Which "Downton Abbey" star is the richest of them all? Would you be surprised to know they
aren't even British? Keep watching to find out which of the show's stars have earned the most.
Joanne Froggatt is best remembered as Anna Bates, the loyal lady's maid of Lady Mary
on "Downton Abbey" and wife to the house's valet, Mr. Bates. While American fans of the show likely
weren't familiar with the actress before her "Downton" days, she has an impressive acting
resume of over 50 credits and had starred in a number of British TV shows since the
late 1990s, such as the BBC's 2006 "Robin Hood." She went on to win a Golden Globe for her role
as Anna, along with three Screen Actors Guild Awards for the "Downton Abbey" ensemble, and
was also nominated for three Primetime Emmys over the years for her performance on "Downton Abbey."
Although audiences probably envision Froggatt in the maid outfit worn by Anna Bates,
the actress has shown her acting chops in some very different roles than the period drama.
After "Downton Abbey" wrapped in 2015, Froggatt has played the lead in contemporary pieces like
the BBC psychological thriller "Liar," and she's even provided the voice of Wendy on "Bob the
Builder." We're sure that her estimated net worth of $2 million will skyrocket with her popularity.
Although she was only part of the show for three seasons, Jessica Brown Findlay had
a huge impact on "Downton Abbey" audiences as the Crawleys' feisty youngest daughter,
Lady Sybil. Her devastating departure from the show left "Downton" fans in
tears and raised many questions about why she wasn't returning. In a Radio Times interview,
Findlay admitted she didn't want to get too comfortable in the role.
"My contract was ending and I was unsure about signing away another year.
Leaving terrified me, and that's what made me want to do it."
Luckily, Findlay's bid to force herself out of her comfort zone worked, and she landed several
plum roles on stage and screen, including the part of Ophelia opposite Andrew Scott in a
London production of "Hamlet," which was also made into a TV movie. Findlay also landed several more
TV roles as well as a part in the movie "The Banishing." According to Celebrity Net Worth,
Findlay is worth $3 million. With her star on the rise, she'll surely continue to cash in on roles.
As the eldest Crawley daughter, Lady Mary, Michelle Dockery became a fan favorite on
"Downton Abbey." Whether starring on the TV series or the popular "Downton Abbey" films,
her sibling rivalries and dramatic love stories made the show all the better. In
an interview with E! News, Dockery spoke of her sadness about the show ending in 2015.
"I'll certainly miss the character. I've
loved playing her and being a part of something so special."
After "Downton Abbey" wrapped, Dockery's career continued on a high note, and she's gone on to
land a number of roles. She's appeared on the TV series "Good Behavior," and she also did voice
work for the Disney animated series "Amphibia." Dockery will also star in an exciting Netflix
series called "Anatomy of a Scandal," based on the bestselling 2018 book of the same name by Sarah
Vaughan. The role is a rather big departure from Lady Mary, as Dockery plays a criminal prosecutor.
Due to playing Lady Mary on "Downton Abbey" and her many other successful roles,
it's no surprise that Dockery has an estimated net worth of $4 million,
a number that is sure to increase in the coming years.
"Downton Abbey" audiences might never get over Dan Stevens' dramatic and shocking departure
from the show in Season 3, but Stevens wanted to do things his way. Stevens told The Australian he
was worried about only being cast in similar roles if he stayed on the show for too long.
As such, the British actor is quick to deny that "Downton Abbey" was his big break,
pointing instead to a broader body of work that happens to include "Downton Abbey."
"Something in my gut told me it was time to explore, you know, pack up my bags and head west."
Clearly, Stevens' gamble leaving the show paid off, with him stepping into the role of The Beast
in Disney's hugely popular live-action "Beauty and the Beast" movie opposite Emma Watson. He's
also enjoyed roles in the FX series "Legion" and a range of other films and TV shows. Thanks to
his continued success, Stevens, like his former co-star Michelle Dockery, has an estimated net
worth of $4 million. With the actor adding more and more major projects to his resume,
we won't be seeing the last of Stevens anytime soon.
When most people picture Jim Carter, they immediately think of Mr. Carson,
the iconic role he played as the butler of "Downton Abbey." The accomplished British actor,
who was nominated for an Emmy four times for the role, has graced our screens for decades,
whether in period films like "Shakespeare in Love" or modern stories like "Transformers:
The Last Knight." With so many standout roles and more than 140 acting credits,
it's no wonder that Carter has an estimated net worth of $4 million.
Although he has some exciting projects in the works, such as 2023's "Wonka,"
fans haven't seen the last of Mr. Carson. Discussing the "Downton Abbey" sequel,
he shared that his wife, Imelda Staunton, who also played Professor
Umbridge in the "Harry Potter" movies, will join the cast of the second movie.
It also turns out that acting runs in the family, as Carter and Staunton's daughter,
Bessie Carter, plays Prudence Featherington on Netflix's hit period drama "Bridgerton."
As the lady of the house on "Downton Abbey," Elizabeth McGovern won over audiences with
her portrayal of American heiress Cora Crawley. But, before she stepped into the period drama,
McGovern had a successful career acting in films like "Ordinary People" and was even nominated for
an Oscar in 1983 for her role in "Ragtime." Thanks to her "Downton Abbey" fame and other roles,
McGovern has made herself quite a nice living, with an estimated net worth around $4 million.
After playing Cora on the series, plus the first "Downton Abbey" movie,
McGovern had the special opportunity to see her husband, Simon Curtis, direct
the second film. Speaking of the 2022 "Downton Abbey" sequel, she told Good Morning Britain,
"It's great, it's fun. You'll laugh and you'll cry."
Just call her Bond, Samantha Bond. In "Downton Abbey," Bond played Lady Rosamund Painswick,
but what some fans of the show probably don't know is that the actress starred in everything
from 007 films to Shakespearean plays before her time on the PBS drama. She starred as Miss
Moneypenny opposite Pierce Brosnan in the late 1990s Bond films, even though Samantha Bond told
the newspaper she had never watched a James Bond movie until she was cast in the role.
In her younger years, Bond appeared in numerous TV shows and films
before joining the Royal Shakespeare Company. In fact,
Bond's "Downton Abbey" co-star, Lily James, enlisted the actress' help
when James was preparing for the role of Juliet in a West End production of "Romeo and Juliet."
Thanks to this impressive acting resume, Bond has racked up an estimated net worth of $5 million.
As for her time on "Downton Abbey," Bond told the Daily Mail that she spent a, quote,
"special summer" filming the last season of the show and confessed
there was a difference between the upstairs and downstairs cast members.
"They're much naughtier downstairs. We're quite well-behaved,
but it gets quite riotous down there."
The valet of "Downton Abbey," Mr. Bates, played by Brendan Coyle,
experienced many ups and downs, but Coyle's career has definitely continued from strength
to strength. The Emmy and BAFTA-nominated actor has an estimated net worth of $6 million.
Coyle is no stranger to a period drama, having appeared in the TV mini-series "North & South"
among other period pieces before joining the cast of "Downton Abbey." Since his "Downton" days,
Coyle has appeared in even more period pieces, as well as contemporary movies
and shows like "Spotless." Although he's appeared in numerous films and TV shows,
Coyle told the Irish Independent that his first love was stage acting and that a cousin introduced
him to the world of theater. Although he called his teenage plan to become an actor, quote,
"kind of a freak decision," Coyle's leap of faith has clearly paid off.
Matthew Goode was already a well-known actor before appearing on "Downton Abbey" as Lady
Mary's love interest, Henry Talbot, appearing in numerous films including "The Imitation Game."
And the British actor landed a couple of lead TV roles after "Downton Abbey" wrapped,
playing the part of vampire Matthew Clairmont in the hit series "A Discovery of Witches"
as well as a member of the royal family on "The Crown."
In 2019, he told The New York Times about his time playing Princess Margaret's husband,
Antony Armstrong-Jones, which he described as "a blast." The actor
shared his enjoyment at working alongside Vanessa Kirby, who played Margaret, saying,
"[When] you've got great words to say and you've got a director like we had, it was just a joy."
Thanks to his many TV and film roles, the actor is estimated to have amassed a fortune of $6 million.
Fans of "Downton Abbey" will remember Lily James as Lady Rose, the sweet great-niece
of the Dowager Countess. Rose certainly got her happily ever after on the show,
and so did James, making an impressive career for herself in the movie industry.
After "Downton Abbey" ended, James has gone on to star in multiple blockbusters,
winning over audiences in the title role of Cinderella in Disney's 2015 live action remake
of the film and starring in "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again," among many others. She's also
been featured in theater and TV, including the BBC's 2021 mini-series "The Pursuit of Love."
Thanks to her role on "Downton Abbey" and hit movies like "Cinderella," James is worth around
$8 million, a figure that's bound to keep rising. While James told The Guardian she
worried at one point about being typecast as an actress who only does period roles,
she now feels, quote, "immensely grateful" for those opportunities.
"It's easy to worry that you're not doing the right thing,
or wish you were doing something different."
Hugh Bonneville is beloved by "Downton Abbey" fans as the Earl of Grantham,
otherwise known as Robert Crawley or "His Lordship."
As the head of the Crawley household, he brought many memorable moments to the show.
But Bonneville has had quite an impressive career outside of the stunning halls of Downton, too.
Over the years, the British actor has starred in films like "Paddington
and "Notting Hill," along with a range of TV shows. His long list
of roles has contributed to an estimated fortune of $8 million.
Of course, the two "Downton Abbey" films have helped Bonneville on his way to becoming one of
the richest "Downton" stars. Speaking to the Independent in February 2021 when the fate
of the second film was up in the air, he said the cast was hoping lockdowns would ease and
that they'd be able to move forward, saying, quote, "Julian's written a gorgeous script,
and I think it'd be the perfect return to cinema." Luckily, the movie was completed,
and fans got a second opportunity to enjoy His Lordship on the big screen.
With her sharp wit and amazing one-liners, Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham,
played by Dame Maggie Smith, was arguably the most memorable "Downton Abbey" character of all,
especially for her banter with Mrs. Crawley.
"Can't you even offer help without sounding like a trumpeter on the peak of the moral high ground?"
"And must you always sound like the sister of Mary Antoinette?"
She's known around the world for her role as Violet, as well as Minerva McGonagall in the
"Harry Potter" films, but the Dame Smith has wowed audiences since her professional
theater debut in 1956. With her vast resume and countless unforgettable performances,
it's no wonder she tops the series regulars in terms of earnings,
having an estimated net worth of a staggering $20 million.
Although Smith has amassed an incredible fortune and fan following over the years,
she told London's Evening Standard that she was,
quote, "deeply grateful for the work in Potter and indeed Downton but it
wasn't what you'd call satisfying. I didn't really feel I was acting in those things."
The veteran actress told the newspaper that she's a huge fan of theater roles,
which have certainly contributed to her wealth over the years. And Smith isn't
just TV and film royalty: She was even honored by the queen herself, receiving a damehood in
1990 and the Companion of Honor in 2014 for her contributions to the stage and screen.
The richest "Downton Abbey" star might come as a surprise, mostly because she wasn't part of
the show for the entire series. But regular "Downton" guest star Shirley MacLaine by far
outranks the rest of the show's cast with a fortune topping out at an estimated $50 million.
MacLaine brought some old Hollywood glamor to "Downton Abbey" as Cora Crawley's brash
American mother, Martha Levinson, who liked to stir the pot when she had the chance.
"Nothing ever alters for you people, does it? Revolutions erupt and monarchies crash to the
ground and the groom still cannot see the bride before the wedding?"
Although she only appeared on a few episodes, the star certainly made an impression on fans.
Outside of her stint on "Downton Abbey," Hollywood legend MacLaine has starred in
everything, from blockbuster movies like "Steel Magnolias" to Broadway shows.
Still, she remains a stage actress at heart, telling The New York Times in 2013,
"I do miss the stage. There's nothing like it, nothing."
Not even, apparently, "Downton Abbey."
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