Wedding bells for Downton Michelle
DOWNTON Abbey’s Lady Mary may be unlucky in love but the actress who plays her isn’t.
For it seems Michelle Dockery is to wed Irish boyfriend John Dineen after he popped the question.
The actress, 33, who plays Lady Mary Crawley in the hit ITV period drama is reportedly planning her “dream wedding”.
She is said to have been flashing her diamond engagement ring at Downton Abbey colleagues at a recent script read- through.
“She looked over the moon and was showing it off to all the cast and crew,” a source said.
“It’s wonderful news and everyone is delighted. She and John make a lovely couple.”
Wonderful
On Valentine’s Day Michelle shared a photograph of a loveheart balloon she had been given on social media site Instagram signed from the “costume team”.
But she remained tight- lipped over reports that she was to marry financial PR man John, 33, when followers congratulated her.
The couple are believed to have been dating since 2013 after they were introduced by mutual friend Allen Leech, who plays Downton estate manager Tom Branson.
They were seen together at the Venice Film Festival, Wimbledon and polo’s Cartier Queen’s Cup.
Michelle, who is usually coy about her private life, said last September: “I have a wonderful man in my life from Ireland. We were introduced by Allen Leech. That’s all you need to know!” The fashion icon from Essex endured a painful split in 2012 from American architect Trent Davies following a three- year relationship.
She also dated Holby City actor Joseph Millson.
Meanwhile Lady Mary has seen her first lover die in bed and her husband Matthew meet a fateful end in a car crash.
She has also been torn between two men.
But Michelle’s own love life is anything but tragic.
Her future husband is a senior director with FTI Consulting. Described as private and softly spoken, he was brought up near Cork where his parents Patrick and Marie run a farm.
Michelle also has Irish roots as her father was born in Dublin.
“Friends have joked that they must have been drawn together because of their Irish connections,” a friend said.
The source who revealed the engagement added: “Michelle is happier now than she’s ever been. She knows that this relationship is for keeps and she is so excited about it.”
The actress’s agent declined to confirm the engagement last night.