Michelle Dockery’s New Role Is Her Most Important Yet

Downton Abbey's leading lady takes on a totally different role with Oxfam.

Downton Abbey star Michelle Dockery has just been announced as Oxfam’s first ever Humanitarian Ambassador.

This is quite a departure from playing Lady Mary Crawley, but it’s nothing the 32-year-old actress can’t handle.

Last year she visited Jordan to meet with Syrian refugees. ‘Travelling with Oxfam and meeting families whose lives have been torn apart by the conflict in Syria, stripped of everything they know – just trying to get by each day with the very basics they need to survive – was utterly heart breaking,’ she explained.

Upon her return to London, she helped launch Oxfam’s ’12 Days of Giving’ campaign and auctioned off her 2013 Emmys Prada dress to raise funds for the charity.

‘I saw for myself how Oxfam won’t stop until the last person has access to the basics needed to survive in an emergency but, I also know they cannot do that without the continued support and generosity of the British public,’ she said in support of the charity, who have given Michelle this honour on World Humanitarian Day.

She’ll follow in the footsteps of other A-list ambassadors including Livia Firth and Helen Mirren to spread an important message about the charity’s critical efforts.

‘It is clear that the world is currently experiencing a huge number of humanitarian emergencies and there are millions of people who are suffering as a result, with nowhere to turn and in desperate need of support.

‘I feel very honoured to be given this role as Humanitarian Ambassador for Oxfam. I hope that in accepting this role, I will be able to help Oxfam raise awareness for their work, what they need to help those in crises and to show those who do donate what an amazing difference their support can make.’