George Clooney and Matt Damon watch Downton, says Hugh Bonneville

 
© Columbia Pictures/Twentieth Century Fox
24 January 2014
The Weekender

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Actor Hugh Bonneville had a boost on the set of his new movie The Monuments Men after finding out co-stars George Clooney and Matt Damon watched Downton Abbey.

Bonneville — who has played Robert Crawley, the Earl of Grantham in all four series of the drama — revealed he was so keen to act alongside Hollywood royalty that he hardly gave the film script a glance.

The Second World War movie tells the story of the special Allied task force set up to save valuable artwork and culturally important artifacts that were being destroyed by the Nazis.

Bonneville, 50, who was a presenter at the National Television Awards in London on Wednesday night, told the Standard: “The story itself is fascinating.

“I barely read the script because when you’re offered a film with George Clooney and Matt Damon you sort of go, hmmm, yes.

It was wonderful to work on it and it will bring a spotlight on to some unsung heroes of the Second World War.

“Working with those Hollywood stars was pretty similar to the cast of Downton actually.

“They’ve got a very good work ethic and a very good sense of humour, let me put it that way.

“George has seen some Downton, and Matt as well. I’m not sure if they’re huge fans but at least they pretended to me that they watched it. They’re a great bunch to work with.”

The English actor was refreshingly honest when asked if he would prefer a move away from television into film, joking: “I’ll do whatever pays.”

He revealed that the fifth series of Downton Abbey will begin filming in “a few weeks”.

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