Housekeeper Mrs. Hughes on 'Downton Abbey'

Phyllis Logan | Biography

Wife of Actor Kevin McNally

• By Reena Chikanbanjar
• Update : January 31, 2022

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Phyllis Logan is a Scottish actress prominently known as housekeeper Mrs. Hughes on the romantic drama television series Downton Abbey.

Who is Phyllis Logan?

Phyllis Logan is an actress born in Paisley, Scotland, on 11 January 1956 to her working-class parents David, a Rolls-Royce engineer and a trade union leader, and Betty. She grew up with her older brother, Cameron, and older sister, Ann. L. 

Logan graduated from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and cut her chops in acting in Dundee Repertory Theatre. She then made her on-screen debut in the 1977 television movie The Red Dress. 

Logan appeared in a couple of television series and a television movie before landing her breakout role as a young housewife Janie in the 1983 war drama film Another Time, Another Place. Her debut film earned her several awards, including the ‘BAFTA Film Award’ for ‘Most Outstanding Newcomer to Film.’ 

She later rose to prominence after portraying the role of compassionate housekeeper Mrs. Hughes on the critically-acclaimed ITV/PBS romantic drama series Downton Abbey (2010-2015). She reprised her role in the 2019 film of the same name. 

She will be appearing in the same role in the film’s upcoming sequel Downton Abbey: A New Era. The sequel is scheduled to premiere on 29 April 2022 in the U.K. and 20 May 2022 in the U.S.A. The sequel was initially slated to release on 18 March 2022 but was postponed due to Covid. 

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Husband

Logan is married to her husband Kevin McNally, whom she first met on the set of television miniseries Love and Reason in 1992. They soon began dating and eventually married on 15 August 2011. 

The couple has remained private about their relationship bio. Still, in an interview with The Guardian in 2017, she revealed that they managed to speak to each other every day even if their busy schedules often keep them apart.

She said, “My husband, Kevin is my closest confidant; that’s the way it should be with a partner. We make sure we speak to each other every day even if one or both of us is away working. It’s important to maintain contact – even if it’s only to discuss the car tax. I didn’t want to date another actor, because I thought they were vain. I always used to say that I would never have one in my house – but you can’t legislate for love.”

One of the acclaimed actors, her husband McNally, is best known for playing Joshamee Gibbs in the iconic Pirates of the Caribbean film series. McNally began his acting career in 1976. He holds over 150 acting credits.

Before meeting McNally, Logan was in a relationship with screenwriter Paul Pender. She had a heartbreaking break up with him at age 35 following 11 years of relationship.

Son

Logan and McNally together have one son named David. She gave birth to their son at age 40 in 1996. Speaking to The Guardian in 2017, she said that her son is passionate about music and might act in the future.

She further added in the interview that she thought she didn’t want a child for years because her career was more important than having a family. She said it would have been nice to have had another child after giving birth to her son. However, she said it was tough enough having a child for the first time at 40.

After her marriage with McNally, Logan became the stepmother of Rachel, who McNally fathered with his previous relationship with actress Stevie Harris. He also has one stepson, Peter.