It has been nine years since Downton Abbey concluded on ITV, but the franchise has continued with two films and a third currently in production. While many cast members have reprised their roles, others have moved on to diverse projects. Here is an update on what the stars have been doing since the show ended.
Hugh Bonneville, who played Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham, has appeared in the Paddington films, as well as I Came By (2022), Bank of Dave (2023), and Douglas is Cancelled (2024). He spent the summer filming the untitled third Downton Abbey movie. Michelle Dockery, known for Lady Mary Crawley, has taken on gritty roles in Godless (2017), Anatomy of a Scandal (2022), and This Town (2024), alongside films like The Gentlemen (2019) and Flight Risk (2024).
Joanne Froggatt, who portrayed Anna Bates, has led series such as Liar (2017-20), Angela Black (2021), and Breathtaking (2024). In December 2024, she joined Guy Ritchie's untitled crime series starring Tom Hardy, Pierce Brosnan, and Helen Mirren. Jessica Brown Findlay, who played Lady Sybil Branson, has starred in Harlots (2017-19), Brave New World (2020), and Munich: The Edge of War (2021). She will appear in the TV series Playing Nice alongside James Norton, released on 5 January.
Laura Carmichael, as Lady Edith Crawley, has taken roles in The Spanish Princess (2019-20) and The Secrets She Keeps (2020-22). Jim Carter has appeared in King Lear (2018), The Good Liar (2019), The Sea Beast (2022), and Wonka (2023). Penelope Wilton, known for Isobel Grey, has featured in After Life (2019-22), Operation Mincemeat (2021), and Murder is Easy (2023).
Maggie Smith, who played Violet Crawley, returned for both Downton Abbey films and appeared in Sherlock Gnomes (2018) and The Miracle Club (2023). She passed away on 27 September 2024 at the age of 89, with her Downton family paying tribute.
