Though Lucy is specifically described as being "golden haired",[3] she, Susan, and Peter are depicted in the illustrations with dark hair, while Edmund is usually blond. By contrast, in the most recent film adaptions Edmund is played by British actor Skandar Keynes, who is of both Lebanese and Turkish ancestry; he therefore is depicted as having darker hair and eyes than all of his siblings.
Edmund is the most developed character in the series, beginning as a spiteful and mean-spirited boy in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. By the end of the book, and throughout the rest of the series, Edmund is seen to be loyal, courageous, logical, and mature. In his adult life, as a king of Narnia, it is revealed that he handles many of Narnia's negotiations and transactions, as seen in The Horse and His Boy when Shasta runs into Edmund in Tashbaan the capital city of in Calormen, where he has accompanied Susan to discuss a marriage proposal from Prince Rabadash. Edmund becomes protective particularly of Lucy, and acts as a voice of reason to Peter, who is more apt to become carried away.
On his return to Narnia in Prince Caspian, he makes friendships with both Prince Caspian and Reepicheep, which develop further in the Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
Edmund is haunted by his betrayal in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe throughout the rest of the series. This is more evident in the films, in which Edmund personally foils the White Witch's return and he is tempted by her on an the Dark Island upon which a person's worst fears are revealed.
Edmund is one of the most well developed characters in the books by virtue of his moral and spiritual journey from traitor to King, to serious and trustworthy young man. His role and presence in the books varies but overall his character is serious. He acts as confidante and confessor to his cousin Eustace in the novel The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, as negotiator and counsellor for his sister Susan and warleader for Narnia in scenes in the novel The Horse and His Boy. In the movie series, he provides some of the comic relief, along with characters such as Reepicheep and the Beavers.
His popular name is King Edmund the Just, but at the end of the letter sent to Miraz in the novel Prince Caspian his official title is: "Duke of Lantern Waste and Count of the Western March, Knight of the Noble Order of the Table". In the movie version of The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe he is simply crowned the "King Edmund of The Great Western Woods".