Allen Leech, who plays chauffeur turned estate manager Tom Branson in Downton Abbey, has revealed that his co-star Dame Maggie Smith often puts on an Irish accent to tease him when he's filming with her.
Asked if he had ever given her help with her brogue, Dubliner Allen, who reprises his role as Branston in the Downton: A New Era, told RTÉ Entertainment, "I don’t have to. I’ve heard her Irish accent many times over the past twelve years and it’s pretty pitch perfect.
"When I’m around, her Irish accent comes out. Hahaha.
"As far as I know, she’s in Ireland right now," he added. "All I know is that she’s playing an Irish woman. That’s all I know. She’s busy."
Read our review of Downton Abbey: A New Era
40-year-old Leech, who has also appeared in Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody and World War Two drama The Imitation Game, is back as Branson and as we see in the opening scene of Downton Abbey: The New Era, he ties the knot with Lucy Smith.
However, there had been initial doubts among the Crawley family about Branson due to his Irish Republican background but he has now been fully embraced as part of the family.
"It definitely took a couple of seasons for Tom to kind of find his feet and figure out what he was going to do," he says.
"I really love what Julian Fellowes has done with his journey because in Lucy he’s not only found his soulmate but also his equal. They’re two people who have found themselves in this world that they never really asked for and there is a great understanding they have of each other because of that."
As usual, 87-year-old Dame Maggie as Dowager Violet Crawley has the best lines and, indeed, the last laugh in Downton Abbey: A New Era.
Not to give too much away, but co-star Tuppence Middleton, who plays new bride Lucy, said it was emotional filming one particular scene with her.
"For me it’s a very new thing. These guys have worked with her for a while," she says. "I’ve always admired her off-screen, but it was a really interesting experience as someone coming in as a relative newbie because it was a very emotional scene.
"And it was probably very difficult for a lot of the longstanding members of the cast. If felt very respectful and I was very privileged to be a part of that."
Smith has hinted that the new Downton would be her last role but Laura Carmichael, who plays Lady Edith Pelham, was quick to rubbish the suggestion.
"Oh, I don’t think so," she said. "Maggie always wants to be working. I can’t see her stopping. She has an amazing drive. Why would she stop? She’s at the top of her game and loves it and comes with energy for it and amazing ideas."
Alan Corr @CorrAlan2
Downton Abbey: A New Era is in cinemas this Friday
