Laura Elizabeth Carmichael (born 16 July 1986) is an English actress, most widely known for her performance as Lady Edith Crawley in the ITV (UK) and PBS (US) television period drama series Downton Abbey. Her other work includes television series Marcella (2016), and the feature film A United Kingdom (2016).\n', '

Carmichael was born in Southampton, England, to Sarah, a radiographer, and Andy Carmichael, a software consultant. She is the middle of three daughters. Her sister Amy works for a software start-up company and her sister Olivia is a charity fundraiser with the NHS.\n', '

One of Carmichael\'s paternal great-grandfathers was aviator Captain Norman Blackburn, a British pilot and flying instructor during the First World War, and afterwards a director of Blackburn Aircraft. She was educated at Shirley Junior School, The Mountbatten School, and Peter Symonds College. Carmichael attended the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in Bristol, graduating in 2007, before spending two years in various odd jobs, including a teaching assistant, receptionist, and nanny while going to tiny auditions in fringe theatres.\n', '

Return to Laura Carmichael Autograph Profile