“Downton Abbey” – “will never say goodbye”

If anyone had told Michelle Dockery in 2010 that in twelve years’ time you would still be playing Mary Crawley in “Downton Abbey” – how would she have reacted?

– I had said “it is not possible”. Things come and go, I could never have imagined that there would be such an appetite for this, she says and continues:

– But if there is an appetite, it continues.

And the appetite for more “Downton Abbey” is there. After a series of TV series and Christmas specials, there was a movie sequel a few years ago. And now it’s time again for the next lavish movie: “Downton Abbey: A New Era”.

The plot this time is centered around the elderly and sick Violet Crawley (Maggie Smith) who learns that she has inherited a large house on the French Riviera. While parts of the family travel to France to visit the house, a film crew arrives to record a film at Downton Abbey.

Michelle Dockery has become known worldwide as Mary Crawley in “Downton Abbey”. Stock Photography. Does Mary fall for temptation?

Mary is at home supervising everything – and it is suspected that sweet feelings may arise between her and the film’s director, while her husband Henry is abroad and leaves vague information about when he might come home again. Should Mary fall for the temptation?

Apart from the risk of a “deal”, it can not be more feelgood than this in a movie.

– I have now done “Downton” for so long that the role of Mary has become a part of me. I love doing other roles and then coming back to “Downton” again. It seems we will never say goodbye to it, says Michelle Dockery.

Did working on the series teach her anything? Absolutely – above all how important it is to have self-confidence.

– Mary has always had that, and I did not have that before. I have been able to feel nervous when it comes to making decisions both in terms of my career and my private life, and then I have thought of Mary. She has a confidence that I love. And this is an experience I will carry with me forever.

Julian Fellowes, the man behind “Downton Abbey”, has been inspired by Michelle Dockery as a person when he wrote the plot about Lady Mary Crawley. “Michelle is strong, elegant, attractive, she has an inner strength and authority, and from that came the part of the plot that involves Mary taking over the care of Downton,” he says.

Has the actress Michelle colored herself on how Mary is portrayed?

– She certainly has, it is probably often the case that an actor discolours the character. But that’s something you have to ask Julian (Fellowes) about. A lot has changed during the series. Take, for example, Branson, the driver, who from the beginning would only be in the first season. But that role was expanded and Branson has become one of the most important and beloved characters.

We let the question of how Michelle influenced Mary go to Julian Fellowes, the man behind “Downton Abbey”.

– Yes, I always write inspired by what the actor does. Michelle gave Mary a clear sense of presence. Michelle is strong, elegant, attractive, she has an inner strength and authority, and from that came the part of the plot that involves Mary taking over the management of Downton.

Plays against Bill Skarsgård

Next we can see Michelle Dockery against Bill Skarsgård in the action movie “Boy kills world”, and she is also active as a musician together with Michael C Fox who plays the servant Andy in “Downton Abbey”.

– We play folk music, a kind of americana. I’m really looking forward to getting out and playing live. We did a lot during the recording. Suddenly, Mary and Andy took out their guitars and started entertaining after dinner.

And will it be more “Downton”? The question goes to Julian Fellowes.

– I rarely think beyond what I’m doing, and right now I’m busy with the second season of “The gilded age”. But I want to believe that there is life in Downton also in the future.

Kevin Doyle as Mr Molesley and Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary in “Downton Abbey: A New Era”. Press image.