‘Downton Abbey’ season 4: Brendan Coyle reflects, talks time with Shirley MacLaine

If you are an ambitious actor, here’s a tip for you:If you want to win someone over, one of the best ways in which to do so is to take them out to dinner in your neck of the woods. This is something that Brendan Coyle on “Downton Abbey” chose to do with one of his new co-stars in Shirley MacLaine, and based on what he’s saying now, it certainly seems to have worked out for him rather well! He has a new friend, and it’s someone that carries the word “legend” around her in a way in which others can only dream of.

For more on Coyle’s experience with MacLaine, just take a look at what the brilliant man behind the troubled Mr. Bates had to say in a chat with the Press Association:

“It’s very rarely that I get starstruck with actors, no matter how big they are, it’s very rare for me. Footballers yes, actors no.

“Because we weren’t going to have any scenes together, because I was stuck in prison, she wanted to meet me for lunch. And my memory of that lunch is me sitting there doing ‘It’s Shirley MacLaine! It’s Shirley MacLaine!’ like an idiot … But we went to LA to do some promotion work and she came down and we just got on like a house on fire. We were all a bit more relaxed, and she’s just great. She’s seen it all. She’s gone from Broadway to Hollywood royalty. There’s no airs and graces, there’s no front.”

Perhaps this year, Coyle may actually have an opportunity to spend some time with MacLaine on the show’s set. Shirley is returning for one of the last episodes of the season along with “Sideways” actor Paul Giamatti, and Bates will be there so long as he has not figured out another way to land himself in trouble with the law. Given his temper, we cannot completely rule something like this out.

Want more “Downton Abbey” season 4 scoop? Then you’re probably going to find something you like over here when it comes to someone whose time on the show may be done very soon.

Photo: ITV