DOWNTON Abbey star Hugh Bonneville has been praised online for using a "fluff" interview about his new film to raise awareness about the genocide in Gaza.
The 61-year-old was at the London premiere of the third and final Downton Abbey film when he was approached by ITV presenter Helen Keenan.
After the journalist asked the actor to discuss the latest instalment in the franchise, he replied: "Hello, good evening. Before I talk about the fluff and loveliness of our wonderful film, what's about to happen in Gaza City is absolutely indefensible.
"The international community must do more to bring it to an end."
He went on to describe the new film as "lovely", while celebrating 15 years of the series.
As the clip ended, the presenter in the studio added: "Of course it's not about the politics, it's all about the film."
"Before I talk about the fluff and loveliness of our wonderful film, what's about to happen in Gaza is indefensible, the international community must do more to bring it to an end" Hugh Bonneville Presenter "Of course it's not about the politics, it's all about the film" #Gaza pic.twitter.com/xBhssKXiPS
— Fintan McCarthy (@MccarthyFintan) September 4, 2025
The star won praise on social media for using the prime time interview to raise the major issue.
One post with thousands of retweets read: "Big up Hugh Bonneville. He used his red carpet interview to highlight what's happening in Gaza and calls it indefensible."
Another account added: "I've always liked Hugh Bonneville ... Imagine my DELIGHT at hearing what this wonderful decent man said at the premiere of Downton Abbey."
Others praised the actor's strategy in the interview. "Hugh Bonneville calling out what’s happening in Gaza then not pausing for breath so they can’t edit it out is sheer class," said one post.
The interview came as local hospitals in Gaza said Israeli strikes had killed 28 people, mostly women and children, overnight and into Thursday, as Israel pressed ahead with the initial stages of its offensive in famine-stricken Gaza City.
Gaza’s health ministry said that 64,231 Palestinians had been killed since the start of the war.
