12 Best ‘Downton Abbey’ Characters, Ranked
12. Isobel Crawley
Isobel Crawley arrives at Downton like a social hurricane wrapped in good intentions. She is a middle-class widow with a relentless moral compass and zero patience for aristocratic nonsense. Isobel storms into village affairs, hospital boards, and gets on Violet Crawley's nerves. While her progressive ideas grate on the gentry, the woman is indispensable in dragging the Crawleys, and in turn the audience, into the 20th century. When Matthew dies, she falters, but finds new purpose. A late-in-life romance follows. She’s quite smug at times, but in a world of stifled women, she refuses to be wallpaper. So, she has the respect.
11. Robert Crawley
Robert Crawley is what happens when tradition grows legs and starts speaking in Edwardian baritone. He loves Downton like it’s a second child. To be honest, it could be more precious than his actual children. While charmingly loyal and gentlemanly, Robert’s aversion to change nearly bankrupts the estate (twice) and kills his dog (we remember you, Isis). He’s often at loggerheads with modernity, but when push comes to shove, he shows surprising tenderness—especially when defending Mary’s scandals or welcoming Marigold without blinking. He’s a man of contradictions and crumbling grandeur.
10. Thomas Barrow
Thomas Barrow was the villain initially, but his growth into a tragic hero deserves recognition. He starts off as the kind of guy who would poison your tea and blame the scullery maid. Barrow’s early schemes are petty and cruel, and it was great to seen them backfire spectacularly. But behind the smirk, we got to see a man isolated by his sexuality. That was the era where being gay was a criminal offence. So, watching him claw his way from self-hatred to reluctant self-acceptance is one of the most nuanced arcs in the period drama. By the end, Thomas is not just a reformed antagonist, but he’s the future of Downton’s staff. Still sarcastic, still prickly, but finally seen.
9. Anna Bates
Anna is sweet, but has the backbone of steel. As the head housemaid and emotional crutch to Lady Mary, Anna spends most of her time putting out fires of every nature—personal, criminal, and romantic. She falls for Bates, endures wrongful arrests, and survives trauma most people wouldn’t wish on a Shakespearean character. Through it all, Anna remains headstrong, dignified, and fiercely loyal. Now, that’s admirable!
8. Tom Branson
Tom Branson is the Irish chauffeur who fell for Lady Sybil, and face-palmed social revolution in the face of haughty British aristocracy. Despite his outsider status, Tom somehow ended up as Downton’s estate agent. His journey from class warrior to Crawley family insider could’ve felt like betrayal, but the series handled it with heart and realism. Tom never stops being politically minded, but he learns to work within the system instead of just shouting at it. In retrospect, we know he’s the bridge between old-world grandeur and new-world grit.
7. Elsie Carson
Elsie Carson, who is regarded as Mrs. Hughes, keeps the chaos of Downton from imploding on a daily basis. She’s got strong nerves and a moral center that never wavers. She is also the only person with enough quiet sass to make anyone go mum. Whether she’s covering for Ethel, helping Anna through hell, or gently dismantling Carson’s ego, Mrs. Hughes brings calm and sanity to the castle. She might not grab attention, but make no mistake—without Mrs. Hughes, the whole estate would fall apart faster than a biscuit in hot milk.
6. Lady Sybil Crawley
Sybil was the Crawley family’s wildcard—a fiery spirit in hoity-toity society. She champions women’s rights, helps maids become secretaries, and shocks everyone by marrying the chauffeur. She’s the soul of the new century, wrapped in velvet and resistance. Her tragic death is the show’s first real gut punch, and it cements her place as Downton’s conscience — gone too soon, but never forgotten. If only more aristocrats were this woke.
5. Matthew Crawley
Matthew Crawley waltzes into Downton with middle-class sensibilities and immediately starts shaking tables. Think Mr. Darcy’s allure with a law degree. Matthew is likable, principled, and brings out the best in Lady Mary. Yeah, it’s no walk in the park, but he manages it with ease. The man’s journey from awkward heir to full-fledged Crawley is compelling, if occasionally sanctimonious. His untimely death made us all howl into our cushions. Matthew was the necessary disruptor Downton needed, and without him, the estate and Mary would never have evolved.
4. Lady Mary Crawley
Mary starts out colder than a Yorkshire frostbite, but beneath the chilly veneer is a deeply wounded woman trying to survive in a world where her worth is tied to marriage and appearances. Her relationship with Matthew is the stuff of epic fantasies, and her evolution into estate leader is nothing short of remarkable. Sure, Mary is sharp-tongued and occasionally insufferable, but it’s her strength, intelligence, and unapologetic confidence that make her iconic. Love her or loathe her, Mary Crawley is the foundation of Downton’s continued legacy.
3. Edith Crawley
Oh, Edith… She’s middle child, the family’s punching bag, and the constant victim of Mary’s psychological warfare. Edith spends much of the series being overlooked, insulted, and jilted, but like a true rebel, she refuses to go quietly. Instead, she reinvents herself as a successful writer, reclaims her daughter, and lands a literal marquess. Edith’s glow-up was long overdue and richly deserved. She’s the comeback queen of ‘Downton Abbey’ and she got her happy ending without sacrificing her brains or heart.
2. Charles Carson
Carson is a walking English relic with a tea tray and an opinion on everything. He hates change, distrusts nearly everyone younger than him, and treats Downton like a holy shrine. But his loyalty is absolute, and his moments of vulnerability, especially with Mrs. Hughes, reveal a softer side. Carson might rub some people roughly, but he is more than just a grumpy butler; he’s the beating (albeit traditionalist) heart of Downton’s downstairs machinery.
1. Violet Crawley
There is no ‘Downton Abbey’ without the Dowager Countess. Violet Crawley, played to perfection by Dame Maggie Smith, is the patron saint of savage wit and aristocratic interference. Every line she delivers could start a war or end one. Beneath the sass is real wisdom, loyalty, and a sense of duty to both family and legacy. She evolves more than you’d expect, begrudgingly accepting modern times while clinging to her elegant fan and pearls. Whenever she exits the stage, her walk is always accompanied by grace, dignity, and one last legendary quip.
