Michelle Dockery, 44, gives birth to first child with husband Jasper Waller-Bridge

Michelle Dockery Welcomes First Child with Husband Jasper Waller-Bridge

By Lauren Clark | January 8, 2026

Michelle Dockery, known for her role in Downton Abbey, has started the new year with joyous news. The actress has given birth to her first child with her husband, Jasper Waller-Bridge. The couple was recently seen taking a winter walk, with Jasper carrying their newborn in a baby carrier.

Michelle, 44, looked cozy in a black padded coat, grey beanie hat, and a burgundy red scarf, holding two coffees from Costa. Meanwhile, Jasper, a film producer, had their little one strapped to his chest. The couple seemed happy as they managed parenting duties while doing some New Year shopping. They also confirmed their new arrival with a ‘Baby Onboard’ sticker on their car.

Michelle first announced her pregnancy in September at the Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale premiere in London, where she showcased her baby bump in a pastel blue gown. However, she has not revealed her due date or confirmed the birth publicly.

When asked about her pregnancy on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, she shared, “I’m feeling great, thanks. I’m entering my peppy phase.”

Michelle and Jasper’s Relationship

Michelle was first linked to Jasper, the younger brother of actress and screenwriter Phoebe Waller-Bridge, in 2019. They were introduced through mutual friends and married in 2023. Many of Michelle’s Downton Abbey co-stars, including Lily James, Hugh Bonneville, and Laura Carmichael, attended their wedding.

Remembering John Dineen

This joyous news comes over a decade after Michelle lost her fiancé, John Dineen, to a rare form of cancer. John passed away in Cork, Ireland, in 2015, at the age of 34, just 15 months after his diagnosis. In a 2017 interview with The Guardian, Michelle shared her thoughts on being a widow and how she coped with John’s illness.

“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,” she said.