Downton Abbey: A New Era Returning Cast & New Character Guide

The entire cast is back for Downton Abbey: A New Era and the Crawleys also welcome new characters. We explain who's who in the Downton Abbey sequel.

Returning for Downton Abbey: A New Era is the entire cast of Downton Abbey 2019, with just one notable exception. The Crawley family and their servants also welcome some new visitors to their great house in Yorkshire UK. Written by series creator Julian Fellowes and directed by Simon Curtis, Downton Abbey: A New Era continues the saga that began with the hit 2010-2011 TV series that became a global sensation on ITV and Masterpiece PBS.

In Downton Abbey: A New Era, the Crawleys travel to the South of France after Lady Violet, the Dowager Countess (Maggie Smith) reveals a former flame has left her a seaside villa in his will. Meanwhile, a film production arrives to shoot a movie at Downton Abbey, which creates excitement for the servants and chaos for Lady Mary Talbot (Michelle Dockery). Downton Abbey: A New Era also features the wedding of Tom Branson (Allen Leech) to Lucy Smith (Tuppence Middleton) after they were engaged in the previous Downton Abbey movie. In A New Era, the Crawleys’ lives change forever as the family enters a new decade to face the challenges of modern life.

Remarkably, Downton Abbey: A New Era deftly juggles multiple storylines featuring over 30 characters. The lone holdout who doesn’t appear is Matthew Goode, who plays Lady Mary’s husband, Henry Talbot. Goode only cameoed in Downton Abbey 2019 and he is absent from the sequel entirely. Otherwise, not only does every major character from the 2019 Downton Abbey return but some familiar faces from the TV series also appear in A New Era.

Downton Abbey: A New Era’s Returning Crawley Family Members

Hugh Bonneville as Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham – Lord Grantham leads the charge to investigate why an old lover left his mother Lady Violet a villa in the South of France.

Elizabeth McGovern as Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham – Cora joins Robert on his trip to the South of France. Meanwhile, Lady Grantham harbors a secret of her own.

Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary Talbot – Lady Mary is now running Downton Abbey and stays behind to oversee the production of the movie being filmed in her ancestral home. Dockery also stars in Good Behavior and Netflix’s Anatomy of a Scandal.

Laura Carmichael as Lady Edith Pelham, Marchioness of Hexham – Lady Edith is happily married to Bertie Pelham, the Marquess of Hexam, but she years for her old life as a writer for a magazine. Carmichael also starred in The Spanish Princess.

Allen Leech as Tom Branson – Tom got engaged to Lucy Smith in Downton Abbey 2019, which means the Irish ex-chauffeur stands to inherit Lady Maud Bagshaw’s Brumpton estate.

Penelope Wilton as Isobel Grey, Baroness Merton – Cousin Isobel is now Baroness Merton and remains at the side of her best friend, Lady Violet. Wilton also starred in Shaun of the Dead and The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society.

Tuppence Middleton as Lucy Branson – Lucy was revealed to be Lady Maud Bagshaw’s daughter in Downton Abbey 2019 and she’s poised to marry Tom Branson in A New Era.

Imelda Staunton as Lady Maud Bagshaw – Lady Maud’s rivalry with Lady Violet is now over and she is back in the family as her daughter Lucy marries Tom Branson. Imelda Saunton is most famous for playing Dolores Umbridge in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Harry Hadden-Paton as Herbert “Bertie” Pelham, Marquess of Hexham – Bertie is the Marquess of Hexam and Edith’s loving husband. Edith also gave birth to his son while Bertie is stepfather to Edith’s daughter, Marigold.

Samantha Bond as Lady Rosamund Painswick – Lady Rosamund is Lady Violet’s eldest daughter and Lord Grantham’s sister. She’s back in A New Era after missing Downton Abbey 2019. Bond also appeared as Miss Moneypenny in Pierce Brosnan’s James Bond movies.

Douglas Reith as Richard “Dickie” Grey, Baron Merton – Dickie Grey is Isobel’s doting husband and the godfather to Lady Mary.

Oliver & Zac Barker as Master George Matthew Crawley – George is Mary’s son with the late Matthew Crawley (Dan Stevens). As Robert’s heir, George is the future Earl of Grantham and will inherit Downton Abbey.

Eva & Karina Samms as Miss Marigold – Marigold is Edith’s illegitimate daughter with the late Michael Gregson (Charles Gregson) and the stepdaughter of Bertie Pelham.

Fifi Hart as Miss Sybil “Sybbie” Branson – Sybbie is Tom Branson’s daughter with the late Lady Sybil (Jessica Brown-Findlay). Sybbie is the eldest of the Crawley children.

Downton Abbey: A New Era’s Returning Servants

Jim Carter as Charles Carson – Carson is Downton Abbey’s longtime butler and the husband of Elsie Carson, the former Mrs. Hughes. Carter also starred in The Good Liar and Transformers: The Last Knight.

Phyllis Logan as Elsie Carson – Elsie is Downton Abbey’s housekeeper and she is in charge of all of the servants while also looking after her husband, Mr. Carson.

Robert James-Collier as Thomas Barrow – Barrow is Downton’s butler who is also a closeted gay man yearning to live more openly. Barrow befriended Richard Ellis (Max Brown), the King’s valet who is also gay, in Downton Abbey 2019.

Brendan Coyle as John Bates – Bates is the valet and old friend of Lord Grantham. He is the devoted husband of Anna Bates and the father of their son, John.

Joanne Froggatt as Anna Bates – Anna is Mary’s ladies’ maid and head housemaid. Always the voice of reason, Anna is happily married to Mr. Bates and mother to their son, John.

Leslie Nicol as Beryl Patmore – Mrs. Patmore is the head cook of Downton Abbey, mentor to Daisy, and she also runs her own bed and breakfast establishment.

Sophie McShera as Daisy Parker – Downton’s spirited and opinionated undercook, Daisy married Andy Parker, the footman.

Kevin Doyle as Joseph Molesley – Mr. Molesley was a footman at Downton Abbey who became a schoolteacher, and he’s also sweet on Mrs. Baxter.

Michael C. Fox as Andrew “Andy” Parker – Andy is the footman at Downton Abbey and he is also Daisy’s husband.

Raquel Kennedy as Phyllis Baxter – Mrs. Baxter is the ladies’ maid to the Cora, Countess of Grantham, and she is romantically interested in Mr. Molesley.

Sue Johnston as Miss Denker – Denker is Lady Violet’s troublemaking ladies’ maid who is nonetheless loyal to the Dowager Countess.

David Robb as Dr. Richard Clarkson – Dr. Clarkson is the trusted local physician and he has been part of Downton Abbey since the TV series.

New Characters In Downton Abbey: A New Era

Hugh Dancy as Jack Barber – Barber is a director with the British Lion film company who comes to Downton Abbey to shoot his next film. Dancy starred in Ella Enchanted and Hannibal.

Laura Haddock as Myrna Dalgleish – Myrna is a famous actress who stars in Barber’s new film and is fawned over by Downton Abbey’s staff. Haddock played Peter Quill’s mother in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies and starred in Transformers: The Last Knight.

Dominic West as Guy Dexter – Dexter is a handsome movie star who also has a secret. West is best known for starring in The Wire and he will play Prince Charles in season 5 of The Crown.