I trained as a ballet dancer - well, I started when I was two and a half, and was serious about it from when I was eight until I was 18.

Unfortunately I had an ankle problem and underwent three operations.

Girls in scripts are often pretty but brainless, or geeky and no one likes them, so it's great to find richer roles. Chalk and cheese aspects of people are very interesting to play.

I've read my grandmother's memoirs and she served as a nurse during World War II. What they had to do was incredible.

I like to accessorise shirts with a little ribbon tied round my collar or a country style ascot. I've also sewed little hearts on some of my sleeves which I've done for years because I always wear my heart on my sleeve so if you see a little embroidered heart on my clothes, that's why!

I filmed 'Albatross' before I got 'Downton.' It's a coming-of-age movie about this girl who leaps into this family's life, like a whirlwind. She's ballsy and brash and wonderful, it was such an amazing character to play.

I just really think every job I do, I get this gypsy attitude to money.