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Lady Mary ... naked? 'Downton' star graces Vanity Fair cover

What would papa say?!Actress Michelle Dockery – otherwise known as Lady Mary Crawley on PBS hit “Downton Abbey” –  threw off her tea dress for the latest cover of Vanity Fair magazine.Clad in just a white sheet and some sparkly baubles alongside fellow photo spread bedmates Julianna Marguiles, Claire Danes and Sofia Vergara, Dockery looked far more casual than her WWI-era role ever permit
The May issue of Vanity Fair magazine features actresses Julianna Marguiles, Claire Danes, Sofia Vergara, and Michelle Dockery wearing diamonds, naturally, to bed.
The May issue of Vanity Fair magazine features actresses Julianna Marguiles, Claire Danes, Sofia Vergara, and Michelle Dockery wearing diamonds, naturally, to bed.Vanity Fair
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What would papa say?!

Actress Michelle Dockery – otherwise known as Lady Mary Crawley on PBS hit “Downton Abbey” –  threw off her tea dress for the latest cover of Vanity Fair magazine.

Clad in just a white sheet and some sparkly baubles alongside fellow photo spread bedmates Julianna Marguiles, Claire Danes and Sofia Vergara, Dockery looked far more casual than her WWI-era role ever permits. (The nude, clutching-a-sheet look is a long respected VF tradition, shared by such stars as Miley Cyrus).

In fact, she almost seems unrecognizable in a way, somewhat like it’s often hard to digest “Mad Men” star January Jones out of her Betty Draper '60s wardrobe and in normal street wear. She still looks beautiful, but just so very different without the loose, upper-crust hair bun, fancy hat and dissatisfied half grin.

Actress Michelle Dockery, seen at left in a Vanity Fair video and at right in character for Downton Abbey.
Actress Michelle Dockery, seen at left in a Vanity Fair video and at right in character for Downton Abbey.Vanity Fait; PBS

The May “TV issue” of Vanity Fair is available on newsstands on Apr 6. To see more of Dockery, check out her video on Vanity Fair.com.

Rina Raphael is a TODAY.com editor disappointed that "Downton Abbey" character cousin Matthew wasn't also asked to strip down to his skivvies.

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