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Superlatives VIEW FROM THE TOP rebecca eaton TELEVISION DRAMAS. BY FINN-OLAF JONES PHOTOGRAPHY BY KEN RICHARDSON R Cable-knit cashmere turtleneck, Lafayette 148 New York ($498). Neiman Marcus, Copley Place, 617-536-3660; neimanmarcus.com. Waverly wide-leg pants, Lafayette 148 New York ($348). Neiman Marcus, SEE ABOVE. Double- breasted coat, St. John ($1,295). Neiman Marcus, SEE ABOVE. THE TRUE MISTRESS OF DOWNTON ABBEY POLISHED HER SKILLS AT WGBH BEFORE BECOMING EXECUTIVE PRODUCER ON SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST LAUDED ebecca Eaton has an endearing trait of humming to herself when pondering some- thing. Since her office is piled high with scripts awaiting her perusal, it's no surprise that this is a musical place. In fact, she's humming right now. She's considering which character Downton Abbey, one of the shows she produces for PBS, she "most from identifies with." Suddenly the humming stops. "It's got to be Robert, Earl of Grantham," she enthuses, picking Downton's cur- rent master. "After all, he's a producer, isn't he? He's running everything, and he gets it wildly wrong every now and then." Given her remark- able track record, it's hard to imagine Eaton ever gets anything wildly wrong. Although, like the Earl of Grantham, even if she did, her unfailingly gracious manner and the elegance of the edifice she presides over would make it easy to overlook. As arguably the most influential TV producer in the country, one imagines Eaton, 65, has earned the right to park her private jet next to those of her equally esteemed colleagues Hollywood. "I don't have a private jet," she laughs under a sculptural twist of stylishly coiffed gray hair. "I have a private Toyota Camry. But also I have the best job in the industry." Now in its 42nd year, PBS's Masterpiece in is the longest-running prime time drama program on television, having coproduced the acclaimed series I, Claudius; Upstairs Downstairs; Traffik; and now the hugely successful English Edwardian estate drama, continued on page 56 BOSTONCOMMON-MAGAZINE.COM 55 PEOPLE, CULTURE, STYLE PHOTOGRAPHED AT CASTLE HILL ON THE CRANE ESTATE IN IPSWICH, A PROPERTY OF THE TRUSTEES OF RESERVATIONS. 978-356-4351; THETRUSTEES.ORG/CRANE-ESTATE