By Amy Mulvaney

Copyright evoke

Former Downton Abbey star Michelle Dockery, in the past, said she considers herself a widow following the tragic death of her fiancé John Dineen.

John, from Cork, died on 13 December 2015 from a rare form of cancer, aged 34. It is believed that the couple began their relationship in 2013 after meeting through a mutual friend.

In an interview with The Guardian, Michelle admitted that she now refers to herself as a widow.

‘I refer to myself as a widow, yes,’ she said.

‘We were engaged, and married at heart, and so I do consider myself a widow.

‘That’s the first time I’ve said that, and it’s a bit of a relief to say so,’ the British actress added.

Michelle opened up about the effect John’s death had on her, saying she never lost hope, even when his prognosis became terminal.

‘I don’t have the vocabulary to describe what it felt like. And what it still feels like. It is…’ she said.

‘I’ve never been more committed to anything in my life than to him. At the time, everything just shut down. Work, everything. Work didn’t matter.’

‘I never lost hope. No. I’m not exaggerating when I say that John did not complain once, never, not once, and that gave us strength.

‘It’s what keeps you going, that positivity – to never lose that hope for a miracle. I couldn’t have done it any other way.’

‘John was a very private person, and the hardest thing was keeping it out of the press when he was sick. It took a lot.’

However, the star never gave up hope, and in 2019, Michelle met Jaspar through mutual friends. In 2023, at St Nicholas’ Church in Chiswick, West London, the couple tied the knot.

At the Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale premiere this week, Michelle revealed she’s expecting as she walked the red carpet.

The actress, 43, who plays Lady Mary Crawley in the hit show, looked fabulous in a fitted blue dress with a long shawl and sparkling neckline.

The star posed up a storm as she arrived at the event, resting her hands on her growing bump.