Michael C. Fox confirmed on air that he and Downton Abbey co-star Laura Carmichael have married in private, saying the long-running ITV drama has had a profound effect on his life.
Speaking during NBC's special Downton Abbey Celebrates The Grand Finale this week, Fox said, "I owe a lot to this show. I think so much of my life has been shaped around this show." When co-star Lesley Nicol asked, "What if someone said you're actually going to find your wife and have a child? Life-changing stuff," Fox replied, "I know. It's incredible."
The couple, who portray Lady Edith and Andrew Parker and met while filming the show's fifth series, have kept their relationship largely private. They began dating in 2016 and welcomed their first child in 2021; their parenthood was revealed publicly in May 2022. Neither actor has provided further details about the wedding.
Carmichael and Fox appeared together at the recent London premiere for Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, where observers noted Carmichael wearing a ring on her left hand. Cast members gathered to mark the conclusion of a franchise that spans 15 years of television and three feature films.
Carmichael has previously spoken about finding both love and lasting friendships on the series, telling Town & Country in 2019 that she had "fallen in love and made wonderful friends." She said at the time that working alongside people who prioritise family and home life had influenced her own approach to balancing career and private life. Fox has also described the couple's approach to working together, telling the Sunday Post that they avoided making their relationship a focus on set and appreciated going to work with a close friend.
Downton Abbey, which launched its television run in 2010 and produced a series of follow-up films, has been credited by its cast for launching careers and creating long-term professional and personal connections. The NBC special featured cast reflections on the show's impact and its role in the actors' lives.
Representatives for Carmichael and Fox have not provided additional comment on the marriage. The actors have maintained a low public profile since becoming parents, and details about their private life and the ceremony remain undisclosed.
The confirmation of the marriage comes as the Downton Abbey ensemble marks the end of a multi-decade run that transformed a period drama into a global franchise. Cast reunions and promotional appearances around the finale have prompted renewed interest in the off-screen relationships formed during the show's production, including the partnership between Carmichael and Fox that began on set and has since expanded to include marriage and parenthood.