Lesley Nicol, who plays Mrs. Patmore, the cook, says she thinks the focus on accomplishing a meal would have been everything to an early-20th-century cook in a grand house like Downton Abbey. "The basis for everything is something the historical adviser said to me," Nicol said of her inspiration. " 'Consider this like a show. It's got to be the best show.' Then I got it. When someone comes to stay, they've got to leave saying it was perfect. My character has enormous pride and commitment. It just can't go wrong, she can't allow things to go wrong. But what else has she got? That's her life."
