Michelle Dockery Quotes

I really enjoy singing, it's entirely different to acting because I'm just being myself.

- Michelle Dockery

Myself, Enjoy, Being, Singing

'Downton Abbey' has become this huge thing, and I really enjoy the success of it, but I sometimes find myself on the outside looking in, which is sort of a healthy way to look at it so you don't get too caught up in it.

- Michelle Dockery

Enjoy, Caught, Downton Abbey, Huge Thing

I love singing live, actually. And I'm dying to sing in a role, whether it's in a musical or a biographical film about a singer. It's always been one of my aspirations.

- Michelle Dockery

Love, Always, Been, Aspirations

A good friend of mine works at Oxfam and has been closely involved in the charity's aid efforts in Syria.

- Michelle Dockery

Been, Mine, Works, Good Friend

I'm quite into the French way - simple elegance with just a suggestion of sexiness, nothing vulgar.

- Michelle Dockery

Elegance, Vulgar, Suggestion, French

I think the success of 'Downton' is partly because there are effectively 18 leading characters, all given equal importance, so it's enormously involving on many levels. But also, it's a new story. It's not like Dickens or Austen, where everyone knows the denouement.

- Michelle Dockery

I Think, Many Levels, Dickens

I'm not on Twitter, but I am on Instagram and follow Lena Dunham and Usher.

- Michelle Dockery

I Am, Instagram, Twitter, Usher

I want a house with a garden, but slap bang in the centre of London. Next door to a sushi bar.

- Michelle Dockery

Door, London, Next, Garden

I can be so blown away by story lines.

- Michelle Dockery

Away, Blown, Story Lines, Blown Away

It's great to have a home and everything else that comes with it.

- Michelle Dockery

Great, Everything, Else, Everything Else

The journey matters as much as the destination. By engaging in the moment on set, I've stopped rushing and now find pleasure in the collaborative process - the characters, the costumes - rather than worrying about the finished product.

- Michelle Dockery

Process, Product, Stopped, Costumes

My godchildren went to see Taylor Swift in concert and got to meet her. They literally ran toward her and hugged her, and it was amazing. I got big bonus points for it. I'll remind them when they're teenagers.

- Michelle Dockery

Big, Concert, Bonus, Ran

Cooking can cure almost anything.

- Michelle Dockery

Cooking, Cure, Almost, Almost Anything

It's a bit of a history lesson, being an actor. I was in 'Burnt By The Sun' at the National, which was set in Stalinist Russia, so I discovered all about that. You learn so much as you go along.

- Michelle Dockery

Discovered, Set, Which, Burnt

It is impossible to watch a 'Friends' episode too many times. Phoebe is my favourite character. I used to play her songs on the guitar when I was a teenager. 'Smelly Cat' is very easy. It's only about three chords.

- Michelle Dockery

Impossible, Play, Very, Teenager

I think some period drama can be quite alienating, but 'Downton' isn't. This is going to sound quite, um, pretentious, but someone said that it's like a soap written by a poet.

- Michelle Dockery

Think, Some, Period, Pretentious

For years, I was often afraid to speak up when I didn't fully understand a script. I'd tie myself in knots.

- Michelle Dockery

Myself, Understand, Often, Fully

I think the first time I realised 'Downton Abbey' was a hit was when I was sitting in a tea shop in New York and the couple next to me were talking about 'Downton Abbey,' and then they recognised me.

- Michelle Dockery

Next, Couple, Downton Abbey, Sitting

Shakespeare and his work will always be relevant. He wrote those pieces hundreds of years ago and we haven't really changed as humans, have we? We have to deal with love, honour and adultery now - people were the same then, too - that's what's so wonderful and powerful.

- Michelle Dockery

Love, Deal, Years, Changed

'Expect nothing and hope for the best' is my mantra. A drama teacher called Joseph Blatchley told me that, and it's the best advice I've had. If you keep an open mind and don't expect too much, then you won't be disappointed.

- Michelle Dockery

Best, Advice, Mantra, Joseph

I'm not from aristocracy, or anything like that.

- Michelle Dockery

Anything, Like, Aristocracy

The kitchen is the most important place in any house. Visit your family, and that's where you'll end up. Go to a party, that's where everyone congregates.

- Michelle Dockery

The Most Important, Go, Your, Kitchen

I wasn't an academic. I hated maths and science at school. I couldn't concentrate.

- Michelle Dockery

School, Academic, Maths, Concentrate

I think my parents knew before I did that I was going to be an actress, because I was doing impressions of Margaret Thatcher at the age of four.

- Michelle Dockery

Doing, Think, Actress, None

Playing Isabella in 'Measure for Measure' pushed me to my limits. Janet Suzman was directing, and she was very hard on me. I went through phases of not liking her at the time, but I loved her for it in the end.

- Michelle Dockery

Through, In The End, Very, Limits

I'm not accident prone, really, but I was cutting something and sort of lost control, and it went through my big toe. There was a lot of blood and I nearly fainted, but its totally fine now.

- Michelle Dockery

Big, Through, Nearly, Prone

I worked out; I moved 16 times from the age of 19, just hopping about from different flats, because I couldn't always afford to stay.

- Michelle Dockery

Always, About, Moved, Flats

Shakespeare is renewed each time you see it or read it. I've seen 'Midsummer Night's Dream' so many times, and each time it's a little different, or a different line leaps out at me. It's like re-reading a good book over and over, always noticing something you hadn't seen the time before - and that's rare.

- Michelle Dockery

Book, Line, Before, Leaps

At the age of eight, I auditioned for 'The Sound of Music' and made it through to the third round, where we all stood in a row like the Von Trapp family and had to sing.

- Michelle Dockery

Through, Sound Of Music, Row

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

- Michelle Dockery

News, Old, Always, Headlines

The way I see it, the third series of 'Downton Abbey' is all about change and how each character adapts to those changes.

- Michelle Dockery

Change, About, Downton Abbey, Abbey

People will consider me a part of their lives for however long 'Downton Abbey' lasts. It's a lovely thing to feel as an actor.

- Michelle Dockery

Lovely, However, Lasts, Abbey

I come from a very working-class background, so my family would have been downstairs in the past, as opposed to upstairs. People are often quite surprised to hear that, that I'm not actually posh.

- Michelle Dockery

Working-Class, Been, Very, Surprised

I'm quite surprised at how out of control I can be on stage because, actually, I find I like to be in control in life. It's quite freeing, really.

- Michelle Dockery

Life, Control, Like, Surprised

I don't mind wearing a corset, it informs your posture, changes the way you move, you can't slouch.

- Michelle Dockery

Mind, Move, Wearing, Posture

I don't get recognized all the time, but it tends to happen more in America, and people are so lovely when they do.

- Michelle Dockery

Lovely, More, Happen, Tends

Shakespeare's work is like a good song: you never really forget the main lines.

- Michelle Dockery

Song, Forget, Never, Lines

I love cycling, but if I could find a way of building something above the streets for cyclists, that would be amazing. We need even more space.

- Michelle Dockery

Love, Need, Streets, If I Could

I loved the 'Die Hard' films growing up and the 'Taken' movies. They're so entertaining, and I enjoy being on the edge of my seat.

- Michelle Dockery

Die, Entertaining, Films, Die Hard

If Shakespeare was around today I would ask him out to dinner. The only thing I don't like about him is the way he did his hair.

- Michelle Dockery

Like, The Only Thing, About, Shakespeare

You can find a connection with any Shakespeare role you play.

- Michelle Dockery

Play, Find, Role, Shakespeare

I don't have to walk around in hats or find remote places to go for lunch! I don't get recognised that often.

- Michelle Dockery

Lunch, Hats, Go, Recognised

I'm taller than most actresses, so most corsets tend to be too short in the body.

- Michelle Dockery

Most, Taller, Tend, Corsets

I do believe in one true love.

- Michelle Dockery

Love, Believe, True, True Love

Being in the same scenes as Maggie Smith and Shirley MacLaine is something I will never forget.

- Michelle Dockery

Will, Shirley, Smith, Never Forget

We take so many of our freedoms for granted nowadays - I can travel where I like, I can do any job I want - but I think chivalry has been lost a little bit.

- Michelle Dockery

Think, Been, I Think, Chivalry

My family keeps me sane. I try to talk to my mum every other day. After I get off the phone, I have a renewed sense of clarity, so I guess a problem shared is a problem lost. It's important to me to keep them close.

- Michelle Dockery

Other, Shared, Mum, Keeps

I think so often you can come out of drama school and get thrown in the deep end.

- Michelle Dockery

Deep, Think, I Think, Drama School

I had dance training from a very young age, 3 or 4... It taught me how to present myself, about preparation and working in an ensemble, and it's something that carries with me to this day.

- Michelle Dockery

Young, Very, About, Carries

'Othello' was my first Shakespearean discovery. I was obsessed with drama at school, and I studied the play for my English GCSE. Desdemona is the part that everyone wants, but Iago's wife Emilia is the one I've always been drawn to.

- Michelle Dockery

Play, Been, Part, Shakespearean

Silk scarves are my thing. I tie them to my handbag or thread them through belt loops or wear them in my hair. Never round my neck, though.

- Michelle Dockery

Through, Silk, Though, Neck

In my twenties, I was a bit of a worrier; it bothered me what people thought of me, what job I was doing.

- Michelle Dockery

Thought, Doing, Twenties, Bothered

My dad worked all sorts of jobs when I was growing up and finally ended up as a surveyor; my mum delivers meals to old folk around where we live. We didn't have much money when I was growing up, but I had a very happy childhood.

- Michelle Dockery

Very, Mum, Dad, Folk

I get so excited about reading a new script.

- Michelle Dockery

New, Excited, Get, Script

I love discovering tiny streets.

- Michelle Dockery

Love, Discovering, I Love, Tiny

You learn an incredible amount doing theatre, not just about to behave.

- Michelle Dockery

Theatre, Doing, Amount, Behave

When I was a child, I went to stage school three times a week in the evenings - singing, ballet, tap, modern and acting, and I loved it.

- Michelle Dockery

Singing, Week, Tap, Ballet

I just want a really varied career, and just to keep going, really.

- Michelle Dockery

Career, Want, Going, Varied

Laugh at yourself - a lot. My mum taught me not to take myself too seriously.

- Michelle Dockery

Lot, Take, Mum, Seriously

I've had moments of thinking maybe I should go on Twitter. It's something that I've been shy about, and I've thought that maybe I should do it.

- Michelle Dockery

Thought, Been, Maybe, Twitter

I'm the youngest of three sisters, and my parents have always encouraged all of us to do whatever made us happy.

- Michelle Dockery

Happy, Always, Made, Youngest

I just enjoy acting, whatever area - theatre, film, television.

- Michelle Dockery

Enjoy, Television, Area, Theatre

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.

- Michelle Dockery

Love, Game, Going, Fame

There's no particular role that comes to mind that I'd like to take on, but for me, it's about playing interesting characters and not just two-dimensional ones.

- Michelle Dockery

Mind, Role, Like, Two-Dimensional

In the early '20s, with the war over, there was a period of celebration, and you can see it in the fashion.

- Michelle Dockery

Celebration, Over, Early 20s, Period

It's always fun to play dress up.

- Michelle Dockery

Play, Always, Up, Dress

I regret not learning to drive when I was younger.

- Michelle Dockery

Learning, Drive, Younger, Regret

My mum taught me always to see the funny side of things.

- Michelle Dockery

See, Always, Side, Mum

I'd like to do something that involves music.

- Michelle Dockery

Music, Something, Like, Involves

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.

Powerful Michelle Dockery for Daily Growth