Politics
Where are the cast of Downton Abbey now? From photo scandals to tragic cancer deaths and divorce hell
SUNDAY night’s have never been the same since Downton Abbey ended in 2015.
The ITV period drama is set in the early 20th Century and follows the exploits of the rich Crawley family and their domestic servants.
Downton Abbey was a huge hit during its run from 2010-2015[/caption]
It first aired in 2010 and became a huge hit, spanning six series and even a film version in 2019.
The cast included already well established actors and newcomers who found a whole new level of fame by being on the show.
Here’s what they have all been up to since the show ended.
Hugh Bonneville – Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham
Hugh Bonneville played Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham[/caption]
Hugh had starred in a number of films before Downton Abbey including Notting Hill and Mansfield Park.
His role as Robert Crawley earned him Golden Globe and Emmy Awards nominations.
Since the show ended he has starred in BBC comedy W1A and provided his voice for the Paddington film and its sequel.
Dame Maggie Smith – Dowager Countess Violet Crawley
Dame Maggie Smith is iconic as the Dowager Countess[/caption]
Dame Maggie already had a long and established career on stage and on-screen before taking on the role of the iconic Dowager Countess.
The actress has won a record four BAFTAs for Best Actress and three Golden Globe Awards during her career.
While Dame Maggie has taken a bit of a step back from acting since Downton ended, she returned for the film and is due to star in its sequel.
She also played the titular role in the film adaptation of Alan Bennett’s The Lady in the Van in 2015.
Elizabeth McGovern – Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham
Elizabeth McGovern played Cora, Countess of Grantham[/caption]
Elizabeth played American heiress Cora, who was married to Hugh’s character Robert Crawley.
Elizabeth had already starred in a number of films before Downton, and when the show ended she went on to appear in The Wife and The Commuter.
Her most recent role was in the 2019 adaptation of War of the Worlds.
Michelle Dockery – Mary Crawley
Michelle Dockery played the eldest daughter of the Crawley’s[/caption]
Michelle played the eldest of the Crawley children, who went on to marry distant cousin Matthew Crawley before he was killed in a car crash just after she gave birth to their son.
Since Downton ended, Michelle has starred in a number of high profile films including Hanna, Anna Karenina, Non-Stop and The Gentlemen.
She has also received an Emmy nomination for her role in Netflix miniseries Godless.
However, Michelle tragically lost her fiancé John Dineen to cancer at the age of just 34 in 2015.
She has since said acting served as a “release” following her grief.
Joanne Froggatt – Anna Bates
Joanne played Anna, the lady’s maid to Mary Crawley on the show.
Since Downton, Joanne has starred in hit ITV drama Liar and played Victorian murderer Mary Ann Cotton in Dark Angel, another ITV production.
Joanne made her stage debut at London’s Bridge Theatre in the play Als, Always in February 2019.
Sadly, she confirmed she had split from her husband of eight years, James Cannon, last year.
Jim Carter – Mr Carson
Jim Carter was the family’s butler, Mr Carson[/caption]
Jim played the family’s butler on the show, and earned four Primetime Emmy Award nominations for the role.
Jim is married to actress Imelda Staunton, who guest starred in the film version of the show.
Since Downton ended, Jim has narrated various history documentaries including ones about Queen Victoria and Stonehenge.
He also narrates the announcements for the ride Hex – The Legend of the Towers, at Staffordshire’s Alton Towers theme park.
Dame Penelope Wilton – Isobel Crawley
Dame Penelope Wilton played Isobel Crawley[/caption]
Like her fellow Dame Maggie Smith, Penelope has had a long and extensive career before Downton Abbey.
She was made a Dame in 2016 and has starred in Ricky Gervais Netflix comedy After Life since Downton ended.
Dame Penelope has also starred as The Queen in the Steven Spielberg adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The BFG in 2016.
Jessica Brown Findlay – Sybil Crawley
Jessica played the youngest of the Crawley children until series three, when Sybil died due to eclampsia after giving birth to her daughter.
Since Downton, Jessica has starred in films including Albatross, Winter’s Tale and Victor Frakenstein.
She also appeared in saucy BBC period drama Harlots and is currently playing a lead role in American series, Brave New World.
Lily James – Rose MacClare
Lily James rose to fame as Rose MacClare on the show[/caption]
Lily joined the show in series three and played Rose until it ended in 2015.
The show propelled her to fame and she has gone on to play the titular role of Cinderella in the live-action Disney film in 2015 as well as a younger version of Meryl Streep’s character in Mama Mia! Here We Go Again in 2018.
Lily was in a five-year relationship with former Doctor Who actor Matt Smit but they split in 2019.
Last year Lily made headlines after she was pictured kissing married actor Dominic West in Rome, Italy.
The pair had worked together on the BBC’s adaptation of Nancy Mitford’s novel The Pursuit Of Love.
Dominic has now joined the cast of the second Downton Abbey movie, so considering the furore the pair caused last year, it’s unlikely Lily will return as Rose.
Laura Carmichael – Edith Crawley
Laura Carmichael played the middle Crawley sister, Edith[/caption]
Edith was the middle daughter of the Crawley family and often felt like the forgotten sister.
Since Downton, she has appeared in hit ITV drama Marcella before transforming for 2020 drama, The Secret She Keeps.
Laura has been in a relationship with Downton co-star Michael C. Fox since 2016.
Brendan Coyle – John Bates
Brendan played Robert Crawley’s downtrodden valet and Anna’s husband, John.
He has since gone on to appear in films including Me Before You, The Rising and Mary Queen of Scots, where he played the traitorous Earl of Lennox.
Dan Stevens – Matthew Crawley
Dan Stevens played Matthew Crawley until series three[/caption]
Dan appeared in the show for three series before Matthew tragically died in a car crash as he returned home from the hospital following the birth of his child.
Since the show, he has appeared in a number of big budget films including the live-action Disney film Beauty and the Beast, Sir Lancelot in Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb and most recently, Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.
Allen Leech – Tom Branson
Allen Leech played chauffeur Tom Branson[/caption]
Allen played the Crawley family’s chauffeur who went on to marry Lady Sybil before her death in childbirth.
Tom had a major role in the first Downton film and has also starred in The Sweeney, The Imitation Game and as Freddie Mercury’s manager and lover Paul Prenter in Bohemian Rhapsody.
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Rose Leslie – Gwen Dawson
Rose played Downton housemaid Gwen Dawson in the first series before returning in the final season as a successful married woman.
Between her stints on the show, Rose played Jon Snow’s wildling lover Ygritte for three seasons in hit series Game of Thrones.
Romance spilled over into her real life too, as she married Jon Snow actor Kit Harington in 2018 and the couple welcomed their first child together, a baby boy, earlier this year.
