Daniela Denby-Ashe Margaret Hale Actor Richard Armitage John Thornton Actor Tim Pigott-Smith Richard Hale Actor Sinead Cusack Hannah Thornton Actor Brendan Coyle Nicholas Higgins Actor Anna Maxwell Martin Bessy Higgins Actor Jo Joyner Fanny Thornton Actor Pauline Quirke Dixon Actor Kay Lyon Mary Higgins Actor Lesley Manville Maria Hale Actor Brian Protheroe Mr. Bell Actor Rupert Evans Frederick Actor John Light Henry Lennox Actor Emma Ferguson Edith Lennox Actor William Houston John Boucher Actor Jane Booker Mrs. Shaw Actor Lucy Brown Ann Latimer Actor Tom Charnock Williams Actor Tim Faraday Watson Actor Travis Oliver Captain Lennox Actor Brian Percival Director Elizabeth Gaskell Writer Sandy Welch Writer Kate Bartlett Executive Producer