HUGH BONNEVILLE ENJOYS THE DOWNTON LIFE (Express)

 Sunday January 27,2013
By Adam Helliker

OUR favourite smoothie Hugh Bonneville is certainly enjoying the perks of being a Downton Abbey star. The Sherborne-educated actor was in skittish mood at the National Television Awards, describing to a female admirer what he was wearing.

“Socks by M&S; throwing their stuff at me they are. Asda, Lidl, they can’t get enough of me! And I’ve just come out of the tanning salon so I’m right up there with the Italians.”

Thankfully Hugh’s ego is kept in check by his lovely wife Lisa. A grounded figure, who met Hugh as a teenager, Mrs Bonneville says she is “unfazed by the glitz of the showbusiness world” and is bemused when she sees women swooning over her hubby.

READ MORE: http://www.express.co.uk/ourcomments/view/373669

Hugh Bonneville like a kid at Christmas (yahoo entertainment)

Hugh Bonneville gets ''pathetically excited'' about Father Christmas.

The 'Downton Abbey' actor has confessed he turns into an eager child during the festive season and is ''religious'' about making sure everything is done right for the arrival of the main man on Christmas Day (25.12.12).

He revealed: ''I'm in charge of games. No, my main role is to keep out of the way! I get pathetically excited about Father Christmas coming and I'm religious about putting out mince pies and a glass of wine and then checking for

footprints in the fireplace.''

Hugh, who has 11-year-old son Felix with wife of 27 years Lulu Williams, will make several appearances on UK TV this year. Not only will he star in the 'Downton Abbey' Christmas special as Lord Grantham but he will also be in David Walliams' adaptation of children's book 'Mr Stink', playing the main character.

READ MORE: http://nz.entertainment.yahoo.com/news/article/-/15708976/hugh-bonneville-like-a-kid-at-christmas/

‘Downton Abbey’ stars reward the faithful By Beth Teitell | GLOBE STAFF DECEMBER 17, 2012 (THE BOSTON GLOBE)

The gushing fans might well have been tweens swooning over “Twilight” ’s Robert Pattinson . But the starstruck belonged to a slightly different demographic. They were members of WGBH’s Ralph Lowell Society (supporters who give $1,500 or more annually to the station) and their guests.

Their heels were largely sensible, their hair was often silver, many were men, but bosoms were heaving at WGBH’s Brighton studios on Saturday. Two of the biggest stars of “Downton Abbey ” had come to town: Lord Grantham (OK, the actor Hugh Bonneville ) and Thomas (really Rob James-Collier , wearing decidedly non-Thomas-like coral high-top Nikes, facial stubble, and shaggy hair).

The day’s second event kicked off at 6 p.m. with a 35-minute tease of the show’s two-hour Jan. 6 US premiere, then it was on to the Q&A, with the actors, “Masterpiece” executive producer Rebecca Eaton , and “Downton Abbey” executive producer Gareth Neame .

Among the highlights: Is Dame Maggie Smith , who plays the Dowager Countess of Grantham, as clever as she appears? Yes! James-Collier told a story: When shooting started, he nervously asked the legend to sign a DVD for charity. “Who’s that?” Smith retorted. “Your sister?”


READ MORE: http://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/2012/12/16/downton-abbey-stars-hugh-bonneville-and-rob-james-collier-charm-wgbh-donors/ExlXD2McyVBoFC4NyQN88I/story.html