
Dame Maggie Smith plays Lady Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham, in the hit series "Downton Abbey." Here's a look at other key characters from the show.

Widowed Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) has adjusted to life as a single mom and is juggling several new suitors.

Lord Grantham (Hugh Bonneville, left) is trying to keep the estate in a financially sound place while adapting to the inevitable tide of progress. (Jim Carter, right, plays the dutiful Mr. Carson.)

Cora (Elizabeth McGovern) plays Lady Grantham, whose kind-heartedness is a counterpart to Robert's bluster.

Mr. Carson must help the downstairs staff adjust to the constant changes being implemented around Downton.

After dabbling at writing a newspaper column, star-crossed Lady Edith (Laura Carmichael) may have finally found some happiness with her illegitimate young daughter.

Isobel Crawley (Penelope Wilton) weathered the unexpected passing of her son Matthew and was surprised by a marriage proposal in Season 5.

The bumbling Molesley (Kevin Doyle) earned some respect with his unexpected resourcefulness late in Season 5. O'Brien (Siobhan Finneran), the conniving ladies' maid, has left the show.

After befriending a fiery Socialist whose provocative comments enraged Lord Grantham, Tom Branson (Allen Leech) is now moving to Boston with his young daughter. Will he ever return to the show?

After a series of brushes with the law, the mysterious valet Mr. Bates (Brendan Coyle) is out of prison and living in wedded bliss to Anna.

Anna (Joanne Froggatt) worked to get Bates out of prison, then faced serious criminal charges of her own in Season 5.

Head cook Mrs. Patmore (Lesley Nicol, rear) has her hands full in the kitchen as always.

Daisy (Sophie McShera) is gaining more responsibility in the kitchen while furthering her education and dreaming of bigger things.

After several seasons of partying, rebellious cousin Rose (Lily James) is ready to settle down.

Shirley MacLaine makes occasional cameos as Cora's mother, Martha Levinson, visiting from America.


