John Bates/Brendan Coyle Appreciation Thread #1: We love his smiley eyes.
 

John Bates

John Bates, more commonly referred to as Mr. Bates is Lord Grantham's valet. Initially he is poorly treated by most of the staff due to the fact his uses a cane; Thomas and O'Brien make several attempts to get rid of him. Despite this he is eventually able to earn the respect of much of the staff such as Anna and Mr. Carson who are impressed by his morals and work ethic despite his disability.

Brendan Coyle

Brendan Coyle received a Laurence Olivier Award in 1999 for his performance in Conor McPherson's The Weir and won a New York Critics Theater World Award for Outstanding Broadway Debut for the same play in its New York production. In 2001, Coyle appeared in the film Conspiracy as Gestapo Chief Heinrich Müller. He played Kaz Sweeney in the British drama, True Dare Kiss, and Nicholas Higgins in North & South for the BBC.

Since 2008, he has played Robert Timmins in three BBC series based on the Lark Rise to Candleford novels, written by Flora Thompson. In 2010, he began playing John Bates, a lame valet and former British Army batman to the Earl of Grantham in Julian Fellowes's period drama series, Downton Abbey. Fellowes wrote the part for Coyle for which he was nominated for a BAFTA and IFTA. In 2012 Coyle played the character of Terry Starling in Sky comedy series Starlings.

Thank you Tina for this thread :D

Please add me to the list :flowers:

You're welcome, I've added you. :hug:

Add me please! :flowers:

Added you! :D

add me please!

I was in stitches when he got sentenced at the Christmas episode. Brendan's acting was superb. :thud:

http://www.popphysique.com/blog/wp-c...wnabbey415.jpg

Brendan's acting was superb in the Christmas special the whole trial was gripping to watch :love:

Added you, julyhsm. :)

That was a pretty good episode!

Everytime I watch it, I cry and I ask myself "Fellowes, why did you do this to Bates, why?" But that's just me being so dramatic. :lol:

I know I was so shocked when they found him guilty I was sure that after the trial he would be found innocent!

Anna screaming had me in tears. I hope to see more of Bates in D.A. with Anna in s3. A man like him doesn't deserve to be in jail. :nono:

Add me, please :)

I love Bates. There's something so dignifying about him. I want him to be very happy with Anna.

I love him. Add me please!

I added you two! :)

On another topic, I just realized a few weeks ago, he played in North & South (a good miniseries).

http://img803.imageshack.us/img803/9...higginsand.jpg

It was really good, and he was a great character. :in_love: