Michelle Dockery reveals she is an 'Essex girl' at heart I'm the youngest of three sisters and my parents have always encouraged all of us to do whatever made us happy. She added: "I had a very strong Essex accent when I was younger, and I don't think I would have got the role of Lady Mary if I'd walked into the audition going, "Allo, nice ter meet ya!"" Mrs Dockery's maternal great-grandmother, Maud Malyon, who was born in 1910, worked as a domestic servant for a wealthy family. Her great-grandfather, William Oakman, was a grocer's assistant. The fourth series of Downton Abbey is due to be shown on ITV in September.