Fans of gritty crime dramas, brace yourselves — Joanne Froggatt is stepping into the underworld like never before. The Downton Abbey star, known for her Emmy-winning role as Anna Bates, is now turning heads as Jan Sterling in the explosive new series MobLand. But don’t expect a damsel in distress: Froggatt’s latest character is a fierce mother who refuses to cower, even when her husband is a ruthless criminal fixer.
In an exclusive interview, Froggatt spilled the tea on her groundbreaking role. “Jan’s a good mum first, always,” she revealed. “But that doesn’t mean she’s blind to the chaos around her. She’s smart, resilient, and not intimidated by her husband’s dangerous world.” The show, set in 1990s New York, pits family loyalty against mob violence, with Jan caught in the crossfire.
So, what makes Jan a “mom boss” worth rooting for? Froggatt teased that her character isn’t just sidelined as a worried wife. Instead, Jan protects her kids while navigating her husband’s shady dealings. “She’s got this quiet strength,” Froggatt said. “You see her making tough choices, standing her ground, and calling out the hypocrisy in their lives. She’s no pushover.”
The MobLand trailer already has fans buzzing, showing Jan confronting her husband (played by Parks and Recreation’s Rob Lowe in a chilling villain turn) after he’s ordered to eliminate a traitor. “You think threats scare me?” Jan snaps in one scene. “Try explaining to your son why his dad’s a monster.”
Insiders say the dynamic between Froggatt and Lowe is electric, blending marital tension with dark humor. But it’s Jan’s moral complexity that’s stealing the spotlight. Unlike typical mob wives, she’s not glamorizing the lifestyle — she’s fighting to survive it. “Viewers will debate whether she’s complicit or courageous,” Froggatt hinted. “That’s what makes her real.”
With MobLand set to drop this fall, fans are already calling Jan Sterling a “TV icon in the making.” Will she outsmart the mob, save her family, or get swallowed by the darkness? One thing’s clear: Joanne Froggatt is done playing nice — and we’re here for it.