Michelle Suzanne Dockery (born 15 December 1981) is an English actress best known for her portrayal of Lady Mary Crawley in the acclaimed ITV period drama Downton Abbey (2010–2015). Her performance in the series earned her a Golden Globe nomination and three consecutive Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress. She reprised the role in the feature films Downton Abbey (2019) and Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022), further solidifying her as a central figure in the franchise.
A classically trained actress, Dockery graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and made her professional stage debut in His Dark Materials in 2004. She received critical acclaim and award nominations for her stage work in Pygmalion (2007) and Burnt by the Sun (2009). Beyond the stage and Downton, her film credits include Hanna (2011), Anna Karenina (2012), Non-Stop (2014), and The Gentlemen (2019). On television, she has taken on prominent roles in Godless (2017), Defending Jacob (2020), and Anatomy of a Scandal (2022), showcasing her versatility across genres.
