'It's all very sad': Michelle Dockery talks about the end of Downton Abbey in interview recorded before tragic death of her fiancé

Downton Abbey actress Michelle Dockery has promised audiences they will be sad after watching the show's finale this Christmas in her first on-screen appearance since the death of her fiancé.

The actress, who plays ice queen Lady Mary, added there would be 'twists and turns' and it would all end 'on a high note'.

She was seen in an interview pre-recorded on the Downton Abbey set in Hampshire earlier this year which has been shown days after Ms Dockery said an emotional goodbye to fiancé John Dineen at his funeral in Ireland.

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Michelle Dockery, pictured right, said audiences would be left sad by the Downton Abbey finale in her first on-screen appearance since the death of her fiance John Dineen earlier this month

She gave a pre-recorded interview on the show's set with Richard Arnold of Good Morning Britain, pictured

Along with the interview, she was seen filming a scene with Hugh Bonneville's Lord Grantham, pictured

Ms Dockery pictured with Mr Dineen, a PR director who died after being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer

She led mourners in tributes to Mr Dineen and in singing his favourite song at the service near his family home in Waterfall, Ireland.

Now she is back on our screens for the last-ever episode of the hit ITV programme, due to be shown tomorrow night.

She told Richard Arnold of Good Morning Britain: 'There's still lots of twists and turns in the special and I think the audience will be sad, but it ends on a positive note.'

As previously reported she paid an emotional tribute to 'my friend, my king, my hero, my everything' Mr Dineen at his funeral at St James' Catholic Church, along with his parents, siblings and friends.

Ms Dockery had cut short a trip promoting Downton Abbey in the US to be by Mr Dineen's side in his final hours at a hospice near the home of his parents, Patrick and Marie.

When last seen on Downton, Lady Mary wed Matthew Goode's racing driver Henry Talbot, pictured

It was a surprise twist as her character had previously rejected Mr Talbot because of his dangerous job

She has been on the show since the beginning and promised audiences it would end 'on a high note'

Her character previously lost husband Matthew Crawley in a car crash shortly after the birth of son George

During the funeral, Ms Dockery stood at the altar and paid tribute to her partner, telling the congregation: 'I was honoured to know John. To love him and be loved by him.'

The Irish Independent reported Ms Dockery then sang her partner's favourite song - 1930s Hammerstein favourite 'The Folks Who Live on the Hill' from the altar - on the day before what would have been his 35th birthday.

Ms Dockery told mourners that she used to sing the song to Mr Dineen, adding that while he was 'proverbially tall, dark and handsome,' he was also a deeply intelligent and caring person.

Ms Dockery, pictured with co-star Allen Leech, who plays Tom Branson on Downton, left a tour of the US promoting the end of the show to be with her fiance in his final hours

The cast of Downton were pictured taking in the sights around the US on the promotional tour

Items on the altar included Mr Dineen's favourite childhood toy - a stuffed monkey - a Munster rugby jersey and a tie. A photograph of a smiling Mr Dineen was carefully placed on the coffin for the ceremony.

Ms Dockery told the packed church: 'Whether in his work or his personal life John was extremely loyal. It was clear that when John was in your corner he was there. I was honoured to know John.

'To love him and be loved by him. He was my friend, my King, my hero, my everything. We celebrate him, we honour him and we will miss him.'

Parish priest Father Declan Mansfield told the congregation Mr Dineen's funeral fell between what should have been two happy occasions - Ms Dockery's 34th birthday yesterday and what would have been Mr Dineen's birthday tomorrow, the Irish Times reported.

Pictured: Ms Dockery with Mr Dineen, left, and with on-screen mother Elizabeth McGovern, right 

The couple, pictured at Wimbledon, reportedly got engaged in February, months after his diagnosis

Ms Dockery said: 'John's charm was legendary. He could persuade anyone to do what he wanted in the least pushy way possible. Particularly the women,' she said.

'He had a presence that was electric when he came in to the room. He had a wicked sense of humour. He had a genuine interest in other people.'

A private cremation followed the requiem mass.

The couple had been introduced by Ms Dockery's Downton co-star Allen Leech after Mr Dineen started working at a business consultancy firm in the City of London.

The actress has also starred in a number of films, including Non-Stop with Liam Neeson, pictured

Mr Dineen was diagnosed with a brain tumour in December last year before he and Ms Dockery reportedly got engaged in February.

Ms Dockery has two sisters, Louise, 39, and Joanne, 37, who is also an actress and appeared in the popular West End show, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

Prior to meeting Mr Dineen she split from Holby actor Joseph Millson in 2012 and after the pair broke up he posted a series of tweets bemoaning the end of their affair.

Before that she was in a three-year relationship with architect Trent Davies. She was said to be devastated when they split.

Mr Dineen was a senior director at global financial public relations firm FTI Consulting, where he specialised in healthcare.