DOWNTON ABBEY’S GAY CHARACTER TO QUESTION SEXUALITY

Rob James-Collier, who plays Downton Abbey’s gay butler, says his character’s storyline is going to become increasingly harrowing.

The dashing 37-year-old English actor has revealed that in the upcoming fifth season of the hit British period drama, the scheming Thomas Barrow will question and attempt to change his sexuality.

“In this series, because of an event, for the first time he reflects and turns it inwards on himself and questions his sexuality,” James-Collier told Metro.

“Whether or not he would, or could, be happy staying as a homosexual… He goes on a traumatic path to find out whether he can truly be who he is. It’s quite an emotional story line, and hopefully quite gripping.”

The star, who is straight, also told the Daily Mail that filming scenes for the difficult and dark storyline led to some sleepless night.

“There are mornings of those scenes when you haven’t been able to sleep at night because you are so worried about how it will go. Thomas comes right up to the abyss,” he said.

Launched in 2010, the Golden Globe and Emmy award winning Downton Abbey has become one of the most widely watched television dramas in the world.

The fifth series will début in the UK next week. Watch the official trailer below.