Downton Abbey star Dan Stevens on why his wife is his only leading lady and he does prefer redheads!

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 6:48 PM on 13th November 2011

Viewers spent the last series of Downton Abbey watching his character Matthew Crawley embroiled in a passionate love triangle between a redhead and a sultry brunette.

But it seems life does not mirror art, as unlike his dashing character Matthew Crawley, actor Dan Stevens does prefer redheads as his stunning wife Susie Hariet has flame coloured locks.
Diehard Downton fans watched as heir to the Abbey spent the second season of the hit ITV drama torn between the respective charms of his fiancee, Lavinia Swire (Zoe Boyle), and his cousin, Lady Mary Crawley (Michelle Dockery).

 

Happy couple: Showing life doesn't always imitate art Dan Stevens with his stunning red head wife Susie Hariet

In a thrilling last episode an outbreak of Spanish flu claimed the life of Downton heir Miss Swire, who poignantly told him to find happiness with her brunette love rival.

But it seems his character's period love triangle couldn't be further from the his real life as Croydon-born Dan is happily married to his wife, a South African jazz vocalist-turned-singing teacher.
And Croydon-born Dan said it is his wife's complete indifference to the social structure of Downton and Old English behaviour that makes him a 'very lucky man'.

Viewers saw Miss Lavinia Swire, the fiancée of Downton heir Matthew Crawley, die from Spanish flu

Life doesn't always imitate art: Lavinia Swire (played by Zoe Boyle) and Susie Hariet

Attention: Dan Stevens said he is enjoying the attention from admirers of all ages for his portrayal of Matthew Crawley on with the programme or

He told The Telegraph: 'I’m lucky to be married to someone who entirely gets what I do. She is totally sympathetic to the actor’s life. Her own mother was an actress, so she sort of grew up with it.'

'She has absolutely no concept of the British class system and, after 10 years here she’s still trying to work it out. I suppose it was refreshing to meet someone who had the same level of bemusement about it as me.'

Love: Viewers are waiting to see if Lady Mary Crawley will be reunited with Matthew Crawley in the third series of Downton

They met in 2006, when they were appearing at different theatres in Sheffield.

'I was getting my kit off every night at the Crucible doing The Romans in Britain, and she was appearing in a musical. We met and it was pretty instant.'

The couple now have a 21-month-old daughter, Willow.

Diehard fans of the Julian Fellowes penned drama are already looking forward to the next series of the show which is due to air in July 2012.





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