See Photos of the "Downton Abbey" Cast Then and Now

Leech made a splash as Tom Branson, the charming and rebellious Irish socialist who takes a job as the Crawleys' chaffeur, only to find a friend (and then some) in progressive-minded Lady Sybil. He was already a rising star in the Irish film industry, with acclaimed roles in projects like "Cowboys and Angels" and "Love Is the Drug." American audiences might have also recognized him from his role as Marcus Agrippa on the TV series "Rome."