Characters
Lady Mary Josephine Crawley (Michelle Dockery)
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Lady Mary Crawley is the eldest daughter of the Earl and Countess of Grantham, Robert and Cora Crawley. She has two younger sisters, Edith and Sybil. As the eldest daughter in a family with no sons, she carries a great burden. It is her responsibility to marry well and to continue the family line. The law had forbidden her from inheriting the estate simply by the fact that she's a woman so she was expected to marry her cousin Patrick. If she had married Patrick, the estate and her mother's wealth would remain within the family. When Patrick died unexpectedly, matters became complicated. She found herself in limbo as her family tried to find other suitable bachelors preferably with title and money which would at least secure her future even if she couldn't become the future Countess.
When she learned that what should have been hers was to be given to a distant cousin Matthew, she resented him. Before she even met him, she was predisposed to disliking him. Their initial meeting was not friendly to say the least.
Due to her upbringing and the pressure from society and her family, she becomes very tough and stubborn. She often says things she does not truly mean, but only people that really know her understand that. Outsiders would find her very cold and heartless, but this is only a front she uses to protect herself. Underneath that hardened exterior, she is a vulnerable and helpless young woman bounded by society's expectations. Marriage was typically seen as nothing more than a business transaction. Love was never the first priority when it came to matchmaking.
When she learned that what should have been hers was to be given to a distant cousin Matthew, she resented him. Before she even met him, she was predisposed to disliking him. Their initial meeting was not friendly to say the least.
Due to her upbringing and the pressure from society and her family, she becomes very tough and stubborn. She often says things she does not truly mean, but only people that really know her understand that. Outsiders would find her very cold and heartless, but this is only a front she uses to protect herself. Underneath that hardened exterior, she is a vulnerable and helpless young woman bounded by society's expectations. Marriage was typically seen as nothing more than a business transaction. Love was never the first priority when it came to matchmaking.
Matthew Crawley (Dan Stevens)
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Matthew Crawley is the only son of a middle class doctor Reginald Crawley and his wife, Isobel. He is solicitor specializing in industrial law. Before coming to Downton Abbey, he lived with his mother in Manchester. Because he is Lord Grantham's closest living male relative (third cousin, once removed), he suddenly found himself becoming the presumptive heir to Lord Grantham's estate and title after Lord Grantham's cousins James and Patrick perished on the Titanic. Lord Grantham invited his mother and him to stay at the estate so he could learn how to become the future earl.
Because of his more modern and liberal view of the world, he was initially reluctant to take on his new-found duties. He was determined to live his life on his terms, but the longer he stayed at the estate, the more he warmed up to the idea of becoming an earl. He began to see a possible future there especially as he and Lady Mary developed a close relationship which started out icy, but eventually thawed.
Matthew is a practical man with integrity and honor. He can also be quite stubborn.
Because of his more modern and liberal view of the world, he was initially reluctant to take on his new-found duties. He was determined to live his life on his terms, but the longer he stayed at the estate, the more he warmed up to the idea of becoming an earl. He began to see a possible future there especially as he and Lady Mary developed a close relationship which started out icy, but eventually thawed.
Matthew is a practical man with integrity and honor. He can also be quite stubborn.