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Allen Leech

Born May 18, 1981 (Taurus)

Looking for a roll in the hay?

Hailing from Killiney in Dublin, Allen Leech comes by his Irish accent honestly. The Irish stage, television and film actor is best known these days as the dashing revolutionary chauffeur and Lady husband on Downton Abbey. Allen Leech admits it’s been harder then he thought to come to terms with his new found celebrity. In 2005, Leech was voted sexiest Irish male in U Magazine. Leech started filming Downton four years ago. Originally, he was only opted in for one series, but Julian Fellowes saw something in the actor and changed his character from Yorkshire to Irish born. Fellowes and Allen Leech first met when Fellowes cast him for the movie From Time To Time in 2009.

Before Downton fame, Leech was best known for his role as Marcus Agrippa, Octavian’s top soldier and friend, in the 2007 HBO television series Rome. Leech’s first real stage role was at the Gate in their production of A Streetcar Named Desire. He was the gentleman caller to Frances McDormand’s Blanche Dubois. At 16, Leech didn’t realize the implications of the Coen brothers walking around back stage of the production. In 2010, Leech appeared in The Tudors as the doomed Francis Dereham, former lover of Catherine Howard. But now with his promotion to “Upstairs” on Downton, he doesn’t have to worry about driving all those classic cars while speaking his lines anymore. And his female fan club is eager to hear what the upgraded Branson has to say…

Downton Abbey costs an average of one million pounds per episode to produce.

As of 2013, Downton Abbey is the highest rated PBS "Masterpiece" drama series of all time, seen by an estimated 120 million viewers in 200 countries and regions.

Gillian Anderson reportedly turned down the part of Lady Cora Grantham.

The real estate that "plays" Downton Abbey, Highclere Castle, has been the home of the Carnarvon family since 1679. In 1922, George Herbert, the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, co-discovered the Tomb of the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun. On the show, the names of the Earl of Grantham's beloved dogs, Isis and Pharaoh, are nods to the real castle's connection to Egyptian history.

According to Julian Fellowes, the parts played by Hugh Bonneville, Brendan Coyle and Maggie Smith were written for the actors.

It was reported that Steven Waddington auditioned for the part of Bates.

When Downton Abbey first aired, Julian Fellowes (creator and producer) was annoyed at the media for pointing out anachronisms like TV aerials and the use of the word 'boyfriend'. (The word 'boyfriend appeared in print in 1889, long before the period setting of Downton). Fellowes said "they think to show how smart they are by picking holes in the program to promote their own poshness and to show that their knowledge is greater than your knowledge". In a later article coinciding with the start of the second season, Fellowes apologised and commented "I behaved rather badly by getting the hump."

Allen Leech

Downton Abbey Trivia

Hunks of Downton Abbey

Extras

Shirley Maclaine Interview