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Michelle Dockery

Michelle Dockery: born December 15, 1981 (Sagittarius)

Is Lady Mary too hot to handle?

On the David Lettermen show, Michelle Dockery said men are terrified of having sex with her after Mr. Pamuk the Turk dropped dead during their Season One dalliance on Downton Abbey. Dockery’s current live-in architect boyfriend in London may be the exception.

Dockery is best known for playing Lady Mary Crawley on Downton Abbey, but she made her television debut in 2005 in Fingersmith. Dockery was born and raised in East London. She went to school at Chadwell Heath Academy and moved onto Finch Stage School. At 18 year old, Michelle Dockery attended London’s Guildhall School of Music & Drama and graduated in 2004.

Michelle Dockery feels at home in London or on Downton Abbey

Dockery performed in London theatres and on British television before landing her big role on Downton Abbey. Dockery is also a jazz singer performing occasionally with Sadie and the Hotheads – Elizabeth McGovern’s band. McGovern plays Lady Cora, Dockery’s mother on Downton. Michelle’s musical influences include Peggy Lee and Billie Holiday.

Downton Abbey costs an average of one million pounds per episode to produce.

As of 2013, Downton Abbey is the highest rated PBS "Masterpiece" drama series of all time, seen by an estimated 120 million viewers in 200 countries and regions.

Gillian Anderson reportedly turned down the part of Lady Cora Grantham.

The real estate that "plays" Downton Abbey, Highclere Castle, has been the home of the Carnarvon family since 1679. In 1922, George Herbert, the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, co-discovered the Tomb of the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun. On the show, the names of the Earl of Grantham's beloved dogs, Isis and Pharaoh, are nods to the real castle's connection to Egyptian history.

According to Julian Fellowes, the parts played by Hugh Bonneville, Brendan Coyle and Maggie Smith were written for the actors.

It was reported that Steven Waddington auditioned for the part of Bates.

When Downton Abbey first aired, Julian Fellowes (creator and producer) was annoyed at the media for pointing out anachronisms like TV aerials and the use of the word 'boyfriend'. (The word 'boyfriend appeared in print in 1889, long before the period setting of Downton). Fellowes said "they think to show how smart they are by picking holes in the program to promote their own poshness and to show that their knowledge is greater than your knowledge". In a later article coinciding with the start of the second season, Fellowes apologised and commented "I behaved rather badly by getting the hump."

Michelle Dockery

Michelle Dockery: born December 15, 1981 (Sagittarius)

Downton Abbey Trivia

Hunks of Downton Abbey

Extras

Shirley Maclaine Interview