DOWNTON star Hugh Bonneville has been on a string of dates with an actress.
Hugh, 60, and divorcee Claire Rankin, 53, have spent time at his London flat months after he split from wife Lulu Williams.
He also took her to a bash at Buckingham Palace to meet Queen Camilla and to dinner with one of his Downton Abbey co-stars.
The Canadian actress was previously married to Josh Randall, who appeared alongside Hugh nearly 20 years ago in a US sitcom about a woman’s tangled love life.
Claire has recently been spending time in the UK, where she has visited Hugh at his London pad.
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She has posted pictures with friends on her Instagram but has none up of her with Hugh.
And she was whisked off by the father of one last month to a star-studded event hosted by Camilla.
Hugh, who split from wife of 25 years Lucinda “Lulu” Williams last July, delivered a reading to the young winners of a BBC writing competition, with Claire watching in the audience.
Then on Wednesday the couple enjoyed a dinner with Hugh’s Downton Abbey co-star Michelle Dockery.
An onlooker who saw the couple strolling arm in arm in central London’s Soho said: “Hugh and Claire looked so happy together, they couldn’t stop smiling.
“They looked liked any other couple and seemed to be really enjoying each other’s company.”
Hugh wore a purple velvet suit and Claire was seen in a smart coat and black trousers for their evening at the luxury Broadwick Soho Hotel.
Screen star Michelle, 42, and husband Jasper Waller-Bridge, 35, brother of Fleabag creator Phoebe, were among guests who enjoyed dinner and drinks.
They chose from a menu including dishes such as £34 seared Yellowfin tuna and £52 Hereford beef fillet.
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Claire shared a picture the following day and said she had spent the night with “11 delightful companions,” adding: “Lucky me.”
She also namechecked the English sparkling wine company in which Hugh has invested, revealing that their meal was washed down with the posh tipple.
Claire is currently starring in Canadian comedy series Son of a Critch.
The actress, also known for her role in US sci-fi hit Stargate Atlantis, posted a snap of her invitation to the final of the BBC’s 500 Words at Buckingham Palace, the UK’s most celebrated kids’ writing competition.
Claire, also a professional dancer, was taken last week to the world-famous Garrick Club, where dad of one Hugh is a member.
She posted a photo from one of its prestigious rooms, writing: “A sneaky shot.”
The actress, who like Hugh performed in a number of Shakespeare plays in the ’90s, has also been to the theatre.
But on Friday she flew back to Canada from Heathrow Airport — ending her stay in the UK.
Yesterday she posted a picture of herself smiling in a selfie with the telly star, writing: “Until we meet again.”
SHOCK SEPARATION
But she later deleted the image after The Sun on Sunday contacted Hugh’s representatives.
Claire was married to Scrubs star Josh, 52, for 11 years before he filed for divorce in 2012.
Last October The Sun on Sunday broke news of Hugh’s shock separation from wife Lulu, 55.
The couple married in 1998 and renewed their vows five years ago in Las Vegas.
It was understood Lulu, who spent years at Hugh’s side on film sets, was heartbroken over the split.
A source said at the time: “He sat Lulu down one evening and said it’s over.
“It came totally out of the blue.”
Hugh has praised the vital role Lulu has played in running their household and looking after their son Felix, now 20, while he starred in movies and TV shows. He said:
He sat Lulu down one evening and said it’s over.
“Lulu’s priority has been to be a bedrock for Felix and me and I’m completely indebted to her.”
In 2009, Hugh admitted that Lulu motivated him to lose weight when she said he was as “fat as a pig”.
To get back in shape, he hired personal trainers who put him on a strict diet plan and a fitness regime which led to a weight loss of 16lb.
He said: “I’ve often been the guy who doesn’t get the girl.”
The couple would walk Tibetan terriers, Teddy and Sasha, on the South Downs and spend weekends at their West Sussex home entertaining friends with karaoke.
Hugh was among the wedding guests when Downton Abbey star Michelle got hitched last September, alongside a clutch of colleagues including Joanne Froggatt.
He was pictured without his ring — and he did not bring a partner.
Hugh began his stage and screen career in the 1990s but has been best known since 2010 as Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham in Downton Abbey.
He received a Golden Globe nomination and two Emmy nods for his performance, and reprised the role in two movie spin-offs.
Hugh also stars as Henry Brown in the Paddington movie franchise and is set to appear in the third instalment, Paddington in Peru, which went into production last year. However it has been held up by actors’ strikes.
He was also the host of the King’s coronation concert last year in Windsor.
A representative for Hugh did not respond to a request for comment.
