Michelle Dockery is glowing with joy. The “Downton Abbey” star is pregnant with her first baby at 43. The actress revealed the news at the world premiere of “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” on Wednesday, September 3, in London.
Dockery made a sweet announcement, debuting her baby bump in a dusty blue off-the-shoulder gown with a flowing train and silver jewelry.
(Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images)By her side, husband Jasper Waller-Bridge, 37, looked dapper in a navy suit as the couple smiled hand in hand on the red carpet. At one moment, Dockery placed a gentle hand on her stomach and smiled brightly for the cameras.
Dockery Reveals Pregnancy at ‘Downton Abbey’ Premiere
(Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images)Dockery has portrayed Lady Mary Crawley in the beloved period drama since 2010.
(Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images)Her red carpet appearance at the show’s premiere doubled as her pregnancy announcement, drawing delighted reactions from fans and costars alike. See more photos:
(Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)
(Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images)
(Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)A Love Story With Jasper Waller-Bridge
(Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)Dockery and Waller-Bridge, who is the brother of actress, writer, and director Phoebe Waller-Bridge, began dating in 2019.
(Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)They announced their engagement in January 2022 with a notice published in The Times of London.
The couple tied the knot in September 2023 at a church in West London, surrounded by friends, family, and several of Dockery’s Downton Abbey castmates.
Photos from the wedding showed Dockery in a white satin gown carrying a bouquet, while Waller-Bridge wore a navy suit adorned with a pink boutonnière. Guests showered the newlyweds in confetti as they exited the church.
Remembering Dockery’s Past Heartbreak
(Photo by VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images)Before finding love with Waller-Bridge, Dockery faced a heartbreaking loss. She was previously engaged to public relations executive John Dineen, who died at 34 in 2015 following a battle with a rare form of cancer.
In a statement at the time, Dockery thanked the public for their support and kindness, while asking for privacy. Two years later, she told The Guardian that she considered herself a widow.
“We were engaged, and married at heart, and so I do consider myself a widow,” Dockery said. “That’s the first time I’ve said that, and it’s a bit of a relief to say so.”
Finding Joy & Looking Ahead
(Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Focus Features, UNIVERSAL Pictures And Carnival Films )Reflecting on her grief in the years following Dineen’s death, Dockery admitted she coped by focusing on work. “There was this feeling after John died of, what do I do now? What am I doing with my life? And so work was the next step. To throw myself into the next job was the only option for me,” she shared.
Now, nearly a decade later, Dockery is beginning a new chapter as she prepares to welcome her first child with Waller-Bridge. With her husband by her side and a long-awaited film premiere behind her, the actress has much to celebrate, both on and off screen.
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