Michelle Suzanne Dockery born 15 December 1981 is an English actress and singer. She is best known for her role as Lady Mary Crawley in the ITV drama series Downton Abbey , for which she has been nominated for three consecutive Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award. She made her professional stage debut in His Dark Materials in 2004. For her role as Eliza Doolittle in the 2007 London revival of Pygmalion, she was nominated for the Evening Standard Award.
Graduated from Guildhall School of Music & Drama (London) in 2004.
Apprenticed at Londons National Theatre.
Won the Gold Medal for Drama at the world-renowned Guildhall School of Music and Drama, the most prestigious award given by the school.
Aside from acting, Dockery is also an accomplished jazz singer. She has sung several times at famous London jazz club Ronnie Scotts, as well as making appearances at several festivals. Sometimes she collaborates with "Downton Abbey" co-star Elizabeth McGovern and her band Sadie and the Hotheads.
Younger sister of Louise Sarah (b. 1976) and Joanne Michelle Dockery (b. 1978).
Daughter of Michael and Lorraine (ne Witton) Dockery.
Counts "My So-Called Life" and "Mad Men" among her favorite TV shows. Most personally identifies with Julia Louis-Dreyfus s character Elaine from "Seinfeld" .
First realized that "Downton Abbey" was a transatlantic hit TV series when she was recognized in Manhattan at a Greenwich Village caf.
Enjoys "Breaking Bad" and "Game of Thrones" .
Carries around a gray Sylvanian rabbit named Little Lady Mary based on the fan created You Tube video series, Dollshouse Downton. In it Dockerys character, Lady Mary Crawley, is played by such a gray Sylvanian rabbit.
Before drama school, admits to having lost out on roles when she was younger due to her Essex accent.
In addition to acting, she is also proficient in dancing and playing the guitar.
Active with several charities over the years. Patron of Changing Faces, the facial disfigurement charity.
Michelles good friend Sarah Solemani spoofs her "Downton Abbey" Lady Mary character in Comic Relief: Uptown Downstairs Abbey .
Father Michael was born in Athlone, County Westmeath, Ireland, into a family of 9 siblings.
Is a big fan of American jazz singer-pianist Melody Gardot.
Was engaged to Irish PR director John Dineen on Valentines Day in February 2015, but he died from cancer 13 December 2015 just two days before Michelles 34th birthday. The couple had been introduced by Irish actor Allen Leech. In the TV series episode "Good Behavior" {Beautiful Things Deserve Beautiful Things (#1.5)} featuring Dockery, Dineen is accorded an "In Loving Memory" dedication in the closing credits. At the funeral in County, Cork, Ireland (16 Dec. 2015), Michelle performed her late fiancs favorite song "The Folks Who Live On the Hill".
Close friend of "Downton Abbey" co-star Laura Carmichael.
Aspinal of London created a new line of totes/handbags in her name: "The Dockery Collection" for both men and women. The esteemed Aspinal brand has been a personal royalty favorite of Catherine Duchess of Cambridge and her sister Pippa Middleton.
"Downton Abbey" (2010) has become this huge thing, and I really,enjoy the success of it, but I sometimes find myself on the outside,looking in.
In the first season of "Downton Abbey" (2010) we see the three,sisters, and pretty much all they do is change clothes three times a,day.
I want a house with a garden, but slap bang in the center of London.
Next door to a sushi bar.
I do believe in one true love.
I love cycling, but if I could find a way of building something above,the streets for cyclists, that would be amazing. We need even more,space.
I just enjoy acting, whatever area - theatre, film, television.
I regret not learning to drive when I was younger.
Silk scarves are my thing. I tie them to my handbag or thread them,through belt loops or wear them in my hair. Never round my neck,though.
I think so often you can come out of drama school and get thrown in the,deep end.
We take so many of our freedoms for granted nowadays - I can travel,where I like, I can do any job I want - but I think chivalry has been,lost a little bit.
Laugh at yourself - a lot. My mum taught me not to take myself too,seriously.
I get so excited about reading a new script.
I think the first time I realized "Downton Abbey" (2010) was a,hit was when I was sitting in a tea shop in New York and the couple,next to me were talking about "Downton Abbey" (2010) and then,they recognized me.
I just want a really varied career, and just to keep going, really.
I love discovering tiny streets.
Cooking can cure almost anything.
I can be so blown away by story lines.
When I was a child, I went to stage school three times a week in the,evenings - singing, ballet, tap, modern and acting, and I loved it.
You learn an incredible amount doing theatre, not just about to behave.
In my twenties, I was a bit of a worrier; it bothered me what people,thought of me, what job I was doing.
My mum taught me always to see the funny side of things.
The way I see it, the third series of "Downton Abbey" (2010) is,all about change and how each character adapts to those changes.
You can find a connection with any Shakespeare role you play.
I love cycling, but if I could find a way of building something above the streets for cyclists, that would be amazing. We need even more space.
We take so many of our freedoms for granted nowadays - I can travel where I like, I can do any job I want - but I think chivalry has been lost a little bit. .
