Brendan Coyle

Brendan Coyle is a British actor. He won the Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role for The Weir in 1999. He also played Nicholas Higgins in the miniseries North amp South, Robert Timmins in the first three series of Lark Rise to Candleford, and more recently Mr Bates, the valet, in Downton Abbey. The last role earned him a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series and a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Coyle was born in Corby, Northamptonshire, to an Irish father and Scottish mother. Due to his English birth and Irish parentage, he holds dual British and Irish citizenship. He is a greatnephew of football manager Sir Matt Busby.

Source: Wikipedia