MICHELLE DOCKERY – ACTOR

After graduating from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Michelle spent two years at the National Theatre. It was there that she received her first Ian Charleson Award nomination for her work in Pillars of the Community. She has worked extensively in theatre, where she has built a reputation as a rising star of the West End. She was heralded as Peter Hall’s new discovery of 2007 and went on to win second prize at the Ian Charleson Awards in 2008 for her portrayal of Eliza Doolittle in his Old Vic production of Pygmalion, as well as being named best theatrical newcomer by the Evening Standard for the role. She was nominated for an Olivier Award for her performance at the National Theatre opposite Ciaran Hinds and Rory Kinnear in Burnt by the Sun, which earned five-star reviews.

Her screen work includes appearances in Sky One’s Christmas adaptation of The Hogfather, Channel Four's Red Riding trilogy, the BBC’s Cranford and the leading role of Ann in the BBC's new adaptation of Henry James's The Turn of the Screw. In 2010, Michelle played Ophelia alongside John Simm in Shakespeare's Hamlet at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield and appeared as Lady Mary Crowley in ITV's hugely successful seven part serial Downton Abbey, written by Julian Fellowes, alongside a large cast, including Dame Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville and Jim Carter. In 2011, Michelle appeared in Joe Wright’s much anticipated feature film Hanna, alongside Cate Blanchett, Eric Bana and Saoirse Ronan and in the second series of the acclaimed and award-winning ITV drama Downton Abbey. In 2012, Michelle appears in the feature film Anna Karenina, alongside Keira Knightley, Jude Law and Matthew Macfadyen and in the third series of Downton Abbey.