Downton Abbey Rose Returns
Rose (Lily James) will return to "Downton Abbey" for the series finale. Nick Briggs/Carnival Film & Television Limited 2014 for Masterpiece

The end of “Downton Abbey” means the return of several familiar faces. Lily James has revealed that she is among the actors set to return in the final season. Her character Rose will make an appearance in the Christmas episode, which will serve as the series finale for the PBS drama.

"It was amazing going back after a break,” James told the U.K. edition of Harper’s Bazaar (via Yahoo). “You are just totally re-inspired by the wonder of it, that grand house against grey skies and all the friends you haven't seen in so long.”

James left “Downton Abbey” at the end of Season 5. Rose married Atticus Aldridge, and Atticus got a job in New York. It seemed like the Crawley family’s cousin would never come back, but the “Cinderella” actress was always optimistic about a possible return. Despite a successful film career, which includes next year’s highly anticipated “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies,” James said shortly after leaving that she wanted to guest star.

“I’m really hoping to come back,” the 26 year old told Zap2It in March. “I feel like it’s definitely going to happen. It depends on what [creator Julian Fellowes] writes and all sorts of things.”

Why is Rose returning to Downton? There is speculation that she could be pregnant, but that wouldn’t force her to go back to England. However, a wedding might bring her across the pond. Edith (Laura Carmichael) is allegedly getting married in the finale season, and that just might be why Rose makes the journey back.

Rose is only one of several members of the “Downton Abbey” cast that will return for the show’s final episodes. As previously reported, U.K. viewers already saw “Game of Thrones” star Rose Leslie return as Gwen, but U.S. audiences will have to wait until 2016 to see it. Similarly, the Daily Mail photographed Allen Leech on set in June, which indicates that his character Tom will likely return from Boston in Season 6.

“Downton Abbey” Season 6, the final season, will premiere on Jan. 3, 2016 on PBS.