I'm quite into the French way - simple elegance with just a suggestion of sexiness, nothing vulgar.

I don't mind wearing a corset, it informs your posture, changes the way you move, you can't slouch.

I think some period drama can be quite alienating, but 'Downton' isn't. This is going to sound quite, um, pretentious, but someone said that it's like a soap written by a poet.

I come from a very working-class background, so my family would have been downstairs in the past, as opposed to upstairs. People are often quite surprised to hear that, that I'm not actually posh.

I really enjoy singing, it's entirely different to acting because I'm just being myself.

'Expect nothing and hope for the best' is my mantra. A drama teacher called Joseph Blatchley told me that, and it's the best advice I've had. If you keep an open mind and don't expect too much, then you won't be disappointed.