Downton Abbey's lady of the manor Elizabeth McGovern has hit the streets to promote her music show at the world's largest arts festival.

While she is most commonly known as Cora Crawley, the Countess of Grantham, in the award-winning ITV drama, McGovern is also a musician and is performing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for the first time.

She is the songwriter and lead singer for Sadie and The Hotheads who play music that combines the styles of folk and country.

While thousands of performers struggle to attract attention for their events at the annual festival, a crowd gathered on Edinburgh's Royal Mile as McGovern handed out flyers for her show and chatted to people today, the day after the band's first performance.

The actress and musician has been playing the guitar for years and was self-taught until she started taking lessons with Steve Nelson of The Nelson Brothers.

She was encouraged to write her own material and the band was formed in 2007 with their first album I Can Wait receiving positive reviews.

"I am in awe of the musicians on this project. They create magic out of thin air. Time and time again, on whatever drafty stage or pub we happen to be in," said McGovern.

Sadie and the Hotheads are playing at the New Town Theatre in Edinburgh until August 25.