Cluny Brown

A curious, kind-hearted parlor maid whose practical skills and stubborn wit challenge the rigid norms of the aristocratic world she serves. She navigates class boundaries with optimism and a sense of independence, forming a pivotal bond with Belinski. Her actions—especially her clever plumbing fix—catalyze romance and social change within the Carmels' circle.

A prominent anti-Nazi author and professor, hosting Brown while staying with the Carmels. He is intelligent, charismatic, and morally principled, yet emotionally complex as he falls for Brown. His departure and vow to support a future life together through writing culminate in a bittersweet turning point.

Son of the Carmels, an aristocrat whose temperament and social ambitions mingle with romantic tensions around Betty Cream. His conflicts and eventual reconciliation with Belinski illustrate the fragility of status-driven desires within a close-knit household.

A self-obsessed socialite whose flirtations and machinations drive much of the party-era drama. Her pursuit by two young men and its fallout expose the precarious balance between charm, reputation, and the consequences of desire.

The patriarch of the Carmel family, a guardian of tradition who disapproves of Cluny's nonconformist behavior and prioritizes marriage within the social rank. His authority represents the weight of bourgeois standards over individual happiness.

The stern housekeeper who polices the Carmels' household, enforcing decorum and social hierarchy with a sharp eye. Her presence underscores the surveillance and control inherent in service-class dynamics.

A chemist who invites Cluny to meet his mother, presenting a gentler, more grounded path for Brown. His straightforward kindness and stability contrast with the Carmels' rigidity, offering a practical alternative for marriage and life.

Jonathan's mother, a matronly figure who tests propriety and social fit during gatherings, shaping Brown's standing within a different circle of society.

Host of the Ames party, a stylistic representative of the social world that both entertains and judges, providing the arena in which characters reveal their pretenses and aspirations.

The Carmels' loyal butler, enforcing household discipline and privacy, whose presence anchors the service side of the social machine.

Cluny Brown's guardian and guardian-figure who disapproves of her unladylike behavior and ultimately supports her path by sending her into service.