The BBC's 2004 adaptation of North and South continues to win over period drama fans with its sweeping love story and strong performances. Based on Elizabeth Gaskell's 1855 novel, the four-part series followed Margaret Hale (Daniela Denby-Ashe) and her family's move to an industrial town after her father left the clergy. It charted class and gender conflicts, and the growing attraction between Margaret and mill owner John Thornton (Richard Armitage).
Margaret Hale and John Thornton
Daniela Denby-Ashe, known for EastEnders, My Family, Waterloo Road and Torchwood, led the series as Margaret. Her last credited role was in 2020's Belgian TV series Into the Night, after which she appears to have stepped away from the spotlight.
Richard Armitage, who played John Thornton, has seen his career flourish. He has appeared in Netflix's Harlan Coben thrillers Fool Me Once, Missing You, Stay Close, and The Stranger, and starred in ITV's Red Eye and Netflix's Obsession. He will next appear in ITV's Winter alongside Annabel Scholey.
Tim Pigott-Smith and Lesley Manville
Tim Pigott-Smith, who played Margaret's father Richard Hale, died in 2017 from a heart attack, shortly before he was due to star in Death of a Salesman. His last onscreen role was in King Charles III, and he was also known for V for Vendetta, Quantum of Solace and Gangs of New York.
Lesley Manville, who played Maria Hale, earned an Oscar nomination for Phantom Thread and has appeared in The Crown, Mum, Harlots, Sherwood and Moonflower Murders. Last year, she starred in Ryan Murphy's Monster anthology series opposite Charlie Hunnam.
Sinéad Cusack and Jo Joyner
Sinéad Cusack, who played Hannah Thornton, reunited with Pigott-Smith in V for Vendetta. Married to Jeremy Irons, she is mother to Max Irons and Richard Boyd Barrett, and her nephew is Bridgerton's Calam Lynch. She has roles in MotherFatherSon, Marcella and Napoleon.
Jo Joyner, who played Fanny Thornton, later joined EastEnders. Her credits include No Angels, Ordinary Lies, The Interceptor, Ackley Bridge, Stay Close, Shakespeare & Hathaway, Little Disasters and A Woman of Substance.
Brendan Coyle, Anna Maxwell Martin, Pauline Quirke and Rupert Evans
Brendan Coyle, pre-Downton Abbey, played Nicholas Higgins. His other projects include Lark Rise to Candleford, Me Before You, Mary Queen of Scots, Riches and Requiem.
Anna Maxwell Martin, who played Bessy Higgins, has won acclaim for Line of Duty, Motherland, Star City and A Good Girl's Guide to Murder. She recently replaced Olivia Colman as Sarah Nelson in Heartstopper Forever.
Pauline Quirke, known for Birds of a Feather, played Dixon. In 2025, her husband Steve Sheen announced she was retiring from acting due to a dementia diagnosis received in 2021. Her credits include Emmerdale, Broadchurch and David Copperfield.
Rupert Evans, who played Frederick Hale, has appeared in Bridgerton as Edmund, the Charmed reboot, Gone and Disney+'s Rivals. He is the brother of radio DJ Tom Evans. North & South is streaming on U now.
