NEED TO KNOW
The chronicles of the Crawley family have come to a close with the new movie, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, hitting theaters on Sept. 12.
To celebrate the legacy of the beloved period drama, the show’s cast members have reunited for the new primetime special, Downton Abbey Celebrates The Grand Finale, airing Sept. 10 on NBC and streaming the next day on Peacock.
The series first premiered 15 years ago, and over the course of six seasons and two movies, the actors have developed “close friendships” as star Michelle Dockery told PEOPLE.
“Like Laura [Carmichael] and I are really close. Allen Leach and I are really close; we’re like siblings,” she explained. “Everyone has each other, and that will never go away. We are part of each other’s lives, but [I’ll miss] the actual camaraderie of us all being together and working together.”
Dockery continued, “Every single person in the show is an absolute joy to act with. I’ve loved working with every single person.”
So where is the Downton Abbey cast now? Here’s everything to know about what the actors have been up to since the series ended in 2015.
Michelle Dockery as Mary Crawley
Nick Briggs/PBS, Ben Blackall/© 2022 Focus Features
Michelle Dockery joined the original Downton Abbey cast as Lady Mary Crawley when the series premiered in 2010. Throughout the show’s six seasons, she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and three consecutive Emmy Awards.
Since the show wrapped, Dockery has appeared on TNT’s Good Behavior in 2016, Netflix’s Godless (where she earned her fourth Emmy nod) in 2017, Defending Jacob on Apple TV+ in 2020 and Netflix’s Anatomy of a Scandal in 2022.
That same year, Dockery returned to reprise her role as the eldest daughter of Robert and Cora Crawley in Downton Abbey: A New Era, a sequel to the 2019 film Downton Abbey.
The actress also signed with Decca Records alongside her Downton Abbey costar Michael C. Fox. Together, the stars perform as the musical duo Michelle and Michael. Later that year, Dockery became engaged to her partner of three years, Jasper Waller-Bridge, brother of Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
Dockery is now expecting her first baby with Waller-Bridge. She made the announcement in September 2025, at the world premiere of Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale in London, where she showed off her baby bump on the red carpet.
Hugh Bonneville as Robert Crawley
Nick Briggs/ITV/MASTERPIECE, Ben Blackall/© 2022 Focus Features
In the original series, Hugh Bonneville played Robert Crawley, 7th Earl of Grantham. He earned two consecutive Emmy nominations and three Screen Actors Guild Awards while the show was on the air.
Bonneville has since appeared in 2017’s Breathe, starring Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy, and the Paddington movie trilogy, most recently, 2024’s Paddington in Peru.
He returned as Robert in the 2019 Downton Abbey film, its New Era sequel and 2025’s Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale.
Elizabeth McGovern as Cora Crawley
MASTERPIECE CLASSIC/PBS, Ben Blackall/©2022 Focus Features
Elizabeth McGovern joined the original Downton Abbey cast as Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham. While starring on the show, she earned nominations for an Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG Award.
Since the series’ conclusion, McGovern has appeared in several films, including 2019’s War of the Worlds. Before her Downton Abbey debut, though, she already had several acting credits, including her Academy Award-nominated performance in 1981’s musical film Ragtime.
McGovern reprised her role as Cora Crawley in the three Downton Abbey movies, most recently in 2025’s Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale.
As well as an acclaimed actress, McGovern is a musician. In 2019, she released her fifth studio album, The Truth.
McGovern will next be seen in the supernatural series Anne Rice’s Talamasca: The Secret Order, which will premiere in October 2025 on AMC and AMC+.
Laura Carmichael as Edith Crawley
Nick Briggs/Carnival Film & Television Limited 2010 for MASTERPIECE, Ben Blackall/©2022 Focus Features
In the original Downton Abbey series, Laura Carmichael played Lady Edith Crawley. It was this role that brought her worldwide recognition.
Since the series wrapped in 2015, she has appeared in the 2016 British thriller Marcella and the 2020 drama The Secrets She Keeps.
Carmichael played Edith again in the 2019 Downton Abbey film, in its 2022 New Era sequel and 2025’s Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale. Additionally, she starred in the stage production of Ava: The Secret Conversations in London from January to April 2022.
The year prior, Carmichael welcomed a son with longtime partner and Downton Abbey costar Michael C. Fox.
In the NBC special, Downton Abbey Celebrates The Grand Finale, Carmichael and Fox confirmed they are married. “I owe a lot to this show,” Fox said in the special.
Maggie Smith as Violet Crawley
Carnival for MASTERPIECE, Ben Blackall/©2022 Focus Features
Dame Maggie Smith portrayed Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham when the series first premiered in 2010. During her time on the show, Smith won three of the five Emmy Awards she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress.
Smith played Violet Crawley in the 2019 Downton Abbey film and again in its New Era sequel.
Smith enjoyed an Academy Award-winning career before the series’ start and took on several other notable roles afterward.
In 2018, Smith reprised her role as Harry Potter’s Professor McGonagall to voice a video game from the franchise. That same year, she also voiced Lady Bluebury in Sherlock Gnomes.
In 2019, the actress returned to theater in Christopher Hampton’s A German Life in London at the Bridge Theater.
Smith died at age 89 on Sept. 27, 2024. In September 2025, Smith’s costar, Dockery, told PEOPLE that Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is “partly a tribute to Maggie and to the dowager.”
Penelope Wilton as Isobel Grey
Downtown Abbey/YouTube, Ben Blackall/©2022 Focus Features
Penelope Wilton played Isobel Grey, Lady Merton. On behalf of the cast, she won three of five Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a drama series.
She reprised her role as Isobel Grey in the Downton Abbey films, including the latest, The Grand Finale.
Between 2019 and 2022, Wilton starred in the British comedy series After Life, created by Ricky Gervais. Wilton is also slated to star in Visitation, a horror thriller with a release date yet to be announced.
Allen Leech as Tom Branson
Downton Abbey/YouTub, Ben Blackall/© 2022 Focus Features
Allen Leech portrayed chauffeur Tom Branson in the original series.
Since the show wrapped in 2015, Leech has appeared in several titles — most notably as Paul Prenter in the 2018 biopic Bohemian Rhapsody alongside Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury.
Leech starred in the 2023 Irish drama The Vanishing Triangle and the 2024 series Too Good to Be True.
He later returned to the Downton Abbey franchise in the 2019 film and the two sequels.
In 2020, Leech and his wife, fellow actress Jessica Blair Herman, welcomed their first child, and in 2022, the family expanded with the addition of a second.
Jim Carter as Charles Carson
Masterpiece/PBS, Ben Blackall/© 2022 Focus Features
Jim Carter joined the original Downton Abbey cast as butler Charles Carson when the series first premiered in 2010. For his role, he earned four consecutive Emmy Award nominations from 2012 to 2015.
Since the series wrapped, Carter has acted in and voiced several roles, including 2017’s Transformers: The Last Knight. He also appeared in 2023’s Wonka, starring Timothée Chalamet.
Carter reprised his role as Carson in the trio of Downton Abbey movies.
Phyllis Logan as Elsie Hughes
Downton Abbey/YouTube
Phyllis Logan was part of the original Downton Abbey cast as Elsie Hughes when the series first premiered in 2010.
Since the series wrapped in 2015, Logan has had roles in TV and film titles such as Bones, Doctor Who and The Adventures of Paddington.
She reprised her role as Elsie in the 2019 Downton Abbey film, 2022’s New Era sequel and 2025’s The Grand Finale.
In 2019, Logan acted in the 2020 British comedy, Misbehaviour, and in 2021, in the second season of the British drama series, Guilt.
In addition to the latest Downton Abbey movie, she appeared in multiple TV series, including Miss Austen and Murder Most Puzzling.
Joanne Froggatt as Anna Smith
Downton Abbey/YouTube; Focus Features/YouTube
Joanne Froggatt joined the original Downton Abbey cast as head housemaid Anna Smith when the series first premiered in 2010. She received three Emmy Award nominations for her role as the outstanding supporting actress in a drama series category.
Since then, she has voiced Wendy on Bob the Builder and starred in the 2017 biopic Mary Shelley opposite Elle Fanning.
Froggatt reprised her role as Anna in the 2019 Downton Abbey film and both of its sequels.
In 2025, she appeared in the Paramount+ series MobLand.
Brendan Coyle as John Bates
PBS/MASTERPIECE; ©Focus Features/Courtesy Everett Collection
Brendan Coyle was part of the original Downton Abbey cast as John Bates when the series first premiered in 2010. He earned an Emmy Award nomination in the Best Supporting Actor category for his role in 2012.
Coyle returned to play his character in the 2019 Downton Abbey film and its two sequels.
Robert James-Collier as Thomas Barrow
Downton Abbey/YouTube; Focus Features/YouTube
Robert James-Collier was cast as footman Thomas Barrow when the series premiered in 2010. This marked one of the actor’s first leading roles after landing a part on Coronation Street prior.
After the series ended, James-Collier appeared in TV and film titles such as 2016’s The Level and 2017’s The Ritual.
In 2019, James-Collier was featured in the third season of the British drama Ackley Bridge, and in 2021, he starred in Netflix’s Fate: The Winx Saga.
James-Collier reprised his role as Thomas in the 2019 Downton Abbey film, its 2022 sequel and 2025’s The Grand Finale.
Sophie McShera as Daisy Mason
Downton Abbey/YouTube, Ben Blackall/©2022 Focus Features
Sophie McShera played assistant cook Daisy Mason in the series.
Following the show’s finale in 2015, McShera played Drizella Tremaine in Cinderella that same year. She also appeared in a few episodes of The Queen’s Gambit as Miss Graham in 2020.
McShera reprised the part of Daisy in the 2019 Downton Abbey film, 2022’s A New Era and 2025’s The Grand Finale.
Lesley Nicol as Beryl Patmore
Downton Abbey/YouTube, Ben Blackall/©2022 Focus Features
Lesley Nicol joined the original Downton Abbey cast as Beryl Patmore, known as the Crawley family’s “Queen of the Kitchen.”
Since the series ended, she has appeared in several titles, including Supernatural and Beecham House alongside Tom Bateman.
She played Beryl Patmore in the 2019 Downton Abbey film, its 2022 sequel and The Grand Finale.
In 2022, Nicol staged and starred in an original, autobiographical musical, How the Hell Did I Get Here?. Nicol won an Off-Broadway Alliance Award for her performance.
Kevin Doyle as Joseph Molesley
Downton Abbey/YouTube; Ben Blackall/© 2022 Focus Features
Kevin Doyle was part of the original Downton Abbey cast as Joseph Molesly when the series first premiered in 2010.
Following the show’s ending, he has appeared in several titles, including 2015’s Happy Valley and Netflix’s The Witcher in 2021.
In 2022, Doyle was featured in BBC One’s drama series Sherwood, acting alongside Downton Abbey costar Joanne Froggatt.
He returned as Molesley in the 2019 Downton Abbey film and again in its two sequels.
