Julian Fellowes doesn't come to the set, except maybe once every six weeks, for whatever reason. He's not a producer, in that sense. But if you write him a one-line question, he'll write you a three-page answer.

I'd love to retire somewhere like Winchester, where you have one foot on the pavement but a sense of being in the country as well.

We were all expecting to finish [Downton Abbey] after Series 1, actually. And then, it got extended to Series 3, and that's when two of our much loved and much missed friends left. And then, it was going to be done with Series 5, but Julian Fellowes said, "I'd like to do one more." So it's been a series of extensions, rather than wondering how much longer we can go on for.

I think any film that asks its audience a degree of tolerance and acceptance of those less fortunate than themselves isn't a bad thing from whatever culture you're in or from whatever part of any political spectrum.

I have an excellent internal compass.

To go to the White House is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. In fact, the building is not that big.

I certainly couldn't run a big country house, nor could I organize the greatest show on earth.