Maggie Smith as Constance Trentham

Michael Gambon as William McCordle

Kristin Scott Thomas as Sylvia McCordle

Camilla Rutherford as Isobel McCordle

Charles Dance as Raymond Stockbridge

Geraldine Somerville as Louisa Stockbridge

Tom Hollander as Anthony Meredith

Natasha Wightman as Lavinia Meredith

Jeremy Northam as Ivor Novello

Bob Balaban as Morris Weissman

James Wilby as Freddie Nesbitt

Claudie Blakley as Mabel Nesbitt

Laurence Fox as Rupert Standish

Trent Ford as Jeremy Blond

Ryan Phillippe as Henry Denton

Stephen Fry as Inspector Thompson

Ron Webster as Constable Dexter

Kelly Macdonald as Mary Maceachran

Clive Owen as Robert Parks

Helen Mirren as Mrs. Wilson

Eileen Atkins as Mrs. Croft

Emily Watson as Elsie

Alan Bates as Jennings

Derek Jacobi as Probert

Richard E. Grant as George

Jeremy Swift as Arthur

Sophie Thompson as Dorothy

Meg Wynn Owen as Lewis

Adrian Scarborough as Barnes

Frances Low as Sarah

Joanna Maude as Renee

Teresa Churcher as Bertha

Sarah Flind as Ellen

Finty Williams as Janet

Emma Buckley as May

Lucy Cohu as Lottie

Laura Harling as Ethel

Tilly Gerrard as Maud

Will Beer as Albert

Leo Bill as Jim

Gregor Henderson-Begg as Fred

John Atterbury as Merriman

Frank Thornton as Mr. Burkett

Ron Puttock as Strutt

Adrian Preater as McCordle's Loader

John Cox as Loaders

Ken Davies as Loaders

Tony Davies as Loaders

Steve Markham as Loaders

Terry Sturmey as Loaders

Julian Such as Loaders

Alan Bland as Beaters

Peter Champion as Beaters

Geoff Double as Beaters

Robin Devereux as Beaters

John Fountain as Beaters

Richard Gamble as Beaters

Brian Rumsey as Beaters

George Sherman as Beaters

Natalie Danks-Smith as American Actress (uncredited)