Rose Leslie's acting career has brought her to Downton, Westeros and recently, Hollywood. The British actress is in the south of France, enjoying her first holiday in over a year with some female friends. She starred as the ambitious maid Gwen Parkes in "Downton Abbey," wilding Ygritte in HBO's "Game of Thrones" and a professional dancer in the new film "Sticky Notes."
In HBO's epic drama, Leslie debuted in Season 2 in 2012 and her love and hate relationship with one of the major characters Jon Snow (Kit Harington) fascinated many. Their onscreen romance was far from other's storyline where sex is often about power. Theirs was tenderly genuine and they became a couple in real life.
Leslie and Harington began dating in 2012 but called it quits after a short time. They met again in "Game of Thrones" and rekindled their romance since 2014.
Like many couples at work, Leslie and Harington tried to keep their relationship just between them. However, they failed but she said it was fine.
"We wouldn't flirt in front of other people [and] we thought that nobody knew," Leslie told The Telegraph. "But they did. And it doesn't matter."
Leslie left "Game of Thrones" in 2014, as her character was axed in Season 4. The good thing is that she is still with Harington in real life. The couple are private and do not want to share their whole lives to the public. However, being public figures does not make it all possible.
The couple has been recently spotted enjoying a sunny stroll in New York City in the afternoon of Sept. 1, Thursday. They walked hand in hand and shared sweet laughs as they made their way through the city, according to Pop Sugar.
In 2015, Leslie played Idris Elba's new sidekick in BBC1's "Luther," and returned briefly to "Downton Abbey" in its final series. In Luke Scott's "Morgan," she plays behavioral psychologist Amy who is with a group of scientists sequestered in a clandestine location for five years to raise a genetically modified human.
A corporate-risk-assessment officer played by Kate Mara tried to determine whether the project should move on when a violent incident happened. Leslie said strong female characters dominated the cast and that "Morgan" is a movie empowering women.
The 29-year-old British actress is the middle of five children. Her close-knit family led her to acting.
"My elder brother and sister were both sporty and academic, and I think subconsciously I knew I couldn't go down that avenue," Leslie said. "And being one of five, you've got to perform to get Mum and Dad's attention."
Leslie's family lived in the 15th-century Lickleyhead Castle adjacent to Aberdeen, the seat of their ancestors. The actress feels privileged for the way she and her siblings were brought.
Check on Leslie's interview on "This Morning" below.
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