Michelle Dockery

Michelle Suzanne Dockery (born 15 December 1981) is an English television and film actress. She is best known for her leading performance 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.

Dockery 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. For her role in the 2009 play ''Burnt by the Sun'', she earned an Olivier Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Dockery has appeared in the films '' Hanna'' (2011), ''Anna Karenina'' (2012), '' Non-Stop'' (2014), and '' The Gentlemen'' (2019). On television, Dockery has also played lead roles on the drama series '' Good Behavior'' and the Netflix miniseries '' Godless'', for which she received her fourth Emmy nomination, and the drama miniseries '' Defending Jacob'' (2020). She played Kate Woodcroft in Netflix's anthology drama miniseries ''Anatomy of a Scandal'' (2022).

Early life

Dockery is the daughter of Lorraine, a care home assistant from Stepney, England, and Michael Dockery a surveyor from Athlone, Ireland. She grew up in Romford in London and she still has traces of an Estuary accent.

Dockery has two older sisters, Louise and Joanne. She was educated first at Chadwell Heath Academy, and later at the Finch Stage School.

After her A Levels, she enrolled at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, where she was awarded the gold medal for Drama at her graduation in 2004.

Career

Stage

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. 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. She appeared in ''Burnt by the Sun'' at the National Theatre, for which she received an Olivier Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

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, and for the same production was nominated Best Newcomer at the Evening Standard Awards 2008.

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

Film and television

In 2006, Dockery starred as Susan Sto Helit in a two-part adaptation of Terry Pratchett's novel ''Hogfather''. In 2008, she played Kathryn in Channel 4's ''The Red Riding Trilogy'' and played the guest lead of tormented rape victim Gemma Morrison in BBC's '' Waking the Dead''. In 2009, she appeared in the two-part '' Cranford'' Christmas special for the BBC
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