Michelle Dockery pregnant with first child as she debuts bump at Downton Abbey premiere

Michelle Dockery is pregnant with her first child as she confirmed her happy news after stepping out at the Downton Abbey premiere. The actress, 43, looked incredible as she walked the red carpet in Leicester Square wearing a pale blue strapless gown and showed her baby bump.

She added a matching mesh cape and touches of silver jewellery, including a dazzling band across her chest. Michelle is welcoming her first child with her husband Jasper Waller-Bridge, who is brother of Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

He joined her on the red carper at the premiere of Downton Abbey’s final installment The Grand Finale at London’s Odeon Luxe. They appeared to celebrate the news alongside Michelle’s co-stars, who reunited for a final time ahead of the film’s release next week.

Michelle looked incredible in her baby blue gown ( 
Image:
PA)

She was joined by husband Jasper Waller-Bridge ( 
Image:
Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)
The Lady Mary Crawley actress, who has been part of Downton Abbey since it hit screens 15 years ago, and Jasper wed in September 2023 in a stunning London ceremony. Michelle opted for a chic and simple satin gown to walk down the aisle while Jasper opted for a traditional three-piece navy blue suit.

Celebrity guests included Mamma Mia actress Lily James and Michelle’s Downton Abbey co-star Joanne Froggatt. Elizabeth McGovern, Hugh Bonneville, Lesley Manville and Lesley Nicol were also spotted watching the happy couple tie the knot.

Her wedding came seven years on from the heartbreaking death of her fiance, Irish publicist John Dineen. John sadly died in 2015, 15 months on from first being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer aged 34.

Michelle and John became engaged in 2013 but sadly never made it down the aisle. Speaking during a rare interview in 2017, two years on from John’s death, Michelle explained how she considered herself to be a widow despite never officially marrying John.

“We were engaged, and married at heart,” Michell told the Guardian, “so [yes,] I do consider myself a widow.” Michelle managed to find love again in 2019, meeting her now husband Jasper through mutual friends after spending time together at the Rome film festival.

It is believed Michelle, who threw herself into work following John’s death, struck up a friendship with her now sister-in-law Phoebe prior to beginning a romance with Jasper. The couple announced their engagement via a formal announcement in The Times newspaper in January 2022.

It read: “The engagement is announced between Jasper, son of Michael Waller-Bridge of King’s Lynn, Norfolk, and Teresa Waller-Bridge of Battersea, London, and Michelle Dockery, younger daughter of Michael and Lorraine Dockery of Gidea Park, Essex.”