Jump to content

Michelle Dockery

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Michelle Dockery
Dockery in 2019
Born
Michelle Suzanne Dockery

(1981-12-15) 15 December 1981 (age 42)
Essex, England
Alma materGuildhall School of Music and Drama
OccupationActress
Years active2004–present
Spouse
Jasper Waller-Bridge
​
​
(m. 2023)​
Relatives
Signature

Michelle Suzanne Dockery[1] (born 15 December 1981) is an English actress. She is best known for starring as Lady Mary Crawley in the ITV television period drama series Downton Abbey (2010–2015), for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and three consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.[2] She reprised her role in the films Downton Abbey (2019) and Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022).

After graduating from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Dockery made her professional stage debut in His Dark Materials in 2004. For her role as Eliza Doolittle in a 2007 London revival of Pygmalion, she was nominated for the Evening Standard Award.[3] For her role in the 2009 play Burnt by the Sun, she earned an Olivier Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.[4]

Dockery has appeared in the films Hanna (2011), Anna Karenina (2012), Non-Stop (2014), and The Gentlemen (2019).[5] She has also played lead roles in the western miniseries Godless (2017), for which she received her fourth Emmy nomination, and the drama miniseries Defending Jacob (2020) and Anatomy of a Scandal (2022).[1]

Early life and education

[edit]

Michelle Dockery is the daughter of Lorraine, a care home assistant from Stepney, England, and Michael Dockery, a lorry driver from Ireland. She grew up in Romford, Essex.[6]

She attended the Finch Stage School,[7] and graduated from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in 2004.[8]

Career

[edit]

Stage

[edit]

Dockery was a member of the National Youth Theatre. She made her professional debut in His Dark Materials at the Royal National Theatre in 2004.[9] In 2006, she was nominated for the Ian Charleson Award for her performance as Dina Dorf in Pillars of the Community at the National Theatre.[10] She appeared in Burnt by the Sun at the National Theatre, for which she received an Olivier Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.[11]

She won second prize at the Ian Charleson Awards for her performance as Eliza Doolittle in Peter Hall's production of Pygmalion at the Theatre Royal, Bath, which toured the UK and transferred to The Old Vic in 2008,[12] and for the same production was nominated Best Newcomer at the Evening Standard Awards 2008.[13]

In 2010, she played Ophelia in Hamlet at the Crucible Theatre alongside John Simm.[14]

Film and television

[edit]
Dockery at the 2013 Golden Globe Awards

In 2006, Dockery starred as Susan Sto Helit in a two-part adaptation of Terry Pratchett's novel Hogfather.[15] In 2008, she played Kathryn in Channel 4's The Red Riding Trilogy and played the guest role of tormented rape victim Gemma Morrison in BBC's Waking the Dead. In 2009, she appeared on the BBC as Erminia, a ward of Jonathan Pryce's character, in the two-part Cranford Christmas special (also known as Return to Cranford), and as the young governess in an adaptation of The Turn of the Screw, opposite her future Downton Abbey co-star Dan Stevens in the role of her psychiatrist.[16]

Dockery came to public prominence in 2010 when she played Lady Mary Crawley in Julian Fellowes' series Downton Abbey. The series ran from 2010 through 2015; each year it was filmed from February through August and broadcast on ITV from September through November, with a special Christmas night episode each year beginning in 2011. It later aired in the U.S. on PBS.

For her role as Lady Mary Crawley in the Downton Abbey series, Dockery received three consecutive Emmy Award nominations in the category of Outstanding Lead Actress In a Drama Series in 2012,[17] 2013,[18] and 2014.[19] She also earned a Golden Globe nomination in 2013.[2]

Dockery's first big screen role was as False Marissa in Hanna (2011). In 2012, she appeared as Princess Myagkaya in the film adaptation of Anna Karenina and starred with Charlotte Rampling in a two-part dramatisation of William Boyd's spy thriller Restless on BBC One.[20] In January 2014, she appeared in the action thriller feature film Non-Stop alongside co-stars Liam Neeson, Julianne Moore, and Lupita Nyong'o.[21][22]

In 2014, Dockery was made Fellow of the Guildhall School in recognition of her achievements in television.[23] In 2014, Dockery was listed in The Sunday Times Britain's 500 Most Influential People, which is a compilation of the most significant individuals in the UK who have demonstrated outstanding qualities of influence, achievement and inspiration.[24][25]

In a departure from her portrayal of Lady Mary in Downton Abbey, Dockery advanced her Hollywood career with a 2015 performance in the sci-fi thriller feature film Self/less, with Ryan Reynolds.[21]

Beginning in November 2016, Dockery starred in the lead role of Letty Raines in Good Behavior, an American drama series based on the novella series by Blake Crouch. Letty is a drug-addicted thief and con-artist who, released early from prison on good behaviour, is attempting to get her life under control. Her efforts are complicated by a chance meeting and subsequent entanglement with a charismatic hitman, played by Juan Diego Botto. The 10-episode first season, airing on a U.S. basic-cable network TNT, was filmed in and around Wilmington, North Carolina. In January 2017, the show was picked up for a second season.[26] In November 2018, the series was cancelled after two seasons.[27]

In 2017, Dockery appeared alongside Jim Broadbent, Charlotte Rampling, Harriet Walter, and Emily Mortimer in the British film The Sense of an Ending from CBS Films, based on the Booker-winning novel of the same name by Julian Barnes. She plays Susie Webster, the daughter of Tony Webster (Jim Broadbent), a man who lives in quiet unquestioning solitude until he confronts secrets of his past. "The film is a beautiful adaptation of the book which I love. And I jumped at the chance to work with director Ritesh Batra, who also filmed The Lunchbox (2013)", explained Dockery.[28][29]

Later that year, Dockery had a lead role in the Netflix western miniseries Godless.[30] In 2019, Dockery reprised her lead role as Lady Mary Crawley in the Downton Abbey film, alongside Hugh Bonneville and Maggie Smith. The film received generally positive reviews from critics and was a financial success, grossing $192 million. Later in 2019, Dockery appeared in The Gentlemen, directed by Guy Ritchie, as the wife of a drug baron played by Matthew McConaughey. The film opened in wide release in 2020 and has grossed over $100 million worldwide. It was met with mixed to positive reviews.

Music

[edit]

Dockery is a trained singer. She sang at the 50th Anniversary of Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London and has occasionally sung with Sadie and the Hotheads, a band formed by Elizabeth McGovern, who played her mother in Downton Abbey.[31] In February 2022, it was announced that Dockery and her Downton Abbey co-star Michael C. Fox had signed a record deal with Decca Records as the duo Michelle and Michael.[32]

Charity work

[edit]

On World Humanitarian Day 2014, Oxfam announced Dockery as its first ever Humanitarian Ambassador.[33] Dockery is also a patron of Changing Faces,[34] as well as other charities.[35]

In 2014, Dockery was one of nine British celebrities featured in a short film promoting Stand Up to Cancer UK.[36]

Personal life

[edit]

Dockery began a relationship with John Dineen, from Waterfall, Ireland, in 2013. Dockery had been introduced to Dineen, then a public relations director at FTI Consulting in London, by Irish actor Allen Leech, who appeared alongside Dockery in Downton Abbey.

Dineen died on 13 December 2015, at age 34 from a rare form of cancer at the Marymount Hospice in Cork.[37][38][39]

Dockery has been in a relationship with Jasper Waller-Bridge, brother of Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge and composer Isobel Waller-Bridge, since 2019. They announced their engagement in January 2022[40] and married on 22 September 2023.[41]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2010 Spoiler Goth Girl Short film
Shades of Beige Jodie Short film
2011 Hanna False Marissa
2012 Out of Time Christine Short film[42][43]
Anna Karenina Princess Myagkaya
A Poem Is... Narrator Voice
Angelic Voices: The Choristers of Salisbury Cathedral Narrator Documentary
2014 Non-Stop Nancy Hoffman
Tough Justice Connie Tough Short film
2015 Self/less Claire Hale
Many Beautiful Things Voice of Lilias Trotter Documentary
District Zero: What's Hidden Inside the Smartphone of a Refugee Narrator Documentary
2017 The Sense of an Ending Susie Webster
2019 Downton Abbey Lady Mary Talbot
The Gentlemen Rosalind "Roz" Pearson
2022 Downton Abbey: A New Era Lady Mary Talbot
2023 Boy Kills World Melanie van der Koy
2024 Please Don't Feed the Children
Here Mrs Harter
2025 Flight Risk Madelyn Harris Post-production
Untitled Downton Abbey: A New Era sequel Lady Mary Talbot Post-production

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2005 Fingersmith Betty Miniseries
2006 Hogfather Susan / Death of Rats Television film
2007 Consent Television film
2007 Dalziel and Pascoe Aimee Hobbs 2 episodes
2008 Heartbeat Sue Padgett Episode: "Take Three Girls"
2008 Poppy Shakespeare Dawn Television film
2009 Red Riding: In the Year of Our Lord 1974 Kathryn Taylor Television film
2009 Red Riding: In the Year of Our Lord 1983 Kathryn Taylor Television film
2009 The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler Ewa Rozenfeld Television film
2009 The Turn of the Screw Ann Television film
2009 Waking The Dead Gemma Morrison 2 episodes
2009 Return to Cranford Erminia Whyte 2 episodes
2010–2015 Downton Abbey Lady Mary Crawley Main cast; 52 episodes
2012 Restless Ruth Gilmartin Miniseries
2012 American Dad! Margaret Watkins Voice
1 episode
2012 The Hollow Crown Lady Kate Percy "Henry IV, Part I and Part II"
2013 Family Guy Lady Mary Crawley Voice
Episode: "Boopa-dee Bappa-dee"
2015 Japan: Earth's Enchanted Islands Narrator BBC2 Documentary Series
2016–2017 Good Behavior Letty Raines Main cast; 20 episodes
2017 Angie Tribeca Victoria Nova 1 episode
2017 Godless Alice Fletcher Miniseries; 7 episodes
2019 Tuca & Bertie Lady Netherfield (voice) Episode: "The Deli Guy"
2020 Defending Jacob Laurie Barber Miniseries; 8 episodes
2020–2022 Amphibia Lady Olivia (voice) 9 episodes[44]
2022 Anatomy of a Scandal Kate Woodcroft Miniseries; 6 episodes
2024 This Town Estella Main cast[45]

Stage roles

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2004 His Dark Materials Jessie National Theatre
2005 Henry IV, Parts I and II Carrier National Theatre
2005 The UN Inspector Female activist National Theatre
2005 Pillars of the Community Dina National Theatre
2007 Dying for It Kleopatra Almeida Theatre
2007 Pygmalion Eliza Doolittle UK tour
2008 Uncle Vanya Yelena UK tour
2008 Pygmalion Eliza Doolittle Old Vic Theatre
2009 Burnt by the Sun Maroussia National Theatre
2010 Hamlet Ophelia Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
2017–2018 Network Diana Christensen National Theatre, London

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2005 Ian Charleson Awards Best Actress Pillars of Community Nominated
2007 Ian Charleson Awards Best Performance by an Actor – 2nd Prize Pygmalion Won
2008 Evening Standard Award Outstanding Newcomer Pygmalion Nominated
2010 Laurence Olivier Award Best Actress in a Supporting Role Burnt by the Sun Nominated
2011 Monte-Carlo Television Festival Outstanding Actress Drama Series Downton Abbey Nominated
2012 Monte-Carlo Television Festival Outstanding Actress Drama Series Downton Abbey Nominated
Critics' Choice Television Award Best Drama Actress Downton Abbey Nominated
Glamour Awards Editor's Special Award — Won
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Downton Abbey Nominated
Satellite Awards Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama Downton Abbey Nominated
2013 Golden Globe Award Best Actress – Television Series Drama Downton Abbey Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series Downton Abbey Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Downton Abbey Won
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Downton Abbey Nominated
Huading Awards Best Global Actress Downton Abbey Won
Online Film and Television Association Awards Best Actress in a Drama Series Downton Abbey Nominated
2014 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Downton Abbey Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Downton Abbey Won
2015 Harper's Bazaar Women of the Year Awards Television Icon Award — Won
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Downton Abbey Won
2016 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Downton Abbey Nominated
Online Film and Television Association Awards Best Actress in a Drama Series Downton Abbey Nominated
2017 Critics' Pick Awards[46] Best Actress in a Drama Series Godless Nominated
2018 Cannes International TV Series Film Festival Variety Icon Award for Outstanding Achievement in Acting[47][48] — Won
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series Godless Nominated

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Fear, Helen (16 December 2020). "Anatomy of a Scandal on Netflix: Downton Abbey's Michelle Dockery joins cast". Entertainment Daily. Archived from the original on 24 April 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Golden Globes 2013: full list of winners". The Guardian. 14 January 2013. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  3. ^ "DOWNTON ABBEY's Michelle Dockery to Lead New Netflix Miniseries 'Godless'". Archived from the original on 24 August 2017. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  4. ^ "Hollywood names up for Olivier theatre awards". Reuters. 8 February 2010. Archived from the original on 24 August 2017. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  5. ^ "Downton Abbey's Lady Mary talks starring in Non-Stop with Neeson". The Independent. 25 February 2014. Archived from the original on 20 December 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  6. ^ Philipson, Alice (20 August 2013). "Michelle Dockery reveals she is an 'Essex girl' at heart". Archived from the original on 31 January 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  7. ^ "Company Members – Michelle Dockery". National Theatre. January 2009. Archived from the original on 17 January 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
  8. ^ "Masterpiece: Downton Abbey". PBS. Archived from the original on 18 October 2011. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
  9. ^ Inverne, James (30 November 2004). "Previews for Second Part of His Dark Materials Begin Nov. 30". Playbill. Archived from the original on 25 May 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  10. ^ "Recent awards for drama graduates". Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Archived from the original on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
  11. ^ "Olivier awards nominations". guardian.co.uk. London: Guardian News and Media. 8 February 2010. Archived from the original on 8 May 2019. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
  12. ^ Dockery review in Pygmalion Archived 10 March 2017 at the Wayback Machine, Guardian.co.uk, 17 May 2008.
  13. ^ The 2008 ES Theatre Awards shortlist, thisislondon.co.uk, 24 November 2008 Archived 13 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ First Night: Hamlet, Sheffield Crucible Archived 1 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine, independent.co.uk, 23 September 2010.
  15. ^ O'Sullivan, Michael (7 March 2008). "'Hogfather': Low-Budget Hogwash". Washington Post. p. T 39.
  16. ^ "'Downton Abbey': Michelle Dockery and Dan Stevens in old TV movie". EW.com. 6 January 2014. Archived from the original on 24 August 2017. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  17. ^ "64th Emmy Awards Nominees and Winners". Television Academy. Archived from the original on 26 March 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  18. ^ "65th Emmy Awards Nominees and Winners". Television Academy. Archived from the original on 26 March 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  19. ^ "66th Emmy Awards Nominees and Winners". Television Academy. Archived from the original on 26 March 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  20. ^ Michaels, Adrian (28 December 2012). "Restless, BBC One, review". dailytelegraph.co.uk. London, UK. Archived from the original on 28 December 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
  21. ^ a b Alexander, Sophie (3 March 2014). "Michelle Dockery's film Non-Stop flies right to the top of the box office". Express.co.uk. Archived from the original on 24 August 2017. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  22. ^ Shone, Tom (26 February 2014). "Non-Stop review: Liam Neeson claims his crown as B-movie king". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 24 August 2017. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  23. ^ "Guildhall School Graduation – Class of 2014". www.gsmd.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 26 July 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
  24. ^ Times, The Sunday (26 January 2014). "Britain's 500 most influential". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 18 January 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  25. ^ Profile Archived 7 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine, debretts.com; accessed 6 July 2016.
  26. ^ Stanhope, Kate (14 January 2017). "TNT's 'Good Behavior' Scores Season 2 Renewal". Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 15 January 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  27. ^ Goldberg, Leslie (6 November 2018). "'Good Behavior' Canceled at TNT". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  28. ^ "Michelle Dockery on new film "The Sense of an Ending"", CBS News, archived from the original on 24 August 2017, retrieved 24 August 2017
  29. ^ Brunner, Jeryl. "Michelle Dockery on Her New Film, The Sense of An Ending and How She Got Her Start". Parade. Archived from the original on 24 August 2017. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  30. ^ Shaw, Jessica (16 November 2017). "Merritt Wever rides tall in Netflix's Godless". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 9 December 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  31. ^ The Times, 6 November 2010
  32. ^ Rainbird, Ashleigh (16 February 2022). "Downton Abbey stars Michelle Dockery and Michael Fox sign record deal to launch as duo". mirror. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  33. ^ Felicity Thistlethwaite (19 August 2014). "From Downton to charity: Michelle Dockery Oxfam's first Humanitarian Ambassador". Express.co.uk. Archived from the original on 31 October 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  34. ^ "Changing Faces". Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  35. ^ "Michelle Dockery: Charity Work & Causes". Look to the Stars. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  36. ^ "Stars Unite in Exclusive Stand Up to Cancer Film". Stand Up to Cancer UK. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  37. ^ "Michelle Dockery interview: 'Downton may not be over quite yet'". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 24 August 2017. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  38. ^ Press Association (15 December 2015). "Downton Abbey star Michelle Dockery's fiance dies after long illness". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 24 August 2017. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  39. ^ Greenwood, Carl (15 August 2016). "Michelle Dockery thanks friends and family after tragic death of her fiance". mirror. Archived from the original on 24 August 2017. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  40. ^ Kaniuk, Ross. "Downton meets Fleabag at the altar: Michelle Dockery to marry Jasper Waller-Bridge". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  41. ^ Sachdeva, Maanya (24 September 2023). "Downton Abbey star Michelle Dockery marries Jasper Waller-Bridge in intimate ceremony". The Independent. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  42. ^ Rothman, Lily (15 March 2012). "TIME Style and Design: Futuristic London Fashion". TIME magazine. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  43. ^ "Out of Time". Josh Appignanesi. Archived from the original on 16 February 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  44. ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (23 June 2020). "Disney Channel Renews 'Amphibia' For Season 3; Kermit The Frog, Jenifer Lewis, George Takei And More To Guest Star On Season 2". Deadline. Archived from the original on 24 June 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  45. ^ "Michelle Dockery, Nicholas Pinnock and David Dawson announced for This Town, Steven Knight's original new drama series for the BBC". bbc.co.uk/mediacentre. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  46. ^ "2017 Critics' Pick Award Nominees: TV". January 2018. Archived from the original on 28 March 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  47. ^ "Canneseries Masterclass: Michelle Dockery". Archived from the original on 28 March 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  48. ^ "Michelle Dockery to be Honored with Variety Icon Award for Canneseries". 27 March 2018. Archived from the original on 2 April 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Michelle Dockery.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Michelle_Dockery&oldid=1259583460"