Bonneville is perhaps most famous for his role as the Earl of Grantham in the award-winning period drama Downton Abbey, which ran for six seasons and has spawned two movies with a third in production.

As Oscar pundits, we try to be fair to everyone, but we know who we’re rooting for — and also, who we aren’t.

One generation of television watchers knows him as Deputy Sheriff Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show. Another recognizes ...