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‘Downton Abbey’ Hugh Bonneville Stole What From The Set?

By Amy Feinstein
Published on: 09:23 PST, Jan 17, 2016

Now that Downton Abbey is a wrap, Hugh Bonneville is moving on to his next gig, but not before walking off with a memento or two from the set. Bonneville recently did some press, and he talked about what he “liberated” from the set of Downton Abbey, and why. And he loved his time on the PBS/ITV show, but he is ready to move on, and hopes that his fans can move on with him.

According to The Inquisitr, the last days of Downton Abbey were tearful for everyone. The last days at Highclere Castle were teary, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Even the actor who plays Mr. Carson was crying, though fans could find that hard to picture.

Vanity Fair reported that Hugh Bonneville went on Kelly and Michael, and made it clear that he liberated, not stole something from the set of Downton Abbey. Though it sounds like semantics, it helps him feel better about what he now has in his possession.

“I did liberate a letter from a character [played by Matthew Goode] called Henry Talbot, who really emerges quite clearly in Season 6, inviting [the Crawleys] to race a car or something,” Bonneville told the Live! with Kelly and Michael hosts.

Bonneville is into letters, as to him, they are a profound reminder of a time well spent.

The actor revealed that he also helped himself to “the telegram from Season 1 announcing that we were going to war with Germany.”

All of this was also meaningful to him, and was a motivating factor that got him into character.

“On Downton, not only is each letter beautifully handwritten or typed if appropriate, but it’s also germane to the scene that you’re doing,” he explained. “It’s really beautiful, that level of detail, because it puts you in the moment, in that era that you are trying to evoke.”

But Reveal said there was a glitch to Bonneville’s plan. The cast was searched on the last day of shooting to make sure they hadn’t liberated anything from the set.

Hugh admitted that strict security meant that “production were checking our pockets that we weren’t stealing anything.”

But Hugh Bonneville wants fans to know that the end of Downton Abbey doesn’t end with the house burning down.

“It doesn’t end in a great big explosion, or a car crash. The story ends with people heading off in different directions on their life’s journey, with hope and romance.”

But as the last episode of Downton Abbey aired in the U.K., Michelle Dockery, aka Lady Mary, was dealt another blow. Her fiance died of a rare form of cancer.

“The family is very grateful for the support and kindness they have received but would kindly request that they are left to grieve in private.”

People Magazine reported that Michael Strahan asked Bonneville the question that is on everybody’s mind. The question is, did Downton Abbey really have to end? And when it does, will there be an ending that is satisfying to everyone?

“It could,” Bonneville admitted “But you don’t want to me the last guest at a party. Leave at a polite time when the party is still going, rather than being the one sweeping up when nobody wants you there.”

But Bonneville promised that loose ends will be tied up.

He did assure the hosts, however, that “loyal fans of the show will find a suitable ending and be happy.”

Are you sad that Downton Abbey has ended?

[Photo courtesy of Getty Images/Frederick Brown]

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