The Forsytes Definitive Character Guide
From acerbic Ann to icy Soames, ebullient June and enterprising Frances, meet the textured and complicated characters of The Forsytes and see how they fit together in this helpful guide.
Want a quick visual refresher on the family? Explore the Forsytes family tree.
Ann Forsyte
The grand matriarch of the Forsyte family, Ann presents a severe exterior but is, in reality, fair-minded with a hint of mischief. Her dowry was instrumental in the success of Forsyte & Co., the family stockbroking firm that has become the toast of London.
Jolyon Forsyte Sr.
As Ann’s elder son, chairman of Forsyte & Co., and widowed father to Jo, Jolyon Sr. knows only too well the importance of duty and reputation in maintaining the family’s status. He is determined to secure his son's future at the family firm.
James Forsyte
The younger brother of Jolyon Sr. and husband to Emily, James is endlessly competitive, both at work and at home. Fiercely acquisitive and addicted to displays of wealth, he is the embodiment of the Forsyte obsession with property, profit, and status. He pours considerable energy into furthering his son Soames's interests while tolerating the whims of his daughter Winifred and her ever-scheming husband, Monty.
Soames Forsyte
Charismatic, handsome, and cultured, Soames maintains self-control, reason, and detachment as his default settings. Hugely successful at work, he is widely regarded as one of London's most eligible bachelors. However, he finds himself tested to his limits when he unexpectedly meets and is bewitched by the beautiful, free-spirited Irene.
Jolyon "Jo" Forsyte
Husband to Frances and stepfather to June, Jo is caught between familial duty and his own artistic passions. His natural instinct for justice, his gift as a painter, and his desire to follow his heart often clash with the pressure to conform to family expectations.
Irene Heron
Exceptionally beautiful, cultured and strong-minded, Irene grew up believing she would follow in her mother's footsteps with a career in the Parisian ballet. Her world is thrown into disarray by the sudden death of her father, leaving her without the means to chase her dream. Enter Soames Forsyte, who pursues her with stealth, charm, and sensitivity.
Frances Forsytes
A lady of high society renowned for her beauty and sharp intellect, Frances entered the Forsyte family as a wealthy young widow with an eight-year-old daughter when she married Jo Forsyte, heir to the chairmanship of Forsyte & Co. The match was a stratefic one that became genuinely happy. As a beacon of propriety, she will stop at nothing to maintain her family's reputation.
Louisa Byrne
Warm, hardworking, fiercely independent, and devoted to her children, Louisa is the ultimate survivor. She has worked her way from being a lady's maid for a wealthy Irish family to the go-to dressmaker for upper-class London society. After a passionate love affair with Jo a decade earlier, Louisa must now confront his reappearance—and the long-suppressed feelings it stirs—while navigating the dynamics of the Forsyte family.
June Forsyte
Eighteen-year-old June Forsyte is the spirited daughter of Frances and stepdaughter to Jo, who challenges the expectations placed on her. Despite Frances's plans to secure an advantageous marriage for her, June has her own ideas, ideas of her own, believing she should be free to make her own choices about love.
Emily Forsyte
Emily, the wife of James and mother to Soames and Winifred, is accustomed to putting her family first. She tolerates her husband and adores her son Soames, seemingly blind to his faults. Emily finds her most effortless relationship in her loyal Pomeranian Cyril, whose affections are unconditional.
Winifred Dartie
The daughter of Emily and James, and wife to Montague "Monty" Dartie, Winifred is fueled by her love of gossip and the latest fashions. She chooses to ignore her husband's many faults, even going so far as to convince her family to admit him to the board of Forsyte & Co.
Montague "Monty" Dartie
The husband of Winifred, and son-in-law to James and Emily, Monty married into the Forsyte family with a clear set of ambitions. He can be relied upon for exactly one thing: losing money—his own, and anyone foolish enough to trust him with theirs. Despite his limited business acumen, Monty maintains an inflated sense of self and a relentless drive to become an integral part of Forsyte & Co.
Philip Bosinney
Newly qualified architect Philip prides himself on his rebellious, artistic and nonconformist vision. While impatiently awaiting his first commission, he encounters the refreshing June Forsyte. Despite her family's plans to secure her an advantageous marriage, he tentatively accepts her surprise proposal.
Ellen Parker-Barrington
Originally from Jamaica, Ellen is the widow of a wealthy English industrialist who left her his entire fortune. Having faced racial prejudice in her early life, she has since dedicated herself to challenging injustice wherever she sees it. Ellen is fully aware that her wealth grants her a status and influence she would not otherwise possess, and she is determined to use it for good.
Isaac Cole
Isaac, originally from Sierra Leone, was adopted by a clergyman and brought to England for a gentleman's education. As the in-house lawyer for Forsyte & Co., and Jo’s best friend and confidant, his composed demeanor allows him to navigate the complexities of the stock market.
