By Wonderwall.com Editors
7:25am PST, Dec 15, 2021
It's been more than a decade since "Downton Abbey" first debuted in the U.K. in September 2010. The British historical drama — which aired on PBS in the United States and claimed 15 Emmys over the course of its five-year, six-season run — launched several of its cast members to international stardom. In honor of Michelle Dockery's 40th birthday on Dec. 15, 2021, Wonderwall.com is taking a look back at the stars of the show — which spawned a 2019 film and an upcoming sequel — and how they've changed over the years.
Keep reading to catch up with the women who brought Lady Mary Crawley, Lady Edith Crawley and more fan-favorite characters to life…
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Michelle Dockery, who scored three consecutive Emmy nominations for her work on "Downton Abbey," went on to star on the short-lived series "Good Behavior" and on the miniseries "Defending Jacob" and "Godless," for which she scored her fourth Emmy nomination. She also starred in Guy Ritchie's "The Gentlemen" and, of course, in the 2019 "Downton Abbey" movie. Next, she's set to star in the 2022 sequel, "Downton Abbey: A New Era," and on the Netflix series "Anatomy of a Scandal." The English actress has not dated publicly since the 2015 death of her fiancé, Irish public relations exec John Dineen, following a battle with cancer. (Her "Downton" co-star Allen Leech introduced them to each other in 2013.)
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Laura Carmichael stars as Lady Edith Crawley — the middle child and second daughter of the Earl and Countess of Grantham — in the "Downton Abbey" franchise.
Laura Carmichael was fresh out of drama school when she made her television debut on "Downton Abbey" in 2010. After the series came to an end, she appeared on the first season of the British series "Marcella," had a small role in the 2016 biopic "A United Kingdom" and headlined the miniseries "The Secrets She Keeps" and "The Spanish Princess." She returned to the role of Edith in the 2019 "Downton Abbey" movie, and next, she's set to star in the 2022 sequel: "Downton Abbey: A New Era." Laura and "Downton" co-star Michael Fox (who plays Andy the footman) have been an item since 2018.
Hugh Bonneville stars in the "Downton Abbey" franchise as Robert Crawley, 7th Earl of Grantham and Mary and Edith's father.
Hugh Bonneville, who scored two Emmy nominations for his work on "Downton Abbey," has since starred in "Paddington 2," "Breathe" and Netflix's "Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey," along with several other smaller films. He's also worked as a voice actor — most notably on "Sofia the First" — and headlined the British mockumentary sitcom "W1A." He returned to the role of Robert Crawley in the 2019 "Downton Abbey" movie, and next, he's set to star in the 2022 sequel, "Downton Abbey: A New Era." Hugh shares one son with his wife of more than two decades, Lucinda "Lulu" Evans.
Maggie Smith stars in the "Downton Abbey" franchise as Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham and Robert's mother.
Maggie Smith won three Emmys for her work on "Downton Abbey." She later voiced a character in 2018's "Sherlock Gnomes," starred in the 2021 Netflix holiday movie "A Boy Called Christmas" and returned to the role of the Dowager Countess in the 2019 "Downton Abbey" movie. Next, she's set to star in the 2022 sequel, "Downton Abbey: A New Era." The iconic actress has two sons from her first marriage to Chris Larkin. Her second husband, playwright Beverley Cross, died in 1998. They were married for more than two decades before his death.
Elizabeth McGovern stars in the "Downton Abbey" franchise as Cora Crawley, the Countess of Grantham — Robert's wife and Mary and Edith's mother.
Elizabeth McGovern, who scored one Emmy nomination for her work on "Downton Abbey," went on to star in "The Wife," "The Commuter" and "The Chaperone" — which was written by "Downton" creator Julian Fellowes — and she currently stars on the "War of the Worlds" TV series. She returned to the role of Cora Crawley in the 2019 "Downton Abbey" movie and will star in the 2022 sequel, "Downton Abbey: A New Era." Elizabeth shares two daughters with director Simon Curtis, whom she married in 1992.
Matthew Goode stars in the "Downton Abbey" franchise as Henry Talbot, Mary's second husband.
After the "Downton Abbey" TV show came to an end, Matthew Goode starred on the 2016 "Roots" remake and on "The Crown." (He scored his first Emmy nomination in 2018 for his work as Princess Margaret's husband, Antony Armstrong-Jones, on the hit Netflix series.) He also appeared in 2016's "Allied" and in several other smaller films including 2021's "Silent Night" and "The King's Man." Since 2018's he's starred on the "A Discovery of Witches" TV series, and next, he's set to star as film producer Robert Evans on "The Offer," a miniseries chronicling the making of "The Godfather." (Though he starred in the 2019 "Downton Abbey" movie, he's not set to return for the 2022 sequel.) Matthew married longtime love Sophie Dymoke in 2014. They share two daughters and a son.
Harry Hadden-Paton stars in the "Downton Abbey" franchise as Bertie Pelham, the 7th Marquess of Hexham who later becomes Edith's husband.
Harry Hadden-Paton went on to star on "Versailles" and "The Crown." He also had a small role in the 2018 horror film "The Little Stranger," voiced JARVIS in the 2020 video game "Marvel's Avengers" and scored a Tony nomination in 2018 for his Broadway debut as Henry Higgins in the revival of "My Fair Lady." He currently stars as British writer-philosopher Aldous Huxley in the Broadway production of "Flying Over Sunset." (Though he appeared in the 2019 "Downton Abbey" movie, he's not set to return for the 2022 sequel.) Harry shares two children with his wife, actress Rebecca Night. They reportedly married the same year "Downton" debuted.
Lily James appears in the "Downton Abbey" franchise as Lady Rose MacClare, a second cousin of the Crawley family who's the daughter of Hugh and Susan MacClare (Lord and Lady Flintshire).
After her time on "Downton Abbey" came to an end, Lily James starred on the 2016 "War & Peace" miniseries and in the films "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies," "Baby Driver," "Darkest Hour," "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again" and "Yesterday." In 2020, her off-and-on romance of several years with "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" co-star Matt Smith finally came to an end. In the wake of the breakup, she was linked to Chris Evans, to married "Rebecca" co-star Armie Hammer and to married "The Pursuit of Love" co-star Dominic West. Up next, she stars as Pamela Anderson on the 2022 Hulu miniseries "Pam & Tommy."
Allen Leech stars in the "Downton Abbey" franchise as Tom Branson, the Crawleys' former chauffeur who married their youngest daughter — Lady Sybil Crawley, who tragically died after childbirth — and later serves as their estate manager.
Allen Leech went on to star on the short-lived Canadian crime drama "Bellevue," in the hit 2018 Elton John biopic "Bohemian Rhapsody" and in the 2021 Hallmark Channel made-for-TV movie "As Luck Would Have It." He returned to the role of Tom Branson in the 2019 "Downton Abbey" movie and is set to appear in the 2022 sequel, "Downton Abbey: A New Era." Allen married actress Jessica Blair Herman in early 2019. They welcomed a daughter in either late 2019 or early 2020.
Jim Carter stars in the "Downton Abbey" franchise as the Crawley's longtime butler, Mr. Charles Carson.
Jim Carter scored four Emmy nominations in consecutive years for his work on "Downton Abbey." He then starred on "Knightfall," voiced a character in "Transformers: The Last Knight" and appeared in 2019's "The Good Liar." He returned to the role of Mr. Carson in the 2019 "Downton Abbey" movie and is set to appear in the 2022 sequel, "Downton Abbey: A New Era." He's also set to star in the upcoming Willy Wonka origin story "Wonka." Jim shares a daughter — "Bridgerton" actress Bessie Carter (who plays Prudence Featherington on the hit Netflix series) — with his wife of nearly four decades, actress Imelda Staunton, who portrayed Maud Bagshaw in the first "Downton" movie.
Phyllis Logan stars in the "Downton Abbey" franchise as Mrs. Hughes, the Crowley's head housekeeper who eventually marries Mr. Carson.
Phyllis Logan has starred in predominantly smaller British productions — shows like "Girlfriends" and "The Good Karma Hospital" and films like "Misbehaviour" and "The Last Bus" — since the "Downton Abbey" series came to an end. She returned to the role of Mrs. Hughes in the 2019 "Downton Abbey" movie and is set to star in the 2022 sequel, "Downton Abbey: A New Era." In 2011, following nearly two decades of coupledom, Phyllis married actor Kevin McNally, with whom she shares a son.
Brendan Coyle stars as John Bates, Lord Grantham's valet, in the "Downton Abbey" franchise.
Brendan Coyle, who scored an Emmy nomination for his work on "Downton Abbey," went on to star on the Netflix miniseries "Requiem" and in the films "Me Before You" and "Mary Queen of Scots." He returned to the role of Mr. Bates in the 2019 "Downton Abbey" movie but is not set to appear in the 2022 sequel.
Joanne Froggatt stars in the "Downton Abbey" franchise as Anna Bates, Lady Mary's maid who marries Mr. Bates.
Joanne Froggatt scored three Emmy nominations for her work on "Downton Abbey." She then starred in the 2017 biopic "Mary Shelley" and in a handful of other smaller films. She also voiced Wendy on the animated series "Bob the Builder" from 2015 to 2018 and headlines the British dramas "Liar" and "Angela Black." Joanne returned to the role of Anna Bates in the 2019 "Downton Abbey" movie and is set to appear in the 2022 sequel, "Downton Abbey: A New Era." In 2012, she married longtime love James Cannon, but it wasn't meant to be: In early 2020, she revealed that they'd quietly called it quits.
Lesley Nicol stars as head cook Beryl Patmore in the "Downton Abbey" franchise.
Lesley Nicol has worked predominantly as a voice actress since the "Downton Abbey" series came to an end, voicing characters on shows like "Vampirina," "Jellystone" and the "Animaniacs" reboot. She also had a stint on the short-lived crime-drama series "The Catch" and popped up on a 2020 episode of "The Boys." Lesley returned to the role of cook Beryl Patmore in the 2019 "Downton Abbey" movie and is set to appear in the 2022 sequel, "Downton Abbey: A New Era."
Sophie McShera stars as kitchen maid-turned-assistant cook Daisy Mason in the "Downton Abbey" franchise.
After the "Downton Abbey" series came to an end, Sophie McShera starred on the cult musical TV show "Galavant," popped up in the 2019 dramedy "The Personal History of David Copperfield" and appeared on two episodes of "The Queen's Gambit." She also returned to the role of Daisy in the 2019 "Downton Abbey" movie and is set to appear in the 2022 sequel, "Downton Abbey: A New Era."
Rob James-Collier stars as troubled under-butler Thomas Barrow, who turns his life around and later gets a promotion, in the "Downton Abbey" franchise.
After the "Downton Abbey" series came to an end, Rob James-Collier starred on a handful of lesser known shows including "The Level," "Ackley Bridge" and "Fate: The Winx Saga." He returned to the role of Thomas Barrow in the 2019 "Downton Abbey" movie and is set to appear in the 2022 sequel, "Downton Abbey: A New Era." Rob has a son with long-term partner Lauren Chandiram and a daughter from a previous relationship.
Michael Fox stars as footman Andy Parker in the "Downton Abbey" franchise.
After the "Downton Abbey" TV show came to an end, Michael Fox starred in "Dunkirk," the 2019 "Downton Abbey" movie and a handful of short films. He's set to return to the role of Andy in the 2022 sequel "Downton Abbey: A New Era." Michael and "Downton" co-star Laura Carmichael have been an item since 2018.
Kevin Doyle stars in the "Downton Abbey" franchise as Matthew Crawley's former valet, Joseph Molesley, who later works as a footman and teacher.
After the "Downton Abbey" TV show came to an end, Kevin Doyle starred on a handful of lesser known British TV shows including "Happy Valley," "Paranoid," "Miss Scarlet and the Duke" and "Silent Witness." He also starred in the 2019 "Downton Abbey" movie, though he's not set to appear in the 2022 sequel. Instead, he'll star on the upcoming second season of "The Witcher." Kevin is married to actress Olwen May.
Raquel Cassidy stars in the "Downton Abbey" franchise as the Countess of Grantham's maid, Phyllis Baxter.
Raquel Cassidy went on to star on "The Worst Witch" from 2017 to 2020. She also popped up in 2019's "Official Secrets" and appeared on the lesser known British TV shows "Uncle," "Silent Witness" and "White Dragon." She returned to the role of Phyllis Baxter in the 2019 "Downton Abbey" movie but is not set to appear in the 2022 sequel.
