Michelle Dockery found herself in the same shoes as her "Downton Abbey" character, Lady Mary, as the two ladies became widows. But despite the heartache of loss, Dockery gave love a chance again and is once more poised to walk down the aisle.
English Native Michelle Dockery drew her first breath in Barking, Essex, on December 15, 1981, born to Lorraine and Michael Dockery. She joined the entertainment industry as a stage actress in 2004, performing in the theatrical production "His Dark Materials."
In 2007, she played Eliza Doolittle in a revival of "Pygmalion," a role that earned her an Evening Standard Award nomination. By then, she had already debuted on screen, with brief parts in the TV shows "Fingersmith" and "Dalziel and Pascoe." She also appeared "Hogfather" and "Consent" in 2006 and 2007, respectively.
Michelle Dockery poses at the World Premiere of "Anatomy Of A Scandal" at the Curzon Mayfair on April 14, 2022, in London, England | Source: Getty Images
Dockery took on several projects in the following years before winning the role that would become her staple: Lady Mary Crowley in the romantic drama series, "Downton Abbey." Starring alongside Maggie Smith, she captivated audiences on the show between 2010 and 2015.
She was poised to walk down the aisle for the first time in 2015, but nearly a year later, Dockery was mourning the loss of her fiancé. Some time passed, and she opened herself up to love again. Last year, the private TV star, who has kept her fans on a need-to-know basis, announced her pending nuptials with Jasper Waller-Bridge.
Michelle Dockery and Jasper Waller-Bridge pose at the World Premiere of "Anatomy of a Scandal" at The Curzon Mayfair on April 14, 2022, in London, England | Source: Getty Images
Michelle Dockery Is Engaged, but She Is Tight-Lipped about Her Relationship with Her Fiancé
Dockery and Waller-Bridge announced their engagement in January 2022 via The Times. The two have kept their relationship under wraps, as neither has a social media account. And until last month, they hadn't made any red-carpet appearances as a couple either. They are believed to have met through mutual friends sometime in 2019.
That year in October, they were seen together for the first time at the Rome Film Festival. They've since guarded their privacy and only debuted on the red carpet last month at the World Premiere of "Anatomy of A Scandal." According to an insider, Dockery and Waller-Bridge took their time with their romance.
Michelle Dockery and Jasper Waller-Bridge attending the world premiere of "Downton Abbey: A New Era" at Cineworld Leicester Square on April 25, 2022, in London, England | Source: Getty Images
"It was all taken slowly and in a considered manner but they are really enjoying being together," the source said. And despite their work keeping them apart sometimes, Waller-Bridge and Dockery remained in "constant contact." Dockery also developed a warm relationship with her fiancé's family.
After news of their upcoming nuptials broke, Waller-Bridge's father said he "could not be more delighted! We have had a very happy time getting to know Michelle over the last few years and she's an absolutely delightful person," Dockery's future father-in-law gushed.
Michelle Dockery is pictured at an after party following the press night performance of "AVA: The Secret Conversations" at Riverside Studios on January 25, 2022, in London, England | Source: Getty Images
Following the announcement, Dockery, already working on wedding plans, was seen out with friends, sporting a diamond ring in her hand. In 2020, when questions about her relationship with Waller-Bridge and his family arose, she explained why and how she kept things under wraps, saying:
"I guess what I've learnt is keep talking about the work. There are a lot of other things that come with success and that would be my advice for anyone: keep your head down, make it about the job."
Michelle Dockery poses at G'Day USA 2020 | Standing Together Dinner at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on January 25, 2020, in Beverly Hills, California | Source: Getty Images
Jasper Waller-Bridge Is Also in the Industry, like His Famous Sister
Waller-Bridge is a London-based TV and film producer and music manager. He first studied at Davies, Laing, and Dick College between 2004 and 2006 before moving to the University of Kent, where he graduated with a BA Honors in War Studies in 2009.
He began as a Marketing Manager at Island Records the following year and remained until 2014. Jasper then worked as a Talent Manager and founded his agency, Made Different, which closed its doors in 2017. He took a few more positions before co-founding Day One Pictures in November 2020, where he is currently the Executive Producer.
Waller-Bridge, who formerly managed Louis Tomlinson, is also the younger brother of actress and writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge, critically acclaimed for her work in "Fleabag" and "Killing Eve." The siblings are believed to have a close bond, as they were once spotted embracing during a shopping trip in London in December 2020.
Michelle Dockery and Jasper Waller-Bridge are pictured at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 3, 2022, in London, England | Source: Getty Images
Michelle Dockery Suffered a Great Loss, Similar to Her 'Downton Abbey' Character
In September 2013, Dockery was dating the late Public Relations Executive John Dineen after being introduced by her former co-star, Allen Leech. The lovers kept their relationship lowkey for the most part, but during a 2014 interview, Dockery revealed:
"I have a wonderful man in my life from Ireland."
They were engaged in 2015, but Dineen was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer that year. He sought treatment in Germany but returned home to Cork, Ireland, shortly before his death. Dockery was with him as often as possible while juggling work responsibilities.
Michelle Dockery and John Dineen are pictured at the Winter Whites Gala in aid of Centrepoint at Kensington Palace on November 26, 2013, in London, England | Source: Getty Images
He was at Marymount Hospice when he took his last breath with her at his side. Two years later, the 41-year-old opened up about the emotional turmoil after he died. "I don't have the vocabulary to describe what it felt like. And what it still feels like," she lamented.
Dockery explained that she had never been committed to someone as much as she was to Dineen. So everything "shut down" after he was gone. She never lost hope that he would survive when he was still alive. Despite fighting what became a losing battle, he, too, remained strong and "never complained."
Around the same time the tragedy befell her, Dockery's character's storyline in "Downton Abbey" mimicked her own, as Lady Mary had also lost her husband. Dockery said she considered herself a widow like Lady Mary because she felt that she and Dineen were "married at heart."
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