Downton Abbey's Michelle Dockery Strips Off For Vanity Fair Cover

Posted: 04/04/12

Sarah Karmali

Follow: Claire Danes, Downton Abbey, Homeland, Julianna Margulies, Michelle Dockery, Sophia Vergara, Vanity Fair

In American Vanity Fair's May issue, we're invited to hop into bed with four of TV's hottest darlings - and pride of place (at the foot of the bed) is our very own Downton Abbey star, Michelle Dockery.

Michelle joins US actresses Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife), Claire Danes (Homeland - our new fave) and Sophia Vergara (Modern Family) - and none of them appear to be wearing an awful lot in the way of clothing...

Vanity Fair cover with Michelle Dockery and Claire Danes Clockwise from top left: Julianna Margulies, Claire Danes, Sophia Vergara and Michelle Dockery. Photo: Norman Jean Roy for Vanity Fair

(Aside from some rather fabulous jewellery, of course.)

It all serves to prove quite how popular Dockery has become across the pond, finding fame as Lady Mary Crawley in the award-winning series.

And rightly so, we say.

Vanity Fair May issue celebrating TV actresses Vanity Fair's May issue is a celebration of stars of the small screen. Photo: Norman Jean Roy for Vanity Fair

The May issue of American Vanity Fair is on sale this Friday, April 6th. For more from the shoot visit vanityfair.com.

Feeling envious of Michelle's impossibly glossy locks? Yes, us too...

Celebrity hair inspiration: Brunettes

Angelina Jolie
 Hollywood beauty Angelina Jolie kept her locks light and fresh at The Tourist premiere with some dark blonde lowlights, creating an overall soft-brown finish. She added drama with her signature feline eyes and some clever backcombing.
Anne Hathaway
 Bride Wars star Anne Hathaway softened her chocolate-coloured hair with some soft amber highlights, which were beautifully enhanced by her apricot lips at the Love and Other Drugs premiere in New York.
Daisy Lowe
 The MyDaily launch party saw a host of celebs come to celebrate with us – and we adored Daisy Lowe's soft eye-skimming fringe and tousled chocolate curls.
Kate Middleton
 Kate Middleton's signature luscious locks were curled and polished, and her make-up was flawless when attending War Horse premiere.
Katie Holmes
 This might be one of our all-time favourite Katie Holmes hairstyles! From the warm red undertones and high-shine glamour, to the big bouncy curls, we fell head over heels for this look, which she showed off at the Golden Globe Awards in 2010.
Kelly Brook
 Curl power! Kelly Brook may well be one of the most glamorous brunettes in our round-up. And she was on sparkling form as ever when she stepped out at the Prince's Trust Rock Gala in 2010 with pumped-up tendrils showing a hint of a reddish glow. Love the matching peachy lips.
Kiera Knightley
 At the Rome International Film Festival, Keira Knightley's face-framing mid-brown bob was the perfect colour-match for her deep brown eyes, while the loose kinks worked to soften her beautifully angular features.
Kylie Minogue
 Kylie Minogue and her glossy chocolate brown locks at the Cosmo Women of the year Awards.
Mila Kunis
 Mila's makeup complimented her honey toned low-lights perfectly and there was no denying that the star looked gorgeous at a children's research hospital benefit gala.
Olivia Wilde
 The actress swapped her long auburn locks for a shorter, two-tone waves hairstyle.
Rachel Bilson
 Rachel Bilson was one of the first celebrities to channel the two-tone trend. The stunning actress's long layers went from mahogany to blonde-brown, and finished with a slight – yet body-building – curl. Gorgeous.