Moll is an exceptionally clever and beautiful woman born into unfortunate circumstances who desires nothing more than to become a gentlewoman. Driven by a deep-seated fear of poverty, she uses her charm, wit, and adaptability to secure her financial future in a society that offers few opportunities for women without inherited wealth. She approaches relationships pragmatically, treating marriage as an economic necessity to ensure her own survival.

James is a dashing and charismatic gentleman who supposedly owns a grand estate in Ireland. He is charming and well-mannered, actively courting Moll while projecting an image of great wealth and high social standing to match her own pretensions.

Mother Midnight is a pragmatic, multifaceted businesswoman who operates several underground enterprises in London. She presents herself as a caretaker for women in distress, offering lodging and solutions for those facing inconvenient circumstances, while maintaining a strict veneer of propriety to protect her operations.

Robert is the handsome and charming eldest son of a wealthy family. He represents the privilege and power of the upper class that Moll desperately wishes to join. He is quick to flatter Moll and makes grand promises regarding their future, leveraging his status and money to win her affection while avoiding formal commitment.

Robin is the younger brother in the wealthy household where Moll is educated. Unlike his older brother, Robin is earnest, honorable, and willing to defy his family's social expectations to pursue the woman he loves. He offers Moll a legitimate path to respectability.

The Nursemaid is a pragmatic woman who runs a makeshift orphanage, caring for young wards of the parish until they are old enough to enter service. She serves as one of the first maternal figures in Moll's life, though she expects her young charges to accept their lowly societal positions.

The Mayor's Wife is a wealthy and socially prominent woman in Colchester. Amused by young Moll's insistence on becoming a gentlewoman, she takes the girl under her wing, introducing her to the manners, habits, and comforts of the upper class.

Moll's second husband is a gentleman with a taste for luxury and no financial sense. He presents himself as a fashionable and desirable match but possesses foolish habits, quickly squandering resources and fleeing when the money runs out.

The Virginia Planter is an agreeable man who owns a tobacco plantation in the North American colonies. He is drawn to Moll by rumors of her wealth, seeking a financially advantageous match that will allow him to live comfortably in London, though he eventually relocates them to his Virginia estate.

An older woman living on a Virginia plantation with her son. She is an enchanting storyteller who frequently recounts the colorful and harrowing circumstances of her youth in England before she was transported to the colonies as an indentured servant.

A married man of some means who meets Moll while she is living in reduced circumstances. He strikes up a companionship with her that gradually deepens, initially presenting himself as an honorable friend before their arrangement evolves into a financial and romantic partnership.

A financial professional whom Moll trusts to manage her money. Trapped in an unhappy marriage with an unfaithful wife, he quickly develops a deep affection for Moll, offering her sound financial advice alongside his personal devotion.