Mr. Preston

Mr. Preston arrives in Hollingford society as the new land agent, handsome, self-assured and clearly aware of his own charm. He flirts readily, moves easily among the gentry despite his uncertain social standing, and seems to regard the local young women, Molly included, as fair game for his attentions and ambitions.

Iain Glen gives Preston a smoothness that never quite curdles into obvious villainy, which is the trick of him: you like his easy manner even as Gaskell's plot quietly asks you not to trust it. He's a study in charm as a tool rather than a virtue, and Glen plays that ambiguity with real control.