Downtown Abbey actress mourns fiance's death

Michelle Dockery’s fiance John Dineen died of a rare form of cancer. Image: David M.Bennett/Centrepoint/Getty Images via Huffington Post

Downtown Abbey’s Michelle Dockery has lost her fiance, Irish PR executive John Dineen, to a rare form of cancer.

Michelle, who plays Lady Mary Crawley on the Golden Globe-winning TV show about British aristocracy, was in the US for Downtown’s international promotional tour when she received news of John’s deteriorating health.

She immediately headed to Ireland to be by her fiance’s side and was with him when he passed away at Marymount Hospital in County Cork, two days before her birthday.

Michelle, 34,  and John, also 34, were introduced in 2013 by Downtown co-star Allen Leech, who plays chauffeur Tom Branson, and they became engaged around February 2015.

According to the Huffington Post Michelle’s spokesperson released a statement to ITV news stating:  “The family is very grateful for the support and kindness they have received but would kindly request that they are left to grieve in private.”

Michelle has since attended John’s funeral which took place at the St James’ Catholic Church, in his home village of Waterfall, County Cork.

Michelle Dockery has lost her fiance to a rare form on cancer. Image: Michelle Dockery via Instagram