Downton Abbey's Michelle Dockery replaced by Elaine Cassidy after pulling out of Les Liaisons Dangereuses play
Downton Abbey fans hoping to see Michelle Dockery on stage have been left disappointed.
The 33-year-old actress was set to star in the forthcoming production of Les Liaisons Dangereuses at London's Donmar Warehouse, but has pulled out six weeks before the opening night.
Dockery – who plays Lady Mary Crawley in ITV’s Downton Abbey – was set to star as Madame de Tourvel in the 30th anniversary revival of Christopher Hampton’s play, but she will be replaced by Fathers and Sons actress Elaine Cassidy.
Welcoming Cassidy onto the production, Donmar Artistic Director Josie Rourke said: "We are delighted to welcome Elaine Cassidy back to the Donmar playing Madame de Tourvel, I can't wait to work with Elaine and our fantastic company when rehearsals start on Monday, and hope to work with Michelle in the future."
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The stage adaptation of Choderlos de Laclos' controversial 1782 novel follows two former lovers – the Marquise de Merteuil and Vicomte de Valmont – in pre-revolutionary France who compete in games of seduction and revenge leading to the virtuous Madame de Tourvel becoming one of Valmont’s targets.
Dominic West, Una Stubbs, Adjoa Andoh, Theo Barklem-Biggs, Morfydd Clark, Edward Holcroft and Jennifer Saayeng also star.
The play will be broadcast live to cinemas in partnership with National Theatre Live on January 28, 2016.
Les Liaisons Dangereuses runs from December 11 2015 to February 13 2016.
