Michelle Dockery Biography, Filmography and Facts. Full List of Movies: Birthday: 15 December 1981, Barking, Essex, England, UK

I can be so blown away by story lines.

I'm the youngest of three sisters, and my parents have always encouraged all of us to do whatever ma...Show more »

I'm the youngest of three sisters, and my parents have always encouraged all of us to do whatever made us happy. Show less «

When I was a child, I went to stage school three times a week in the evenings - singing, ballet, tap...Show more »

When I was a child, I went to stage school three times a week in the evenings - singing, ballet, tap, modern and acting, and I loved it. Show less «

I think the first time I realized Downton Abbey (2010) was a hit was when I was sitting in a tea sho...Show more »

I think the first time I realized Downton Abbey (2010) was a hit was when I was sitting in a tea shop in New York and the couple next to me were talking about Downton Abbey (2010) and then they recognized me. Show less «

Cooking can cure almost anything.

I think the success of 'Downton' is partly because there are effectively 18 leading characters, all ...Show more »

I think the success of 'Downton' is partly because there are effectively 18 leading characters, all given equal importance, so it's enormously involving on many levels. But also, it's a new story. It's not like Dickens or Austen, where everyone knows the denouement. Show less «

I come from a very working-class background, so my family would have been downstairs in the past, as...Show more »

I come from a very working-class background, so my family would have been downstairs in the past, as opposed to upstairs. People are often quite surprised to hear that, that I'm not actually posh. Show less «

My family keeps me sane. I try to talk to my mum every other day. After I get off the phone, I have ...Show more »

My family keeps me sane. I try to talk to my mum every other day. After I get off the phone, I have a renewed sense of clarity, so I guess a problem shared is a problem lost. It's important to me to keep them close. Show less «

It's great to have a home and everything else that comes with it.

Downton Abbey (2010) has become this huge thing, and I really enjoy the success of it, but I sometim...Show more »

Downton Abbey (2010) has become this huge thing, and I really enjoy the success of it, but I sometimes find myself on the outside looking in, which is sort of a healthy way to look at it so you don't get too caught up in it. Show less «

I think some period drama can be quite alienating, but 'Downton' isn't. This is going to sound quite...Show more »

I think some period drama can be quite alienating, but 'Downton' isn't. This is going to sound quite, um, pretentious, but someone said that it's like a soap written by a poet. Show less «

I'm taller than most actresses, so most corsets tend to be too short in the body.

It is impossible to watch a Friends (1994) episode too many times. Phoebe is my favorite character. ...Show more »

It is impossible to watch a Friends (1994) episode too many times. Phoebe is my favorite character. I used to play her songs on the guitar when I was a teenager. 'Smelly Cat' is very easy. It's only about three chords. Show less «

Shakespeare is renewed each time you see it or read it. I've seen 'Midsummer Night's Dream' so many ...Show more »

Shakespeare is renewed each time you see it or read it. I've seen 'Midsummer Night's Dream' so many times, and each time it's a little different, or a different line leaps out at me. It's like re-reading a good book over and over, always noticing something you hadn't seen the time before - and that's rare. Show less «

I love discovering tiny streets.

It's always fun to play dress up.

I'm quite into the French way - simple elegance with just a suggestion of sexiness, nothing vulgar.

I do believe in one true love.

I think my parents knew before I did that I was going to be an actress, because I was doing impressi...Show more »

I think my parents knew before I did that I was going to be an actress, because I was doing impressions of Margaret Thatcher at the age of four. Show less «

I love cycling, but if I could find a way of building something above the streets for cyclists, that...Show more »

I love cycling, but if I could find a way of building something above the streets for cyclists, that would be amazing. We need even more space. Show less «

I just want a really varied career, and just to keep going, really.

In the early '20s, with the war over, there was a period of celebration, and you can see it in the f...Show more »

In the early '20s, with the war over, there was a period of celebration, and you can see it in the fashion. Show less «

The way I see it, the third series of Downton Abbey (2010) is all about change and how each characte...Show more »

The way I see it, the third series of Downton Abbey (2010) is all about change and how each character adapts to those changes. Show less «

I just enjoy acting, whatever area - theatre, film, television.

I've had moments of thinking maybe I should go on Twitter. It's something that I've been shy about, ...Show more »

I've had moments of thinking maybe I should go on Twitter. It's something that I've been shy about, and I've thought that maybe I should do it. Show less «

A good friend of mine works at Oxfam and has been closely involved in the charity's aid efforts in S...Show more »

A good friend of mine works at Oxfam and has been closely involved in the charity's aid efforts in Syria. Show less «

I'm quite surprised at how out of control I can be on stage because, actually, I find I like to be i...Show more »

I'm quite surprised at how out of control I can be on stage because, actually, I find I like to be in control in life. It's quite freeing, really. Show less «

The whole acting game can sometimes be a bit false, and you meet a lot of people in it for the fame ...Show more »

The whole acting game can sometimes be a bit false, and you meet a lot of people in it for the fame - so there's nothing I love more than going back to Essex. Show less «

In the first season of Downton Abbey (2010) we see the three sisters, and pretty much all they do is...Show more »

In the first season of Downton Abbey (2010) we see the three sisters, and pretty much all they do is change clothes three times a day. Show less «

It's a bit of a history lesson, being an actor. I was in 'Burnt By The Sun' at the National, which w...Show more »

It's a bit of a history lesson, being an actor. I was in 'Burnt By The Sun' at the National, which was set in Stalinist Russia, so I discovered all about that. You learn so much as you go along. Show less «

I'm not accident prone, really, but I was cutting something and sort of lost control, and it went th...Show more »

I'm not accident prone, really, but I was cutting something and sort of lost control, and it went through my big toe. There was a lot of blood and I nearly fainted, but its totally fine now. Show less «

I'm not on Twitter, but I am on Instagram and follow Lena Dunham and Usher Raymond.

Shakespeare's work is like a good song: you never really forget the main lines.

People will consider me a part of their lives for however long Downton Abbey (2010) lasts. It's a lo...Show more »

People will consider me a part of their lives for however long Downton Abbey (2010) lasts. It's a lovely thing to feel as an actor. Show less «

The kitchen is the most important place in any house. Visit your family, and that's where you'll end...Show more »

The kitchen is the most important place in any house. Visit your family, and that's where you'll end up. Go to a party, that's where everyone congregates. Show less «

Silk scarves are my thing. I tie them to my handbag or thread them through belt loops or wear them i...Show more »

Silk scarves are my thing. I tie them to my handbag or thread them through belt loops or wear them in my hair. Never round my neck, though. Show less «

I get so excited about reading a new script.

My godchildren went to see Taylor Swift in concert and got to meet her. They literally ran toward he...Show more »

My godchildren went to see Taylor Swift in concert and got to meet her. They literally ran toward her and hugged her, and it was amazing. I got big bonus points for it. I'll remind them when they're teenagers. Show less «

My dad worked all sorts of jobs when I was growing up and finally ended up as a surveyor; my mum del...Show more »

My dad worked all sorts of jobs when I was growing up and finally ended up as a surveyor; my mum delivers meals to old folk around where we live. We didn't have much money when I was growing up, but I had a very happy childhood. Show less «

I really enjoy singing, it's entirely different to acting because I'm just being myself.

I'd like to do something that involves music.

We take so many of our freedoms for granted nowadays - I can travel where I like, I can do any job I...Show more »

We take so many of our freedoms for granted nowadays - I can travel where I like, I can do any job I want - but I think chivalry has been lost a little bit. Show less «

Laugh at yourself - a lot. My mum taught me not to take myself too seriously.

Shakespeare and his work will always be relevant. He wrote those pieces hundreds of years ago and we...Show more »

Shakespeare and his work will always be relevant. He wrote those pieces hundreds of years ago and we haven't really changed as humans, have we? We have to deal with love, honor and adultery now - people were the same then, too - that's what's so wonderful and powerful. Show less «

The journey matters as much as the destination. By engaging in the moment on set, I've stopped rushi...Show more »

The journey matters as much as the destination. By engaging in the moment on set, I've stopped rushing and now find pleasure in the collaborative process - the characters, the costumes - rather than worrying about the finished product. Show less «

I worked out; I moved 16 times from the age of 19, just hopping about from different flats, because ...Show more »

I worked out; I moved 16 times from the age of 19, just hopping about from different flats, because I couldn't always afford to stay. Show less «

I don't have to walk around in hats or find remote places to go for lunch! I don't get recognized th...Show more »

I don't have to walk around in hats or find remote places to go for lunch! I don't get recognized that often. Show less «

I love singing live, actually. And I'm dying to sing in a role, whether it's in a musical or a biogr...Show more »

I love singing live, actually. And I'm dying to sing in a role, whether it's in a musical or a biographical film about a singer. It's always been one of my aspirations. Show less «

I loved the 'Die Hard' films growing up and the 'Taken' movies. They're so entertaining, and I enjoy...Show more »

I loved the 'Die Hard' films growing up and the 'Taken' movies. They're so entertaining, and I enjoy being on the edge of my seat. Show less «

For years, I was often afraid to speak up when I didn't fully understand a script. I'd tie myself in...Show more »

For years, I was often afraid to speak up when I didn't fully understand a script. I'd tie myself in knots. Show less «

'Expect nothing and hope for the best' is my mantra. A drama teacher called Joseph Blatchley told me...Show more »

'Expect nothing and hope for the best' is my mantra. A drama teacher called Joseph Blatchley told me that, and it's the best advice I've had. If you keep an open mind and don't expect too much, then you won't be disappointed. Show less «

I don't mind wearing a corset, it informs your posture, changes the way you move, you can't slouch.

There's no particular role that comes to mind that I'd like to take on, but for me, it's about playi...Show more »

There's no particular role that comes to mind that I'd like to take on, but for me, it's about playing interesting characters and not just two-dimensional ones. Show less «

Playing Isabella in 'Measure for Measure' pushed me to my limits. Janet Suzman was directing, and sh...Show more »

Playing Isabella in 'Measure for Measure' pushed me to my limits. Janet Suzman was directing, and she was very hard on me. I went through phases of not liking her at the time, but I loved her for it in the end. Show less «

I'm not from aristocracy, or anything like that.

At the age of eight, I auditioned for 'The Sound of Music' and made it through to the third round, w...Show more »

At the age of eight, I auditioned for 'The Sound of Music' and made it through to the third round, where we all stood in a row like the Von Trapp family and had to sing. Show less «

I don't get recognized all the time, but it tends to happen more in America, and people are so lovel...Show more »

I don't get recognized all the time, but it tends to happen more in America, and people are so lovely when they do. Show less «

I think so often you can come out of drama school and get thrown in the deep end.

I wasn't an academic. I hated maths and science at school. I couldn't concentrate.

Until I was 27, I'd maybe been to America once and, like, Ibiza when I was 18. That was it.

In my twenties, I was a bit of a worrier; it bothered me what people thought of me, what job I was d...Show more »

In my twenties, I was a bit of a worrier; it bothered me what people thought of me, what job I was doing. Show less «

I had dance training from a very young age, 3 or 4... It taught me how to present myself, about prep...Show more »

I had dance training from a very young age, 3 or 4... It taught me how to present myself, about preparation and working in an ensemble, and it's something that carries with me to this day. Show less «

'Othello' was my first Shakespearean discovery. I was obsessed with drama at school, and I studied t...Show more »

'Othello' was my first Shakespearean discovery. I was obsessed with drama at school, and I studied the play for my English GCSE. Desdemona is the part that everyone wants, but Iago's wife Emilia is the one I've always been drawn to. Show less «

You can find a connection with any Shakespeare role you play.

I regret not learning to drive when I was younger.

I want a house with a garden, but slap bang in the center of London. Next door to a sushi bar.

Downton Abbey (2010) has become this huge thing, and I really enjoy the success of it, but I sometim...Show more »

Downton Abbey (2010) has become this huge thing, and I really enjoy the success of it, but I sometimes find myself on the outside looking in. Show less «

My mum taught me always to see the funny side of things.

It's old news, me and my accent, but it always seems to make headlines.

You learn an incredible amount doing theatre, not just about to behave.

If Shakespeare was around today I would ask him out to dinner. The only thing I don't like about him...Show more »

If Shakespeare was around today I would ask him out to dinner. The only thing I don't like about him is the way he did his hair. Show less «

Being in the same scenes as Maggie Smith and Shirley MacLaine is something I will never forget.

Michelle Dockery

Michelle Dockery's FILMOGRAPHY