Actors You Forgot Were In Downton Abbey

To celebrate the final chapter of the global phenomenon DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE, which comes to digital platforms to buy or rent at home from 13th October, we take a look back at actors who got their early breaks in the much-loved drama before becoming household names.

Charlie Cox

Appearing in Downton Abbey’s first ever episode as the Duke of Crowborough, who aimed to win Lady Mary’s affection after the loss of her fiancé on the Titanic and gain a fortune but ultimately gets sent away when his financial difficulties come to light. Charlie Cox went on to appear in the family fantasy Stardust, alongside Claire Danes and Robert De Niro, HBO’s gangster masterpiece Boardwalk Empire, Oscar-winning film The Theory Of Everything and leading in cult comic book series Daredevil.

Rose Leslie

A key character in Downton Abbey’s first season, Rose Leslie played ambitious housemaid Gwen who longed to get out of service by taking typing classes in her limited spare time. Taken under Lady Sybil’s wing, the youngest daughter of Lord Grantham helps Rose by giving references and applying for interviews until she’s hired as a secretary on the eve of WWI. From the north of England to north of the wall, Rose them became wildling Ygritte in Game Of Thrones, delivering the iconic phrase “you know nothing, Jon Snow.”

Theo James

In what had repercussions throughout the series, Theo James appeared in Downton Abbey as the dashing Turkish diplomat Mr Pamuk whose late night tryst with Lady Mary ended tragically. Theo James then starred in the Divergent film series, Sanderton, The White Lotus and The Gentlemen.

Dan Stevens



Starring in Downton Abbey for the first three seasons as Matthew Crawley, the middle-class distant cousin who stands to inherit the estate, Dan Stevens was a fan-favourite as audiences were hooked on the will-they-won’t-they love story between Matthew and Mary and were devastated when he departed the show. Post-Downton, Dan impressed audiences in indie hits The Guest, Colossal and The Rental, as well as crowd-pleasing turns in Eurovision and Beauty And The Beast.

Lily James

Joining Downton Abbey in season 3 as energetic cousin Rose, Lily James stood out as a star in the making. In Rose’s attempts to bring the Grantham family into the roaring twenties, the societal pressures of the time were highlighted as both the upstairs and downstairs residents reacted to her efforts. After moving on from the show in season 5, Lily James starred as the lead in Kenneth Branaugh’s Cinderella and played a young Meryl Streep in Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again, as well as stunning turns in Baby Driver, Darkest Hour, Yesterday and Pam & Tommy.

DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE COMES EXCLUSIVELY TO DIGITAL PLATFORMS TO BUY OR RENT AT HOME FROM OCTOBER 13