The badder the better for Downton Abbey’s bitter O’Brien

By SHERNA NOAH
Published on 30/10/2012 00:35

DOWNTON Abbey star Siobhan Finneran says she gets a kick out of playing the most hated character on television.

The actress, 46, stars alongside Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern as bitter spinster Sarah O’Brien, Lady Grantham’s scheming lady’s maid.

She said: “I love O’Brien the most when she’s spiteful and has a brilliant put-down. She’s a clever lady and a bad enemy to make. Some people like to think she was just born bad, but I believe that at some point she has had some damage done to her.

“I have invented a back story for her, although whether that matches what Julian [Fellowes]had in mind, I’m not sure.”

The actress, who also stars in the TV comedy Benidorm, said she would like to see her alter ego find romance.

“O’Brien with a boyfriend would be stupendous! Who would be brave enough to take her on a date?”