Maggie is the devoted daughter of an American millionaire and antique collector. Having lost her mother at a young age, she maintains an unusually close bond with her father, Adam, frequently accompanying him on his travels across Europe. She is sincere and deeply in love with her fiancé, Prince Amerigo, though her primary focus often remains on her father's well-being and happiness. She is Catholic and generally dislikes large social gatherings, preferring quiet domesticity.

Amerigo is an impoverished Italian aristocrat whose family holds a prestigious name but lacks financial stability. He navigates British high society with ease due to his title, approaching his impending marriage to Maggie Verver with a mixture of pragmatism and genuine affection. He harbors a secret past with Charlotte Stant, a woman he loved deeply in Rome but could not afford to marry.

Charlotte is a young, relatively poor American woman and a long-time friend of Maggie Verver. Bold and socially adept, she possesses a keen understanding of Edwardian high society and how to present herself within it. She previously had a passionate romance with Prince Amerigo in Rome, which ended due to their mutual lack of wealth, though her unexpected presence in London complicates the upcoming nuptials.

Adam is an immensely wealthy American widower who travels Europe collecting antiques for a planned museum in his hometown. Following the death of his wife, he structures his life around his collections and his intense bond with his daughter, Maggie. He views Prince Amerigo as a living relic that bridges his new-world wealth with old-world prestige.

Fanny is an ambitious socialite who operates on the periphery of the British elite, using her sharp understanding of etiquette to elevate her status. She acts as a matchmaker, introducing Maggie to Amerigo and later attempting to manage the complicated romantic entanglements of her friends. She frequently rationalizes her meddling as necessary to preserve societal harmony.

Bob is a retired military colonel and the husband of Fanny Assingham. Unlike his wife, he struggles to understand the rigorous, unwritten rules of English high society and prefers a straightforward approach to life. He frequently questions Fanny's desire to involve herself in the romantic lives of others.

Principino, whose nickname translates to "little prince," is the young son of Maggie and Amerigo. He functions largely as a symbol of their socially expected marital success and is doted on by his parents and his grandfather.

Mrs. Rance is an aggressive socialite who visits the Ververs' country estate. Despite having a husband in America, she actively pursues Adam Verver, hoping to secure his vast fortune and affections for herself, much to his profound discomfort.

The Miss Lutches are a pair of friends of Maggie Verver who visit the family's country estate. They act as companions to Mrs. Rance and participate in the social orbit surrounding the wealthy Verver family without leaving a significant personal impression.

Lady Castledean is a wealthy hostess who entertains the social elite at Matcham. She manipulates her guest list to provide herself with social cover, using the presence of others to legitimize her own private interactions with a young man named Mr. Blint.

An antiquario who runs a small shop in the Bloomsbury district of London. He surprises his wealthy patrons by speaking fluent Italian and presents them with a unique, gilded golden bowl that possesses a near-invisible internal flaw.

Mr. Blint is a young man who attends the Easter gathering at Matcham. He is the object of Lady Castledean's affections, spending quiet mornings with her while other guests provide a shield of respectability for their interactions.

Mr. Gutermann-Seuss is an antique dealer who meets with Adam Verver during a seaside trip. He is thrilled to conduct business with the famous American collector and assumes the woman traveling with Adam is his wife.

Father Mitchell is a Catholic priest from a nearby church who visits the Verver estate. He provides religious and social company to the family during their prolonged stay in the country.