‘People don't always like the WAY I LOOK'

Tamsin Greig reveals why she was grateful for the special effects in her latest role

- KIRSTY NUTKINS

Tamsin Greig has a confession to make. ‘I’ve never seen a single episode of Downton Abbey,’ she reveals in hushed tones, looking over her shoulder – as if, perhaps, someone has overheard her uttering a terrible blasphemy.

‘I have seen the film,’ she continues. ‘I watched it on a plane last year. But there are so many episodes and I doubt I’ll ever have time to catch up on the series now. I have three children, a husband and a dog, and I’m always doing other things, like folding clothes and clearing up after everyone.

As Anne Trenchard in Belgravia

‘My husband watched it, though. He’s a writer and a skilful manipulator of story and structure, so it was useful for him,’ she says, referring to her husband of 23 years, the writer and actor Richard Leaf, with whom she has children Jakob, Nathanael and Roxie.

It’s this kind of honesty that makes you instantly warm to 53-year-old Tamsin, who’s strayed on to the subject of Downton because of her latest acting project, a starring role in Sir Julian Fellowes’ new period drama Belgravia.