'Downton Abbey' is hugely rewarding, says Michelle Dockery

Downton Abbey star Michelle Dockery has described her role on the show as "hugely rewarding".



The 29-year-old branded her villainous character Lady Mary as "absolutely fascinating" and stated that she was proud of the ITV drama's worldwide success.

"It's a wonderful feeling to be part of such a phenomenon," she told The Mirror. "I love playing Mary; she's absolutely fascinating. She seems cynical and calculating, but in truth she's indecisive and troubled, which makes her complicated and human and, as a result, hugely rewarding to play."

Dockery did confess, however, that she is not such a fan of the "false" acting industry and frequently feels the need to escape to her home in Essex.

"The whole acting game can sometimes be a bit false and you meet a lot of people in it for the fame - so there's nothing I love more than going back to Essex," she said.

"It brings me straight back down to earth and ensures that I never become lost in the celebrity side of things."

Downton Abbey continues tonight at 9pm on ITV1 and ITV1 HD.