Downton fans, the wait is over, as the show returns for a fifth series.

Actress Lily James tells Jeananne Craig what's in store for her character and what's on the horizon for her beyond starring in the period drama

HELLO, I'm really hot and sweaty..." says Lily James, by way of introduction, mid-way through a day promoting the new series of Downton Abbey.

Like her rebellious alter ego, Lady Rose MacClare, it seems the actress - isn't one for airs and graces.

The 25-year-old's honesty and openness backfired on a recent holiday in south-east Asia, however, when she let slip her day job to a boatload of fellow tourists.

"We all had a few drinks, and people say, 'What do you do? Oh, you're an actor, oh really, in what?' And you're like, 'Umm, Downton Abbey', and they're like, 'Argh!', and you're stranded on a boat,"' James exclaims. "From then on, I pretended I worked in a cake shop..."

The actress had better brace herself for even more attention in the months ahead, with a lead role in Kenneth Branagh's upcoming Cinderella film (out next year), and a rumoured romance with ex-Doctor Who Matt Smith.

But first there's a fifth series of Downton.

Surrey-born James joined the show as the Dowager Countess' fun-loving great-niece in 2012, two years after graduating from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Last year, Rose, who was taken in by the Crawleys when her parents moved abroad, threw herself into the London party scene and enjoyed a romance with jazz singer Jack Ross - only for him to call their engagement off.

In series five, we'll see the character develop more of a social conscience, undertaking volunteer work and dabbling in some matchmaking for widowed former chauffeur, Tom Branson.

"She's growing up a bit," James explains. "Aafter all the drama of last year - falling in love about five times, having her heart broken and then realising, actually, she's fine - she's ready to take life more slowly.

"And she feels safe at Downton, which is a feeling Rose never had. She's always felt unstable and unloved. Poor Rose."

There's still some hope of the beautiful character meeting a suitor, however.

"For girls that age, that was it - that was what you did, that was what you looked for, that was your future," says the actress.

"Having said that, she's not going to settle for anything but head-over-heels love."

We'll also see the return of Rose's father, played by Peter Egan.

"We had the best scenes together, very moving and teary. He's such a perfect father, and then she has this mother that's so difficult," James adds. "You see why Rose is the way she is,"

Landing a role on the award-winning show - which has been sold to 250 territories worldwide - has been life-changing for the actress.

"It's so hard coming out of drama school to claim your right to be taken seriously, and even get auditions. Now I'm getting auditions, I know what I'm doing next, I'm so lucky and I really don't want it to stop."

Downton Abbey returns to ITV on Sunday, September 21