Thanks to the global success of Downton Abbey, the ITV period drama has helped propel several young actors to international stardom.

Dan Stevens – whose character, romantic lead Matthew Crawley, was killed off at the end of series three – has since become a successful Hollywood leading man. His film roles to date include starring alongside Liam Neeson in action movie A Walk Among the Tombstones and family adventure film Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb.

Dan Stevens played Downton fave Matthew Crawley
Dan Stevens played Downton fave Matthew Crawley (Chris Pizzello/AP)

He was recently announced to be playing the role of The Beast in Disney’s live action remake of Beauty and the Beast.

Lily James, who joined the show as wild child Lady Rose in series three, landed the title role in Disney’s retelling of Cinderella, directed by Sir Kenneth Branagh, which also starred Downton’s Sophie McShera, aka kitchen maid Daisy, as one of the wicked stepsisters.

Downton's Lily James and Sophie McShera had a role reversal in Cinderella ( Joel Ryan/Invision)
Downton’s Lily James and Sophie McShera had a role reversal in Cinderella ( Joel Ryan/Invision)

James, 25, will appear later this year as Elizabeth Bennet in action blockbuster Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and is signed up to appear in a new BBC adaptation of War and Peace.

Jessica Brown Findlay was the first major cast member to leave the show for pastures new, when her character, the forward thinking Lady Sybil, died in child birth in the third series.

Jessica Brown Findlay starred as rebellious Lady Sybil
Jessica Brown Findlay starred as rebellious Lady Sybil (Ian West/PA)

She went on to star in TV costume dramas Labyrinth, based on the Kate Mosse novel, and Jamaica Inn, and later this year will appear on the big screen alongside Daniel Radcliffe and James McAvoy in Victor Frankenstein.

Michelle Dockery – now known all over the world as the frosty Lady Mary – has a successful career as a jazz singer and has performed with Sadie and the Hotheads, a band formed by Elizabeth McGovern, who plays her on-screen mother, the Countess of Grantham.

Michelle Dockery
Michelle Dockery (Chris Pizzello/AP)

Dockery has had guest voice roles in US animations American Dad and Family Guy, and appeared with Liam Neeson, Julianne Moore and Lupita Nyong’o in action thriller Non-Stop last year. She recently filmed another Hollywood thriller Self/less, co-starring Ryan Reynolds and Sir Ben Kingsley.

A picture of Allen Leech on a red carpet
Allen Leech (Nick Ansell/PA Wire/Press Association Images)

Irish actor Allen Leech, who played chauffeur-turned-estate-manager, Tom Branson, has landed several movie roles since making his name in Downton, including award-nominated film The Imitation Game.