<P> Martha Levinson ( played by Shirley MacLaine ) is Cora 's brash , outspoken American mother , a wealthy widow with homes in New York City and Newport , Rhode Island . She visits Downton with great fanfare in Series 3 for Mary and Matthew 's wedding and then returns to the United States . Unlike Violet , Martha wears up - to - date clothing . Martha has a slightly strained relationship with her daughter Cora , making her rarely visit the house . She is mentioned once in series one when Cora was pregnant with her miscarriage as being very anxious but Violet wrote to her to come admire the baby . Martha arrives in Downton for Mary 's wedding to Matthew , and remains there for a short time afterwards . Violet and Mary scheme to have her give the Crawleys more money to save Downton from ruin by putting on a lavish banquet , but the evening nearly ends in disaster when the oven fails . It is Martha who saves the feast , instead arranging an indoor picnic for the guests . Martha reveals to Violet and Mary that even if she wanted to sink more money into Downton , her late husband 's will ties up the Levinson fortune up too tightly . Martha leaves Downton shortly afterwards , telling Robert she is `` homesick for America '' . </P>
<P> Martha Levinson ( played by Shirley MacLaine ) is Cora 's brash , outspoken American mother , a wealthy widow with homes in New York City and Newport , Rhode Island . She visits Downton with great fanfare in Series 3 for Mary and Matthew 's wedding and then returns to the United States . Unlike Violet , Martha wears up - to - date clothing . Martha has a slightly strained relationship with her daughter Cora , making her rarely visit the house . She is mentioned once in series one when Cora was pregnant with her miscarriage as being very anxious but Violet wrote to her to come admire the baby . Martha arrives in Downton for Mary 's wedding to Matthew , and remains there for a short time afterwards . Violet and Mary scheme to have her give the Crawleys more money to save Downton from ruin by putting on a lavish banquet , but the evening nearly ends in disaster when the oven fails . It is Martha who saves the feast , instead arranging an indoor picnic for the guests . Martha reveals to Violet and Mary that even if she wanted to sink more money into Downton , her late husband 's will ties up the Levinson fortune up too tightly . Martha leaves Downton shortly afterwards , telling Robert she is `` homesick for America '' . </P>
who plays cora 's mother on downton abbey
who plays cora 's mother on downton abbey
Shirley MacLaine
Shirley MacLaine