Downton Abbey stars Michelle Dockery and Michael Fox have moved from the small screen to the silver screen and now into music, with the news that the pair have landed a record deal and will be releasing an EP in May.
The duo, who will be known musically as Michael and Michelle, have signed with Decca Records Label Group, with their debut The Watching Silence due to be released on May 6.
Their record, which consists of four original songs, was recorded last year in London.
Dockery, 40, has become a fan favourite playing Lady Mary in the series and film versions of Julian Fellowes’ popular period drama, while Fox, 33, has played footman Andrew Parker.
‘It’s a whole different set of skills and vulnerability. Acting tends to start with what’s already written on the page. Music can begin anywhere. It’s different and very freeing,’ revealed the actress and singer, whose engagement to Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s brother, Jasper, was announced in January.
Fox, who was previously reported to be dating Downton star Laura Carmichael, added: ‘I will always love acting but there is something about us, some part of our characters that we haven’t fully realised – and that’s happening now.’
The news comes hot on the heels of the latest trailer for Downton Abbey: A New Era, which gives a further peek into the Dowager Countess’ (Dame Maggie Smith) mysterious inheriting of a French villa, as well as the arrival of a film crew at the stately home.
The sequel film recently saw its release delayed yet again from March 18 to April 29 in the UK, and May 20 in the US.
Speaking to Metro.co.uk in December, Dockery described the sequel as ‘a really fun film’ and, referencing the shoot, added: ‘It was brilliant. We’re like a big family so it’s always really fun going back, and we had so much fun.
‘I’m really excited for audiences to see this next film.’
The pair’s music is described as ‘more Nashville Americana than UK folk in melody and structure’, with ‘impressionistic songs’ said to be ‘modern and immediate, free of pastiche, and are shot through with their own London realism’.
So there you go.
Laura Monks and Tom Lewis, co-presidents of the Decca Label Group, said: ‘We are thrilled to have these two multi-talented artists join the Decca family.
‘They are a perfect match and we fell in love with their sound and chemistry as soon as we heard them. We know their global fanbase will be as excited to finally hear them on record as we are.’
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Dockery has spoken before about her musical past and has previously performed at the London Jazz Festival and London jazz venue, Ronnie Scott’s.
Fox has previously released music.
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The Watching Silence will be released on Decca Records on May 6. Downton Abbey: A New Era will now open in UK cinemas on April 29 and US cinemas on May 20.
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