The Real-Life Partners Of Downton Abbey's Leading Ladies

Of all the period television series, "Downton Abbey" ranks high on the list of the best out there. Full of period costumes, intrigue, tragic deaths, and a bit of politics sprinkled in, the show captivated viewers for six glorious seasons. And in fact, the historical drama was so popular that years after the finale, three spinoff motion pictures were made that followed the Crawley family and their staff throughout the 1920s.

While Lord Robert Crawley was at the forefront of the "Downton Abbey" estate, it was the leading ladies who stole the show, and fans were all for their fabulous fashions and scintillating romances. Viewers can't forget the scandalous way Lady Mary Crawley visited the Turkish visitor, Kemal Pamuk, for a nighttime tryst, but ended up having to cover up his fatal heart attack. After losing her first husband to a car accident, she goes on to have children with a race car driver, only to divorce later on. Edith Crawley fared better after a failed engagement when she married a British royal, elevating her status. With so much drama on the screen, it's hard to imagine what the actors' love lives are like in real life, but it seems they're doing just fine in the love department, and the female stars of "Downton Abbey" are happily settled down with their respective partners.

Elizabeth McGovern played Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham, who married Lord Robert Crawley for status but ended up staying for love. While the concept of "the one" is outdated and rife with patriarchy, McGovern's portrayal of an American expat and doting mom was perfection, and perhaps it was because it mirrored her own life. The actor married British director and producer Simon Curtis in 1992, and went on to have two daughters with him. They currently live in England, which made it super convenient for them to work together, as Curtis directed the last two "Downton Abbey" films.

When asked on "Live with Kelly and Mark" how she felt about being directed by Curtis, McGovern shared, "It's an interesting challenge. I feel comforted by it." She added, "I would give anything to work with a director like him. He just happens to be the guy I take home." As for Curtis, he was already familiar with the show, having had a relationship with his wife's colleagues. "It's not only my relationship with Elizabeth, but I also worked with producers Gareth Neame and Liz Trubridge before, and I've worked with Imelda Staunton multiple times. The same goes for Dame Maggie Smith, and Hugh Bonneville, and Michelle Dockery, so I had very deep connections with the show," he revealed to Forbes.

Laura Carmichael was a cast member of "Downton Abbey" from the very beginning, playing the middle sister, Edith Crawley. However, her now-husband, Michael C. Fox, joined the throng of actors when he appeared in Season 5 as a footman — and it led to a serendipitous romance between him and Carmichael. The two reunited on-set for the movies, with Fox telling "This Morning" what it was like returning to film with his then-girlfriend. "It was interesting coming back to work together on it. But very much, when we get back, there's a big team ... and you get back into it. And we keep it slightly separate, but it's an absolute joy," he shared.

Carmichael and Fox keep their relationship on the down low, but the two confirmed in "Downton Abbey Celebrates The Grand Finale" that they had tied the knot after welcoming a baby in 2021 (via Today). "I owe a lot to this show. I think so much of my life has been shaped around this show," Fox stated. Aside from acting, the Andrew Parker portrayer is a talented musician who has even collaborated with his castmate, Michelle Dockery. Fox continues to make music on his own and shared a snippet of his song, "Bones," on Instagram. "So lovely to be back [on] the piano after a little while. New music in the works. Big plans for 2026. Thanks for all the support last year. Keep spinning and sharing the EP. I really appreciate it. Love M," he told fans.

Just like her character, Lady Mary Crawley, Michelle Dockery faced loss after her fiancé, John Dineen, died of cancer in 2015. The Emmy-nominated actor dipped her toes into the dating pool four years later when she met producer and music manager Jasper Waller-Bridge through mutual friends. If the name sounds familiar, it's because he's the younger brother of "Fleabag" star and creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge, so talent clearly runs in the family.

Dockery and Jasper married in 2023 with a few "Downton Abbey" stars in attendance, including the happy bride's on-screen sister, Laura Carmichael. The couple welcomed their very first child together early in January 2026 and were seen taking a walk in the U.K. with the little one in tow, per Hello! Both Dockery and Jasper are extremely private about their personal lives and have yet to disclose the baby's name, but the period drama actor spoke about being a first-time mom during a September 2025 appearance on "Today". "It certainly feels like a new chapter, in many ways, for all of us. And personally, for myself, it's a new chapter. I'm very excited," she gushed.

"Downton Abbey" wouldn't be complete without the head of the housekeeping staff, Mrs. Hughes. Played by Phyllis Logan, whose locks are always up in a sensible chignon for her role, she's a celeb who is nearly unrecognizable with her natural hair color. While Mrs. Hughes eventually marries the longtime butler of Downton Abbey, Charles Carlson, in real life, Logan has been married to fellow actor Kevin McNally since 2011, and shares one son with him. "My husband, Kevin, is my closest confidant; that's the way it should be with a partner. We make sure we speak to each other every day, even if one or both of us is away working," she told The Guardian. Logan added, "I didn't want to date another actor, because I thought they were vain. I always used to say that I would never have one in my house — but you can't legislate for love."

While both Logan and McNally have thriving careers of their own, the two worked together several times on-screen. After meeting on the set of "Love and Reason" in 1994, the actors paired up again in "Downton Abbey," where McNally starred in a guest role as Horace Bryant, the dad of a deceased soldier who has to come to terms with his grandchild born out of wedlock. The spouses teamed up yet another time in 2025 for "Murder Most Puzzling," proving that couples who work together, stay together, and we firmly believe this celebrity marriage will stand the test of time.