In Conversation with Hugh Bonneville

Hugh Bonneville is an acclaimed British actor known for his numerous TV and movie roles, which include the Earl of Grantham in Downton Abbey, a role which earned him nominations for both a Golden Globe and two Emmys. He’s also known across the world as Paddington’s Mr Brown across three major feature films. Further credits include Twenty Twelve, W1A and The Gold. In 2022 he released his memoir, Playing Under the Piano, which was praised as ‘Comedy gold’ by the Sunday Times. He now writes for children too, with Rory Sparkes and the Elephant in the Room released in 2025, and a second book in the series, Rory Sparkes and the Spy Who Loved Tea out in October 2026.