Hugh Bonneville brought attention to the critical situation in Gaza(Image: Variety, Variety via Getty Images)
Hugh Bonneville halted a live TV interview to make an urgent plea regarding the crisis in Gaza.
The 61-year-old star appeared at the premiere for the third and final Downton Abbey movie in Leicester Square, London on Wednesday, where he spoke with ITV London News correspondent Helen Keenan. However, before discussing the upcoming concluding chapter, where he returns as the Earl of Grantham, Bonneville insisted the global community must take greater action to address the Gaza conflict.
“Before I talk about the fluff and loveliness of our wonderful film – what’s about to happen in Gaza is indefensible,” he declared, pointing straight at the camera with an intense stare. “The international community must do more to bring it to an end.”
Seamlessly transitioning, he added, “Downton Abbey is a lovely film and we’re going to celebrate 15 glorious years of it tonight.” When the broadcast returned to the news presenter in the ITV London News studio, she remarked, “Of course, it’s not about the politics, it’s all about the film.”
The actor attended the premiere with his girlfriend Heidi Kadlecova(Image: Getty)
Bonneville appeared more joyful than ever as he stepped onto the red carpet for the Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale premiere alongside his partner Heidi Kadlecova. He wore a sleek black tuxedo combined with a crisp white shirt and black bow tie, reports the Express.
Plant-based lifestyle influencer Kadlecova matched the Paddington actor perfectly in a breathtaking black and nude dress decorated with sparkling sequin details. He joined his fellow cast members, including Laura Carmichael, Joanne Froggatt, and Michelle Dockery, who recently announced her pregnancy, at the event.
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The Grand Finale, set to hit theaters on September 12, follows the Crawley family as they navigate potential social ruin when Mary becomes embroiled in a public scandal. Executive producer Gareth Neale shared how the final chapter will honor the sharp-witted Lady Violet Crawley and Maggie Smith, who passed away in September 2024.
In an interview with TV Line, he said, “The fact that Dame Maggie herself has now passed away since that time, I do think, has given a real added poignancy to a story that we would have planned anyway.
“The loss of the Dowager, it now feels far more significant that you see actors playing characters mourning the family matriarch. But I also see actors mourning the matriarch of the show, and it feels more genuine and more meaningful.”
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