Dame Nellie for Downton Abbey !

Long before the Moonee Ponds' housewife Dame Edna Everage conquered the world, opera diva Dame Nellie Melba was the Antipodean toast of New York , London , Paris and all points were opera was revered.

Aussie Dames of note : Nellie Melba, Enid Lyons , Pattie Menzies , Edna Everage

Now she is to be featured in the next series of Downton Abbey and New Zealand opera star Dame Tiri Te Kanawa is to play Melba. Let's hope she
shows Melba as she was, not only a gifted and loved soprano but a diva of the first order. Melba lives on of course not just because of her gorgeous voice
but via menus around the world with Melba Toast and Peaches Melba  dishes that are yet to disappear.
And that is real stardom !