Allen Leech has recalled a "bizarre" experience he had in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta when he was recognised as a Downton Abbey star.
The Dubliner, who plays Tom Branson in the hugely popular period drama, was speaking to RTÉ Entertainment at the launch of Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale at Claridge's Hotel in London.
When the subject of Downton memories came up in conversation, Leech admitted: "It's very hard, over 15 years, to pick one moment.
"Watching its global success while we were on set, shooting the second season, was something that I’ll never forget. Going from, 'Oh, we might get a second season’ to suddenly doing very well in America.
"Flying out to Jakarta, to go for an audition, this guy was driving a taxi and he says: 'Tom Branson! You do my job.’ Bizarre.
"I think being around the world and seeing how people have taken this show to their hearts is something . . . the culmination of all those memories together that really signifies what Downton is."
Leech was with fellow Downton Abbey stars Hugh Bonneville (Lord Grantham) and Harry Hadden-Paton (Lord Hexham) to discuss the period drama's final film, which is released in Ireland this Friday.
It's very much a tale of letting go and moving on, two things its central character of Lord Grantham found quite difficult to embrace in terms of handing the keys to Downton Abbey over to his daughter, Lady Mary, played by Michelle Dockery.
"Yes, he's been finding it hard for about ten years," said Bonneville. "And finally it does. So he’s inched into the 20th Century. It’s been quite a long time coming . . . .
"Anyway, in this storyline it really makes sense. It is the ending of an era and the handing on to a new generation. It feels very apt."
Lord Grantham a bit of a worrier, though. And Lady Mary’s in a bit of a situation here, causing quite a lot of chin-wagging and finger-pointing among the upper classes.
She's also attracting a lot of interest from the London press, eager to turn her personal situation into a public scandal.
Says Bonneville: "Yes, his last concern before handing is, is she going to be shunned by society because she’s a divorced woman? We see in the early part of the film that that leads to certain social consequences. And maybe he should hang for a bit longer . . ."
Meanwhile, Lord and Lady Hexham, aka Bertie and Edith, seem quite content with their lives. Harry Hadden-Paton concurs.
"Yeah, we’re getting on very well up north," he says. "With our growing family. And I love that they’re in this constancy in our relationship. We are very much equal. And I think that’s kind of modern.
"Edith’s so strong and such a big part of the family and he really pushes her forward and encourages her to achieve her goals."
And she plays quite a prominent part in supporting her sister Mary.
"Yes. Absolutely. Seeing her change and grow is wonderful, I think. Julian [Fellowes] has done a great job with Edith’s character arc."
Tom Branson has really come up in the world. He started the show as a Chauffeur and now he's talking to the Granthams on pretty much equal terms.
"He really has," says Leech. "It’s an incredible arc for him to go on. And I think you’re right, in this movie he’s definitely found his feet and kind of realised who he is and who he can be in this world - that has been thrust upon him.
"So I think it’s a lovely moment as well - he makes a gesture, an offer to Lord Grantham and it kind of feels full circle for Tom as a character. Being able to come back and say what he says, I feel, is him showing his gratitude for everything that’s happened, given the circumstances of how he’s ended up in this world."
One of the classier aspects of Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is the shadow that the late Maggie Smith casts over proceedings.
The legendary British actress recently died, and played a massive part in the show's success when she played Lord Grantham's mother, Violet.
"She was still alive when we shot the film and passed a couple of months after we finished," Hugh Bonneville notes. "So it’s become a tribute to her - and quite rightly so.
"But her spirit does hang over the third movie. The script and - indeed - in the portrait that is standing, hanging there in the hallway.
"She was a wonderful and formidable actress and part of our family for all those years. So it’s very appropriate that the film is dedicated to her."
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is in cinemas nationwide from Friday 12 September.
