Michelle Dockery to Star in ‘Good Behavior’ Pilot for TNT

Michelle Dockery at a 2013 "Downton Abbey" TCA session. (Photo: Rahoul Ghose/PBS)
Michelle Dockery at a 2013 "Downton Abbey" TCA session. (Photo: Rahoul Ghose/PBS)
As the clock ticks down to the (sniff!) end of megahit costume drama Downton Abbey, fans can take some comfort in watching the stars of the show line up their next projects in a post-Crawley family world.  Sure, it’s not the same as the show continuing – though let’s all keep the dream of a prequel series alive in our hearts okay?! – but it’s in many ways comforting to know that we’ll still get to see our favorite Downton-ian actors starring in new things in the coming months.

Joanne Froggatt was the first to announce her post-Downton plans – she’ll be playing well against type as a Victorian serial killer in a drama for UK network ITV – and now Michelle Dockery has signed on to star in a new pilot for TNT called Good Behavior, a project which also seems a pretty big change from her role as heroine Mary Crawley. 

The show is based on the Letty Dobesh novels by Wayward Pines author Blake Crouch, and Dockery will play the title character, a thief and a con artist whose life is always one wrong turn, one bad decision away from implosion – which is exactly how she likes it. However, when she overhears a hitman being hired to kill a man’s wife, she sets out to derail the job, launching her on a collision course with the killer, entangling them in a dangerous and seductive relationship.

No word yet on who will be starring opposite Dockery – either in supporting roles or as that “dangerous and seductive” relationship partner.  (Don’t judge me if I’m mentally casting Dan Stevens, okay? I know it will never happen, but let me have the dream for now.)

But, at any rate this definitely sounds like a fun role for Dockery – and a nice change of pace, to boot. Here’s hoping that the pilot works out and that we end up seeing a full series!

Dockery is currently filming the final season of Downton Abbey which, as in previous years will likely bow on ITV this Fall, followed by a January broadcast here in the States on Masterpiece. 


Lacy Baugher

Lacy's love of British TV is embarrassingly extensive, but primarily centers around evangelizing all things Doctor Who, and watching as many period dramas as possible.

Digital media type by day, she also has a fairly useless degree in British medieval literature, and dearly loves to talk about dream poetry, liminality, and the medieval religious vision. (Sadly, that opportunity presents itself very infrequently.) York apologist, Ninth Doctor enthusiast, and unabashed Ravenclaw. Say hi on Threads or Blue Sky at @LacyMB. 

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