Michelle Dockery of ‘Downton Abbey’ to star in ‘Liaisons’ in London

Going from the British aristocracy to the French aristocracy, Michelle Dockery of “Downton Abbey” will return to the stage later this year in a new revival of “Les Liaisons Dangereuses,” which will run at the Donmar Warehouse in London starting Dec. 11.

Dockery will take the role of La Presidente de Tourvel opposite Dominic West of Showtime’s “The Affair” and Janet McTeer, who will play the scheming Vicomte de Valmont and Marquise de Merteuil, respectively. The production, directed by Donmar artistic director Josie Rourke, is slated to run through Feb. 13.

The play will mark Dockery’s return to the stage as her reign as Lady Mary Crawley in “Downton Abbey” comes to an end. The ITV drama series’ sixth and final season will start airing later this year in the United Kingdom and in January in the United States on PBS.

“Liaisons,” written by Christopher Hampton and adapted from the French epistolary novel by Choderlos de Laclos, tells the story of two French aristocrats (West and McTeer) who partake in games of sexual conquest. Their latest victim is a married noblewoman (Dockery), whom Valmont has sworn to seduce.

The play was made into the movie “Dangerous Liaisons” in 1988, with Glenn Close, John Malkovich and Michelle Pfeiffer. The original de Laclos novel has been adapted for the screen multiple times, including movies by Roger Vadim and Milos Forman.

Dockery has previously performed on the British stage in productions such as “Burnt by the Sun” in 2009 at the National Theatre and “Hamlet,” with David Tennant, in 2010.

The Donmar’s new slate will also include a return of Abi Morgan’s drama “Splendour” and Christopher Shinn’s “Teddy Ferrara.”

Twitter: @DavidNgLAT