Michelle Dockery Announces First Pregnancy at “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” Premiere

London, September 3, 2025 - Downton Abbey star Michelle Dockery, 43, publicly revealed that she is expecting her first child with husband Jasper Waller-Bridge tonight on the red carpet at the world premiere of Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale in Leicester Square.

Dockery, who has portrayed Lady Mary Crawley since the hit series debuted in 2010, stunned photographers by cradling her baby bump in a dusty-blue off-the-shoulder gown with an elegant train. Jasper Waller-Bridge, 37, stood proudly by her side in a navy suit, beaming as they posed together for pictures. The couple married in September 2023 after becoming engaged in January 2022.

During the event, Dockery paused mid-interview to place her hand tenderly on her belly, offering a radiant smile to cameras and fans alike. Insiders report that the couple chose the glamorous London premiere to share their joyful news, having opted for a private announcement to family and close friends earlier this summer.

In related headlines, Highclere Castle-famously used as the filming location for Downton Abbey-has announced an opening for an events manager to coordinate grand balls reminiscent of those portrayed in the beloved series.

Dockery’s pregnancy news marks a poignant new chapter in her life. In 2015, she suffered the tragic loss of her fiancé, public relations executive John Dineen, who passed away at age 34 after battling a rare cancer. Reflecting on that period in her memoir and interviews, Dockery described herself as a widow and shared how returning to work helped her through her grief.

“After John died, I wondered what direction my life would take,” she told The Guardian in 2017. “Throwing myself into work was the only way forward at the time.” Tonight’s announcement affirms that Dockery has found renewed happiness both personally and professionally.

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, which follows the Crawley family through new financial and personal challenges in the 1930s, opens in theaters on September 12.