The Downton Abbey Character You Are Based On Your Zodiac Sign
"Downton Abbey" is a British period drama about an aristocratic family struggling to remain relevant during the early decades of the 20th century. Since its premiere in 2010, the show has become a phenomenon, spanning six seasons of television and two feature films. It seems that tales of the Crawleys and their staff are something that audiences can't get enough of.
The show sports a massive cast. Like its thematic predecessor, the 1970s U.K. drama "Upstairs, Downstairs," the series follows the lives of the staff who keep the great house of Downton Abbey functional as well as the lords and ladies who call it home. That means there are a ton of stories to keep track of and potential for many more as the Crawleys and their dedicated staff make their way through the '20s and approach the '30s.
With all those characters, you're bound to identify with at least one of them. However, deciding which one best suits your personality can be tricky. To assist you in that process, we've assigned individual characters to zodiac signs: That way you can find your sign and discover which one of these remarkable characters you are.
Aries - Miss. O'Brien
"Downton Abbey" isn't exactly a show about good guys vs. bad guys: The conflicts are more based on personality clashes. As big as Downton is, there's a lot of people occupying its many halls, and they don't always agree on things. That being said, if the show does have a major recurring villain, it would be Lady Cora's maid during the show's first three seasons: Miss. O'Brien.
O'Brien, as she is usually referred to, isn't an Aries (born between March 21 and April 19) because she's a pseudo-villain. It's her constant need to be perceived as more clever than everyone else. One of the defining characteristics of this star sign is a tendency to assert oneself as the leader. Sometimes that's a good thing. In the case of fiction, however, that sort of personality is usually reserved for antagonists, as it can come across as unappealingly aggressive.
Aries can also be seen as instigators. They can unleash chaos just for the fun of it. O'Brien is a master at observing others, taking mental notes, and ruthlessly using what she knows at the most opportune time. This usually causes an avalanche of drama that she simply watches unfold from the sidelines.
Taurus - Lady Edith
Of the three Crawley sisters, middle child Edith is often considered the odd duck. Men aren't throwing themselves at her as they do for her older sister Mary. She isn't politically motivated like her late younger sister Sybil. Nor is she particularly great at standing up for herself at first, either. Her own father, Lord Grantham, once commented that Edith couldn't even get her dolls to do what she wanted as a child.
None of that means she isn't comfortable and confident with who she is, like a Taurus (April 19 – May 20). Sure, she has her moments of jealousy when it comes to her sisters. Yes, she gets heated when her elders don't listen to her. Yeah, it's weird that most of the men who want to marry her don't follow through. Still, Edith knows who she is. Her family, and much of the world around them, may not appreciate her, but she sticks to her guns and carves out her own life for herself.
She even gets to indulge in the Taurus trait of appreciating luxury when she finally does get married. After all the turmoil and doubt, Edith is given the title of Marchioness of Hexham, ensuring that she outranks her entire family.
Gemini - Tom Branson
Tom Branson is a man of two worlds. On the one hand, he's a proud, opinionated Irishman who loathes the aristocracy. On the other, he's a grieving widower, loving father, and member of the Crawley family. That pull in two different directions, the need to stand up for the causes he believes in while also helping to keep his new family afloat, is what makes him a Gemini (May 21 – June 20).
At first, he takes the job as a driver for the Granthams because it's work. He may not agree with what the Crawleys represent, but a job is a job. After meeting their youngest daughter Sybil, he falls madly in love with her. Their romance is so strong that Sybil gives up everything to be with him. However, her difficult childbirth results in her death, so Tom must stay with the Crawleys to raise his daughter properly.
This internal division would normally get him categorized as a Pisces because he is able to exist in both worlds. However, it is the passion with which he pursues his convictions as an Irish everyman and adopted aristocrat that nudges him closer to a Gemini. He is tough, willing to do whatever it takes to free Ireland and keep the family he loves safe — all traits associated with the star sign.
Cancer - Mr. Carson
Loyalty is a major trait in Cancers (Jun 21 – July 22). This can manifest in giving everything to help other people, and having a long memory. Perhaps the single most loyal person within the walls of Downton is its longtime butler, Mr. Carson.
Played by Jim Carter, Mr. Carson is the epitome of English butlers in popular culture. He is tall with perfect posture, a deep voice, and a nose suitable for looking down on people. He manages the house fairly, but firmly, and is unwavering in his commitment to the Crawley family. He loves them as people and as symbols, and he loves to serve them. A stage performer in his younger years, Carson sees his role as butler to be a huge step up from the shame from his previous life. He's been with them so long that he views their eldest daughter Mary almost as one of his own.
Mr. Carson is devastated his age requires him to retire from his post. However, this is also a moment for him to demonstrate his long memory and sense of loyalty when he allowed Mr. Barrow to replace him. The two quarreled often, but Mr. Carson trusted that Barrow's menacing ways were behind him and felt secure in passing down his beloved position.
Leo - Lady Mary Crawley
Leos (July 23 – August 22) take chances. They are smart, and they love very deeply. At first glance, you wouldn't think those attributes apply to the eldest Crawley daughter, Lady Mary. She comes off as entitled, snobbish, and selfish. As the series continues, however, her tough shell cracks, and her heart is exposed. That's when audiences get to see who Lady Mary really is, and what she can be.
It is her doomed romance with Matthew that reveals her true nature. What is initially a courtship of convenience, a way of keeping Lady Cora's fortune in the family, turns into a marriage of true love. Following her husband's demise, Mary turns inward. She shuns her responsibilities, even giving her own child the cold shoulder for a period of time. Eventually, she emerges from that dark time, no longer seeing her status as a widow as an impediment and accepting it as part of who she is.
From then on, she begins challenging social norms, asserting herself as the heir to Downton and a proud woman who can make her own way in life. Instead of spending the rest of her life in darkness, a fire is lit within her that would show her a path to the future — one where she can present herself however she wants and remarry for love. See? She's a Leo.
Virgo - Anna
One of the defining characteristics that Virgos (August 23 – September 22) are believed to share is the ability to complete tasks without a fuss. They are also said to be very supportive of others. Supporting others and doing your job is the duty of every member of Downton's staff. Some of them are better at executing it than others. Anna Smith, who would later become Anna Bates, exemplifies this quality more than most.
Anna is the kind of person who has zero desire for drama. While others might like to sit and gossip or complain about the work ethic of others, she wants nothing more than to do her job and do it well. She doesn't walk around agonizing about it, nor does she try to boast about her importance within the house. Even when she gets a promotion, she doesn't go around flaunting it. Throughout the series, she remains a stalwart member of the Downton staff, caring and diligent as ever.
Libra - Lady Rose
A family as old and prominent as the Crawleys has a lot of connections throughout England. One of them, the great-niece of the Dowager Countess, is Lady Rose Aldridge. This young, socially conscious free-thinker comes to live with her extended family at Downton while her parents are in India. She is able to fit in with and appreciate the aristocracy while still wanting to have a good time, and also being a force for change.
Lady Rose is a modern lady. She wants to take Downton out of the past and bring it forward into the 20th century. In a lot of ways, her dynamic with the Crawleys is a microcosm of the change happening all around them. For her, slow and incremental progress isn't good enough. It is important that her family come bounding into the modern world because that's where all the fun is, and it would be better for everyone.
It's her naivete that makes her a Libra (September 23 – October 22) because she does nothing out of selfishness or malice. To her, the view she has of the world is freeing and exciting. She sometimes acts without thinking because she truly believes that her way, the modern way, is the right way. So while some may occasionally see her as disruptive, her actions are completely selfless because, in her eyes, she is helping.
Scorpio - Thomas Barrow
Of all the staff working at Downton, none have had as long and trying a history as Thomas Barrow. His sense of entitlement puts him on the path to the top job as Downton's butler, but it also sets him back in his interpersonal relationships. For a long time, the only friend Mr. Barrow has is the conniving Miss. O'Brien. The two often try to start trouble with the others for their own malicious purposes. When O'Brien leaves, Barrow continues his treacherous ways, but we began to learn more about his motivations and see below the surface.
Scorpios (October 23 – November 21) are meant to be fairly stubborn, set in their ways. That stubbornness manifests in Barrow as his singular desire to be in charge. Some of this stems from his necessarily closeted lifestyle. Being a gay man at a time when homosexuality was a crime (and would continue to be for decades), Barrow has no choice but to keep his true identity hidden. Denying who he is must be tremendously painful, perhaps resulting in his need to excel in everything else, to be the best he can possibly be.
Bravery is another Scorpio trait, and Barrow has this in spades. He knows that his existence is a crime, but he faces a world that despises him because he knows he deserves to live his own life.
Sagittarius - Violet Crawley
Violet Crawley holds the title of Dowager Countess. She is the mother of Robert Crawley, the Earl of Grantham. That's who she is officially. Unofficially, she is the charm that holds the entire show together. Without her wit, bluntness, and humor much of the show would be long, dry scenes of people having polite conversations. Violet is the character you bring in when you need to cut the niceties and start getting real.
She exemplifies the Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21) because of her humor. Hardly a scene passes without a funny quip or hilarious reaction. Although she is seemingly stuffy and deeply set in her traditional ways, Violet Crawley is secretly very generous and optimistic. No matter the problem, she can cook up a way to solve it. Her means of solving those problems may not be without their share of secrets and borderline espionage, but she's always willing to take things on full bore.
Capricorn - Robert Crawley
Robert Crawley is a lot of different things. He's a son to Violet Crawley, a husband to Cora, a father to his daughters, and the Earl of Grantham. This also makes him the head of Downton Abbey. More importantly, he is a steward of his family's legacy. He doesn't see Downton as his property: To him, that giant, amazing house is a living testament to the work of his ancestors. It is his responsibility to maintain it and pass it along to the next generation.
He takes this role very seriously, as many Capricorns (December 22 – January 19) do. He doesn't want to be the one responsible for Downton's collapse. How could he live with himself if he failed to maintain the integrity of the house and all it represents? So, he exudes another Capricorn trait: tenacity. Even though the instinct to keep Downton thriving at all costs sometimes risks its utter destruction, he is willing to try anything.
One of his many loves, like several members of his family, is tradition. That doesn't mean he is tied to the past, however. He did marry an American woman, after all. Also, when it comes to what the family will do to keep bringing money in, the final decision is often his. Only a Capricorn could handle all that responsibility without caving.
Aquarius - Isobel Crawley
Very few characters in "Downton Abbey" exhibit truly selfish motivations. This isn't the kind of show where everyone is stabbing everyone else in the back with every opportunity. The folks who do act purely for their own gratification often get what's coming to them, or redeem themselves. As considerate and caring as most of these characters are, Isobel Crawley puts them all to shame.
There is no one who is more committed to helping others than the mother of the late Matthew Crawley. Having suffered the worst tragedy any parent could bear, Isobel decides to take action. She is constantly trying to make sure people are clothed, fed, trained, and taken care of. Often, this comes at the expense of her own happiness, but that's who she is.
It's been said that individuals born under the sign of Aquarius (January 30 – February 18) are humanitarians. That is certainly true of Isobel. She shares other traits such as her imaginative way of helping people and her uncompromising dedication to those she loves. Let's hope she stays at Downton forever.
Pisces - Cora Crawley
Cora Crawley, the Countess of Grantham, is a unique figure within the "Downton Abbey" series. Given all the controversies the Crawley family faces in the early 20th century, she could almost be seen as the first domino to fall. Part of the show's drama comes from how this family evolves to incorporate the changing cultural landscape around them. Decades prior to the show's first episode, Cora set this change in motion when she, an American, married Robert.
That's not to say she is a wild child who wants to dismantle the aristocracy. In fact, Cora appears perfectly comfortable in her role as Countess. Other Lords and Ladies seem to love and respect her. The citizens of Grantham show no malice, and her servants hold her in high esteem as well. Being able to navigate two worlds at once is what makes her a Pisces (February 19 – March 20). She is a unifier. She isn't afraid of change, but is in no rush to bring it crashing down around her.