'It's old news, me and my accent': Downton Abbey's Michelle Dockery on how her estuary accent STILL hits headlines



She's won international acclaim for her portrayal of Lady Mary Crawley in Downton Abbey.

However, actress Michelle Dockery admits she finds it strange that her lack of posh accent in real life still has the ability to make headlines.



The 31-year-old grew up in a working class home in Romford, Essex, but speaks in cut-glass English for her portrayal of the widowed Lady Mary.

Back for more: Downton Abbey and Allen Leech pose in a photoshoot for Radio Times magazine Out of widow's black: Michelle will spent a lot of Series 4 dressed in mourning for her character's husband Matthew

Speaking to the new issue of the Radio Times: ' I'm an actress. That's my job yet people are surprised when I don't sound like Lady Mary.

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

Fans of Michelle may well have read about her upbringing as the daughter of a home care assistant mother and van driver father, who later became a surveyor.

More than just in-laws? There has been speculation Tom Branson and Lady Mary may fall for each other in the new series Eyeing a musical episode? Allen said there weren't any plans for a singing episode of Downton... just yet

The full interview is in the new issue of the Radio Times, on sale Tuesday 17 September

Although Michelle is also a jazz singer, while her on-screen mother Elizabeth McGovern has a band, she urged fans not to expect a musical episode of Downton any time soon.

Her co-star Allen Leech, who plays Lady Mary's brother-in-law Tom Branson, said: ' You want to know when you can expect a musical of Downton Abbey. The answer is: not just yet.'

In the upcoming fourth series of Downton, Lady Mary is struggling to adjust to life as a widowed single mother to baby George following the death of husband Matthew (Dan Stevens).

Reflecting on the fact both her on-screen baby and the royal baby is called George, Michelle admitted: ' The day we saw the headlines with the name of the new Prince was an amazing moment, I couldn't believe it as first, but the royal couple are fans of the show, so who knows..?'

The full interview is in the new issue of the Radio Times, on sale Tuesday 17 September.

The new series of Downton Abbey returns to ITV1 on Sunday 22 September.

Bonding over their grief: Michelle as Lady Mary with son George and Allen as Tom Branson with baby Sybbie