Ive been to the White House and had Hilary Clinton push through the crowd to come and meet me. Chelsea Clinton, too.

Im an ambassador for Medical Detection dogs.

People have preconceptions about women of a certain age.

I can do basics, but I'm not a proper cook. I can do a roast. I can stick a chicken in the oven with vegetables.

Ive not cooked Christmas dinner since 1982.

I get invited to a lot more glamorous parties since Ive been in Downton Abbey, which has made me much more fashion conscious.

Coming eyeball to eyeball with a hummingbird on my terrace is as exciting to me as any celebrity Ive met as a result of Downton Abbey.