Page 298 - FINAL_Guildhall Media Highlights 2019-2020 Coverage Book

In 2013, her co-star Allen Leech, who played chauffeur Branson, introduced her to Irish-born public
relations executive John Dineen.

She and John fell in love, became engaged and were in the process of planning their wedding when
John was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. He died in December 2015 with Michelle by his
side.

She joined a top-notch cast in this film version of Julian Barnes’s novel, playing Susie, the pregnant
daughter of main character Tony (Jim Broadbent)

At his funeral, the day after her 34th birthday and a day before what would have been his 35th, she
told mourners, ‘He was my friend, my hero, my king, my everything.

'We celebrate him, we honour him, and we will miss him.’ She has not spoken out about her grief,
but has admitted that it was her friends and family who helped her pull through, saying, ‘They are
the ones who see you through the most difficult times.’

She has been dating Jasper Waller-Bridge, brother of Fleabag’s Phoebe, for a year now.

They met through friends and Jasper, who is six years Michelle’s junior and the creative director at a
talent agency, accompanied her to red-carpet events before lockdown.

It was also reported that she bought a £1.7 million house in north-east London before Christmas.

Michelle hasn’t commented on the relationship but she does say that a sense of humour – surely a
given with any member of the Waller-Bridge family – is vital in a relationship.

‘My parents always taught me to see the funny side of life and never to take myself too seriously.