Laura Carmichael and Michael C. Fox are married! The Downton Abbey stars – who play Lady Edith and Andrew Parker respectively – welcomed their first child into the world in 2021 and have now confirmed that they tied the knot in recent years.
The revelation came during promotional activities for the third and final film in the series, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, which is released in UK cinemas today. Michael reflected on the programme that transformed his life during the NBC special Downton Abbey Celebrates The Grand Finale, as he said: “I owe a lot to this show. I think so much of my life has been shaped around this show.”
Co-star Lesley Nicol (Mrs Patmore) then asked Michael and Laura: “What if someone said you’re actually going to find your wife and have a child? Life-changing stuff.” Michael then gushed: “I know. It’s incredible.”
Michael, 36, and Laura, 39, welcomed their son in 2021. The pair have been together since 2014, which coincided with Michael’s arrival on the period drama, though they only made their relationship public in 2016.
The couple are typically very private and it only emerged in May 2022 that they had become parents to son Luca 14 months beforehand.
A source told The Sun on Sunday newspaper at the time: “Laura and Michael absolutely love being parents and were grateful to have some time away from the limelight to enjoy the moment.
“Laura’s taken motherhood in her stride and it’s added another string to her bow.”
The star previously admitted she feels “lucky” to share a profession with her partner. She said: “I think we’re lucky, and support and understand each other. It’s tough, so to have someone who’s got your back…
“It can be really beautiful when you’re working together and chatting about stuff that’s hard and they get it.”
In Downton Abbey, Laura’s character Lady Edith has had a rocky love life. Her first romance came to a sudden end when she was jilted at the altar and her second when her partner was killed abroad, leaving her unmarried and pregnant. However, by the end of the series and in the subsequent films, fans were delighted when Edith finally found happiness with Bertie Pelham, a land agent turned Marquess, played by Harry Hadden-Paton.
Meanwhile, Michael’s character Andrew started as a footman and in the last film, was being trained by Mr Carson to become a butler. He also married fellow Downton servant Daisy, played by Sophie McShera.
Laura and Michael are not the only Downton couple, as Jim Carter, who plays Mr Carson, is married to Imelda Staunton, who appeared in the first two Downton films as Maude Bagshaw.