Explore More - Epic Expedtions

LESLEY NICOL The British

LESLEY NICOL The British actress, well known for her role as Mrs. Patmore in Downton Abbey, discusses her career and her Hollywood dreams The award-winning actress Lesley Nicol is known by many as the beloved cook, Mrs. Patmore, in the television series and movie Downton Abbey. She has also guest-starred on numerous British and American television series and is a three-time SAG Award winner. Lesley is proud to be an ambassador for two nonprofit organizations, Medical Detection Dogs and Animals Asia. How did you get started as an actress? I was very, very shy as a child, and when I was about ten years old, I had to stand up and read aloud a comedy poem at school to an audience. I started getting laughs, and it was the most thrilling thing that had happened thus far in my life. I had some confidence and I really wanted more. That was the beginning of the bug. My mother had been an actress too. So, I joined a local theater and it gave me little parts. And it really went from there. Did you know that the TV series Downton Abbey would be successful? No, not at all; nobody did. It took us a while to cotton on. Little things were unusual. I have dogs, and I remember very early on a lady in the park came leaping out with her arms out. Then it started to become a bigger thing in America, and then it really became a global thing. Tell us a bit more about Mrs. Patmore, the character you play in the show. Mrs. Patmore is a very hardworking, straightforward cook working downstairs in the big house. When her assistant Daisy starts—played by my dear friend Sophie McShera—they build up a close friendship as the series goes on. In real life, too, I felt like we were kindred spirits, and we got on from the very first moment. Because the show’s creator, Julian Fellowes, 96 VIKING.COM EXPLORE MORE

VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS is such a wonderful writer, when he saw that dynamic and our shared sense of humor—and when he saw our natural chemistry together— he wrote for that. And the relationship between Mrs. Patmore and Daisy was developed, and the character became a lot funnier. Is there a team feeling among the crew? It really is an ensemble. And it also includes Dame Maggie Smith, who plays the Dowager Countess of Grantham. She is one of our finest and most revered actors, but she was very much the center of our family on set. Nobody took it for granted, even the youngsters. What do you do in your downtime on set? If you were filming at Highclere Castle, you had to remember it is someone’s home, and it is full of priceless stuff. There were no hot drinks allowed, no eating, and you had to be careful at all times. However, if we were filming at the studios, then things were more relaxed. Did it feel strange, becoming famous later in life? Suddenly, it became clear that I do not follow rules. I do not like the fact that people can feel limited. I got married in my 50s, and I found career success later in life. Do you like to cook in your everyday life? My husband is a great cook, so I have been perhaps a little bit lazy. But a few years ago, I went to visit an animal sanctuary, and I was so moved by the plight of some of the animals there that I left as a vegan. After that, I had to learn how to cook vegan food, and I am still learning! Have you always loved being around animals? I have always been an animal lover, and my husband and I have two dogs. I have been drawn into the world of animal welfare over the last few years. For instance, Animals Asia rescues moon bears from the horrific bear bile trade. I have adopted my own bear—she is adorable and is called Pickle Nicol. Tell us a bit about your new one-woman show. I have been developing a new show—called How the Hell Did I Get Here?—and it is autobiographical. I am working with a great songwriter, Mark Mueller, who has worked on it alongside me, and we have had great fun. We were planning to open it in Chicago in 2020, but it had to be postponed. We cannot wait to unleash it on the world. Go online: You can watch the full interview with actor Lesley Nicol on Viking.TV. This page, clockwise from top: Highclere Castle; Lesley sharing a joke with HRH Prince Charles; the Downton Abbey world premiere with the Countess of Carnarvon and Karine Hagen Opposite, top to bottom: In character as Mrs. Patmore, with Sophie McShera as Daisy; Lesley at a young age EXPLORE MORE VIKING.COM 97