Sarah Bunting

Sarah Bunting
Biographical information
Marital status	Single
Residence	Downton, Yorkshire, England
Title(s)	Miss Bunting
Physical information
Gender	Female
Hair colour	Auburn
Family information
Family	None known
Affiliation
Occupation	Schoolteacher
Loyalty	Liberal Party Tom Branson
Behind the scenes
Portrayed by	Daisy Lewis

Miss Sarah Bunting is a schoolteacher in Downton.

Biography

Series 4

Tom Branson meets Sarah at a political rally in Ripon. Initially she does not allow him to sit next to her, but eventually she does. While MP John Ward speaks, they discuss their viewpoints. 

Sarah meets Tom again with Isobel Crawley. She remarks she is not convinced by his Socialism (which he mentioned before) because she did not know at the time of the rally he was the agent and son-in-law of "our local milord." Isobel defends Tom as a keen political thinker who is not afraid to question his beliefs. Sarah describes Isobel's words as eloquent and that she would stay to argue but she would be late for work at the school.

Sarah meets Tom again when he finds her on the road with a flat tire. A friend of hers has already gone for help, but Tom decides to help himself. She is impressed that he is actually out on business, under the impression that when an estate's agent is a relation he gets free shooting while others do the work.

Tom then remarks she knows some of his story but not all of it, revealing that when he first came to Downton it was to be the chauffeur. Her interest in him is sparked more, and she asks him if he was still the chauffeur when he got married. He says it was a long story, and she remarks, "Everything with you is a long story."

Sarah is aware Tom's wife died, and expresses her sympathy for Sybil's passing. She notes that Sybil must have been a very unusual and independent person, to which Tom says "You can say that again." Sarah thinks it was nice that the family let him stay at Downton and make a life there (which Tom thought was right at the time considering his daughter). She remarks that it gives her a kinder view toward the Crawley family, because as a "rule" of hers, she does not warm up to their type. Tom tells her before she finally leaves he believes in people, not types.

Later she attends a bazaar at Downton, meeting Tom again and his daughter. Beforehand she was there helping set up, remarking to Tom how he was being used as a beast of burden by the family. Then he introduces her to his mother-in-law, who is also busy helping out. Cora is kind to her, and after walking away, Sarah remarks "So that's the great Countess of Grantham." Tom tells her yes, and that Lady Grantham is another beast of burden, countering Sarah's earlier remark.

2013 Christmas Special

In 1923, Tom is showing Sarah the upper floors of Downton when they run into Thomas Barrow. Barrow informs Lord Grantham of what he saw, and Lord Grantham asks about her to Tom during a poker game.

She meets Violet for the first time, who looks upon her disapprovingly.

Series 5

Sarah is set to stir up discontent at Downton Abbey. She believes in equality and that the lower classes, including servants, should be educated.

According to actress Daisy Lewis, Sarah's first love in life his her work, which will complicate a possible romance with Tom Branson.

Behind the scenes

• She is portrayed by Daisy Lewis.

Appearances

Appearances and Mentions
Series 4	Episode 1	Episode 2	Episode 3	Episode 4	Episode 5	Episode 6	Episode 7 Appears	Episode 8 Appears	Christmas Special Appears
Series 6	Episode 1	Episode 2	Episode 3	Episode 4	Episode 5	Episode 6	Episode 7	Episode 8	Christmas Special

External Links

1. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/downton-abbey/11066494/Dont-call-me-feisty-warns-Downton-Abbey-actress-Daisy-Lewis.html