future."

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Joanne married James - an IT consultant - in Oxford in 2012 and they set up production company Run It together.

She previously shared her thoughts on motherhood, saying: "If it happens, it happens. And if it doesn't, I hope I'll still feel I can live a happy and fulfilled life."

Last summer she was pictured holding hands with a man called Mark, who she was said to be "besotted with".

However, she has kept the relationship under wraps and hasn't publicly confirmed the baby's father.

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The baby news comes after it was revealed that Joanne will be part of the third Downton movie.

The actress played Lady Crawley’s maid Anna Bates from 2010 on the hit ITV series and appeared in the first two Downton films in 2019 and 2022.

A TV insider said: “This will be welcome news for fans of the drama, because Anna was a particular favourite but none of the cast members were guaranteed to return.

“Although the producers have tried to reunite most of the Downton stars, not all of them have been able to commit, even if they did appear in the first two films.”

The first two Downton movies, written by Julian Fellowes, raked in £220million at the global box office.

Joanne's rep has been contacted for comment.

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