Downton Abbey star Joanne Froggatt may have won a global following thanks to the phenomenal success of the hit show - but she still gets star-struck.

The actress, who plays loveable Anna Bates in the Emmy-award winning series, admitted she was lost for words when she bumped into Hollywood star Ewan McGregor.

She told the Sunday Express magazine S that she and her husband James Cannon spotted the Star Wars actor while out.

She said: "He walked right past and me and my husband were going 'Ooh, it's Ewan McGregor'. Then James said, 'Oh no, he's seen me looking at him!' and I was going 'Don't look, just act really cool'."

When Ewan and his wife Eve approached the couple, they feared they were going to get a ticking off for staring at him - but instead he revealed he is a massive Downton fan.

Joanne said: "I whispered to James, 'Do you think we've offended him?'. Then Ewan went, 'I'm so sorry. Did you see us staring at you? We're massive Downton fans and our girls love the show.'

"That was amazing, and we ended up having a lovely evening with them."

The Yorkshire-born actress also revealed she has been inundated with acting offers following the success of Downton, but she insisted the show remains a priority.

She has also been lined up to star in the Rabbit Hole in the West End. The hard-hitting play, which has also been made into a film starring Nicole Kidman, follows a couple as they struggle to cope with the death of their young son.