List of Downton Abbey characters

Tom Branson was supposed to appear in only three episodes of the first series,<ref name="Scotsman On the Return of Downton Abbey" /> and Branson was originally [[Yorkshire]]-born.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}} Moreover, actor Leech wanted to audition for Thomas Barrow, but chose Branson. Leech's audition for the role convinced Julian Fellowes to expand his role and to transform Branson into an Irishman.<ref name="Scotsman On the Return of Downton Abbey">{{cite news | date=15 September 2012 | url=http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/tv-and-radio/interview-allen-leech-on-the-return-of-downton-abbey-1-2527815 | title=Interview: Allen Leech on the return of Downton Abbey | newspaper=[[The Scotsman]] | access-date=10 November 2012 | author=Randall, Lee | archive-date=22 November 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121122055221/http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/tv-and-radio/interview-allen-leech-on-the-return-of-downton-abbey-1-2527815 | url-status=live }}</ref> Leech at first tried to develop a Yorkshire accent in an effort to prevent his character from becoming an Irish stereotype, but when he was persuaded that Tom would not become such, he used his native Irish accent.<ref name="Finn">{{cite news|title=Downton star told to keep his Irish accent|date=5 January 2011|url=http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/around-town/downton-star-told-to-keep-his-irish-accent-27970315.html|first=Melanie|last=Finn|access-date=25 April 2013|archive-date=28 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328111935/http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/around-town/downton-star-told-to-keep-his-irish-accent-27970315.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Tom Branson was supposed to appear in only three episodes of the first series,<ref name="Scotsman On the Return of Downton Abbey" /> and Branson was originally [[Yorkshire]]-born.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}} Moreover, actor Leech wanted to audition for Thomas Barrow, but chose Branson. Leech's audition for the role convinced Julian Fellowes to expand his role and to transform Branson into an Irishman.<ref name="Scotsman On the Return of Downton Abbey">{{cite news | date=15 September 2012 | url=http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/tv-and-radio/interview-allen-leech-on-the-return-of-downton-abbey-1-2527815 | title=Interview: Allen Leech on the return of Downton Abbey | newspaper=[[The Scotsman]] | access-date=10 November 2012 | author=Randall, Lee | archive-date=22 November 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121122055221/http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/tv-and-radio/interview-allen-leech-on-the-return-of-downton-abbey-1-2527815 | url-status=live }}</ref> Leech at first tried to develop a Yorkshire accent in an effort to prevent his character from becoming an Irish stereotype, but when he was persuaded that Tom would not become such, he used his native Irish accent.<ref name="Finn">{{cite news|title=Downton star told to keep his Irish accent|date=5 January 2011|url=http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/around-town/downton-star-told-to-keep-his-irish-accent-27970315.html|first=Melanie|last=Finn|access-date=25 April 2013|archive-date=28 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328111935/http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/around-town/downton-star-told-to-keep-his-irish-accent-27970315.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Tom Branson plays a major role in the first [[Downton Abbey (film)|feature film]], saving the king [[George V]]'s life and courting Lucy Smith (played by [[Tuppence Middleton]]), who is the daughter of Lady Maud Bagshaw (played by [[Imelda Staunton]]), lady-in-waiting to [[Mary of Teck|Queen Mary]] and a cousin of the Crawleys.

Tom Branson plays a major role in the first [[Downton Abbey (film)|feature film]], saving the king [[George V]]'s life and courting Lucy Smith (played by [[Tuppence Middleton]]), who is the daughter of Lady Maud Bagshaw, lady-in-waiting to [[Mary of Teck|Queen Mary]] and a cousin of the Crawleys.

In the [[Downton Abbey: A New Era|second feature film]], Tom weds Lucy Smith. He, Lucy and members of the Crawley family travel to the [[south of France]], after discovering that the Dowager Countess was gifted a villa there, and arranges for her great-granddaughter, Tom's daughter Sybbie Branson, to inherit it. Tom and Lucy later have a child of their own, a daughter, named Violet after the now deceased Dowager Countess of Grantham.

In the [[Downton Abbey: A New Era|second feature film]], Tom weds Lucy Smith. He, Lucy and members of the Crawley family travel to the [[south of France]], after discovering that the Dowager Countess was gifted a villa there, and arranges for her great-granddaughter, Tom's daughter Sybbie Branson, to inherit it. Tom and Lucy later have a child of their own, a daughter, named Violet after the now deceased Dowager Countess of Grantham.