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Head over heels: Downton Abbey’s Dame Maggie falls for George Clooney

When Hollywood heartthrob George Clooney stepped on set of Downton Abbey, it’s fair to say he had some cast members falling head over heels – literally!

The 50-year-old actor made quite the impression on the show’s matriarch Dame Maggie Smith, who was lucky enough to steal a kiss from the handsome megastar.

Word on set of the British TV series is that the 79-year-old, who plays the very proper Dowager Countess, was so delighted by her George encounter that she went weak at the knees. And who could blame her!

Of George’s time on set, Tom Cullen, who plays Lord Gillingham said he was a hit.

“I know he gave Maggie a kiss and she collapsed onto the sofa…” he said. “He’s a very handsome man, isn’t he?”

Related: George Clooney to star in Downton Abbey

Woman’s Day hears George, who is a massive fan of the show, will play an American character who is a wedding guest at the country estate of Downton.

His guest-spot is set to screen as part of a special episode at Christmas time in the UK.

Related: Downton Abbey cast posts cheeky response to water bottle error

A spokesperson for ITV – the network that produces the show, has said that George will appear in a sketch, but not a full episode, for a charity fundraiser episode, called Text Santa.

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