#16: LEONARDO DICAPRIO as Jack Dawson from Titanic
BRB while I go sob. WILL MY HEART EVER GO ON? WILL IT?
#17: ALLEN LEECH as Tom Branson in Downton Abbey
I love Branson because he is a passionate, angry and fiery character and I honestly think he looks better when defiant, but here he is smiling at Sybil (he only ever smiles when she’s in the frame). Oh, Branson. <333
#18: DAN STEVENS as Matthew Crawley in Downton Abbey
At this point in the show, I began to sing a song. It is called “Marry me,” and those are the only two lyrics I remember.
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#19: ROMAIN DURIS as Louis Échard in Populaire
Romain Duris thinks he’s too suave to fall in love with his bumbling typist….except he’s NOT! Watch this movie for some exquisite French hotness.
RELATED | Populaire Film Review
#20: EMORY COHEN as Tony Fiorello in Brooklyn
Emory Cohen is sooooooo cute! SOOOOOOOOO CUTE!
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#21: CLARK GABLE as Rhett Butler in Gone With The Wind
Gone with the Wind? Or Gone with the Fire?
Clark Gable is 🔥🔥🔥🔥
#22: AIDAN TURNER as Captain Ross Poldark in Poldark
Though I have not seen Poldark, I have a strong feeling I will love it, and Aidan Turner is as good a reason to watch as any!
RELATED | Poldark TV Review – A Romantic Period Drama to Swoon Over!
#23: JEREMY NORTHAM as Mr. Knightley in Emma (1996)
This smirk…it makes me smirk…WITH LOVE.
#24: ALAN RICKMAN as Colonel Brandon in Sense and Sensibility
SNAPE IS TOO CUTE HERE! AND SO BLONDE! AND HE LOVES LISTENING TO MARIANNE READ! AND HE RESCUED HER!
RELATED | Ten Period Drama Heroes to Love that Aren’t Mr. Darcy
#25: COLIN FIRTH as Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice
Ah, my favorite for last. A tiny smile, HIDING A HEART FULL OF ARDUOUS LOVE.
Do I have these photos on my phone on an album entitled “Fictional Characters”? YOU BET I DO, AND I HOPE YOU’RE JEALOUS OF IT. What smiles from period drama actors did I miss? Comment below!
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Oh man, totally love this! It’s giving me too many period drama feels. 😀 If I added anything, it would be Merlin and Arthur from BBC Merlin – cuz when they smile it’s so freakin’ adorable. Plus Tom Hiddleston in The Hollow Crown and Return to Cranford. ‘Cuz can’t have too much Hiddles!
Aw, this is such fun, Amirah! Thank you so much for putting this together – lots of smiles in looking through this, and reminding myself how in need I am of re-watching many of these. 🙂
Wonderful list. I knew when I began reading that it had to have Henry Tilney on it, and you did not disappoint. Smiles are his specialty. 🙂
I love this article! Thank you! I do have one addition to suggest though: Mark Strong in his role as Mr. Knightley!
Here he is smiling at Kate Beckinsale’s Emma.
Matty Crawley….. sigh.
I have nothing to add, even my favourite fictonal smiles of all times are in it and your writing also made me smile… My heart has not gone on. 🙂
Timothy Dalton in Jane Eyre (1983)? : )
Hell yes. I said the same thing. He kills me. I melt until late I am a puddle on the floor. And Ralph Fiennes in Withering Heights (1992) oh God have mercy. I may only be 24 but I know what I’m talking about.
Yeah, to me he is the best Rochester. I thought so too, Ralph Fiennes plays him really well, very brooding and complex.
Rufus Sewell in Middlemarch??? Please tell me he belongs on this list. Gah, that’s when I learned to adore him.
Great list! But did you say Matthew MacFadyen isn’t hot?! Blasphemy. I must adamantly disagree. 🙂
I would move Daniel Lissing from When Calls the Heart on Hallmark to Number 1. His smile as he looks into Erin Kraków’s eyes will absolutely melt your heart. Can’t get enough of Daniel’s smile and blue eyes!!!