Hugh Bonneville: From dress-up to Downton
British actor Hugh Bonneville achieved global fame for his role in Downton Abbey. But rejection has always been something he’s had to deal with too —sometimes in unusual ways…
As a boy, British actor Hugh Bonneville started dressing up in his father’s old clothes and putting on plays at home. He booked his first professional part as Ralph Fiennes’ understudy in Hamlet, and later his celebrated roles in Iris, Downton Abbey and the Paddington films. He talks about handling rejection early on in his career, how some people expect him to be like 'Lord Grantham', and about coping with his father's dementia. He's written a memoir called Playing Under the Piano: From Downton to Darkest Peru.
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com
Presenter: Emily Webb
Producer: Maryam Maruf
(Photo: Hugh Bonneville. Credit: Niklas Halle'n)
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