Elizabeth McGovern
Acting Born Jul 18, 1961 Evanston, Illinois, USA 95 credits
Biography
Elizabeth McGovern is an American film, television, and theater actress. Born on July 18, 1961, in Evanston, Illinois, USA. She studied at Juilliard and the American Conservatory Theatre. McGovern began her acting career with a part in her first film, Ordinary People, and went on to appear in plays, both Off-Broadway and in famous theaters. She earned an Academy Award nomination for her role in the film Ragtime. McGovern also starred in Sergio Leone's gangster epic Once Upon a Time in America. As a film and theater actress, McGovern has appeared in numerous productions throughout her career, with a total of 89 known credits.
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Career overview
Elizabeth McGovern is an American actress. She began her acting career in 1980 while studying at Juilliard, when she was offered a part in her first film, Ordinary People. In this film, she played the girlfriend of a troubled teenager.
McGovern completed her education at the American Conservatory Theatre and The Juilliard School in 1981. She started to appear in plays, initially Off-Broadway and later in famous theaters. In 1981, she earned an Academy Award nomination for her role in the film Ragtime.
McGovern has continued to work in film and theater throughout her career. In 1984, she starred in the film Once Upon a Time in America.
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Frequent co-stars
Allen Leech
5 shared titles
Michelle Dockery
4 shared titles
Laura Carmichael
4 shared titles
Joanne Froggatt
4 shared titles
Hugh Bonneville
4 shared titles
Phyllis Logan
4 shared titles
Jim Carter
4 shared titles
Brendan Coyle
4 shared titles
Penelope Wilton
4 shared titles
Lesley Nicol
4 shared titles
Career timeline
Talamasca: The Secret OrderDownton Abbey: The Grand FinaleDownton Abbey Celebrates the Grand Finale
And Mrs.
Downton Abbey: A New Era
The Kelly Clarkson ShowA Little Late with Lilly SinghWar of the WorldsDownton AbbeyThe Chaperone
The Commuter
The Wife
Showing RootsThe Queen At 90
SwungWoman in GoldUnexpected
The KumarsCivil War: The Untold Story
Cheerful Weather for the WeddingScreen Goddesses
Angels CrestWallis Simpson: The Secret Letters
Downton AbbeyKick-AssClash of the TitansNature Amazing Places Hawaii · Writer
Watch What Happens Live with Andy CohenModern Family10 Minute Tales
A Room with a ViewInconceivableFreezing
DaphneA Room with a View
Three Moons Over MilfordThe Truth
Big Fat QuizRemembering Ragtime
The Brotherhood of Poland, New HampshireThursday the 12th
Buffalo Soldiers
The Flamingo RisingHawkins
The House of MirthManila
Law & Order: Special Victims UnitLoose WomenThe Scarlet Pimpernel
The Man with Rain in His ShoesThe Misadventures of Margaret
The Wings of the DoveClover
The Summer of Ben TylerBroken Glass
Wings of CourageBroken TrustIf Not for You
The Favor
The ChangelingMe and VeronicaKing of the Hill
Tales from Hollywood
PerformancePerformancePerformanceAshenden
Full filmography
- Talamasca: The Secret Order (2025) as Helen
- Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (2025) as Cora Crawley
- Downton Abbey Celebrates the Grand Finale (2025) as Self
- And Mrs. (2024) as Margaret
- Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022) as Cora Crawley
- The Kelly Clarkson Show (2019) as Self
- A Little Late with Lilly Singh (2019) as Self
- War of the Worlds (2019) as Helen Brown
- Downton Abbey (2019) as Cora Crawley
- The Chaperone (2019) as Norma
- The Chaperone (2019) Producer
- JFK Jr. and Carolyn's Wedding: The Lost Tapes (2019) as Self (archive footage)
- The Commuter (2018) as Karen MacCauley
- The Wife (2017) as Elaine Mozell
- Showing Roots (2016) as Shirley
- The Queen At 90 (2016) as Narrator
- Swung (2015) as Dolly Adams
- Woman in Gold (2015) as Judge Florence-Marie Cooper
- Unexpected (2015) as Carolyn
- The Kumars (2014) as Self
- Civil War: The Untold Story (2014) as Narrator (voice)
- Cheerful Weather for the Wedding (2012) as Mrs. Thatcham
- Screen Goddesses (2012) as Narrator
- Angels Crest (2011) as Jane
- Wallis Simpson: The Secret Letters (2011) as Wallis Simpson (Voice)
- Downton Abbey (2010) as Cora Crawley
- Kick-Ass (2010) as Mrs. Lizewski
- Clash of the Titans (2010) as Marmara
- Nature Amazing Places Hawaii (2010) Writer
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (2009) as Self - Guest
- Modern Family (2009) as California Mom (archive footage)
- 10 Minute Tales (2009) as Ex-Wife
- A Room with a View (2008) as Mrs Honeychurch
- Inconceivable (2008) as Tallulah 'Tutu' Williams
- Freezing (2008)
- Daphne (2007) as Ellen Doubleday
- A Room with a View (2007) as Mrs Honeychurch
- Three Moons Over Milford (2006)
- The Truth (2006) as Donna
- Big Fat Quiz (2004) as Self - Guest
- Remembering Ragtime (2004) as Evelyn Nesbit (archive footage)
- The Brotherhood of Poland, New Hampshire (2003)
- Thursday the 12th (2003) as Candice Hopper
- Buffalo Soldiers (2002) as Mrs. Berman
- The Flamingo Rising (2001) as Edna Lee
- Hawkins (2001) as Susie Hawkins
- The House of Mirth (2000) as Mrs. Carry Fisher
- Manila (2000) as Elizabeth
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) as Faith Sutton
- Loose Women (1999) as Self
- The Scarlet Pimpernel (1999) as Marguerite Blakeney
- The Man with Rain in His Shoes (1998) as Diane
- The Misadventures of Margaret (1998) as Till Turner
- The Wings of the Dove (1997) as Susan Stringham
- Clover (1997) as Sara Kate
- The Summer of Ben Tyler (1996) as Celia Rayburn
- Broken Glass (1996) as Margaret Hyman
- Wings of Courage (1995) as Noëlle Guillaumet
- Broken Trust (1995) as Janice Dillon
- If Not for You (1995) as Jessie Kent
- The Favor (1994) as Emily
- The Changeling (1993) as Beatrice-Joanna
- Me and Veronica (1993) as Fanny
- King of the Hill (1993) as Lydia
- Tales from Hollywood (1992) as Helen Schwartz
- Performance (1991) as Helen Schwartz
- Performance (1991) as Margaret Hyman
- Performance (1991) as Beatrice-Joanna
- Ashenden (1991) as Aileen Somerville
- The Handmaid's Tale (1990) as Moira
- A Shock to the System (1990) as Stella Anderson
- Women and Men: Stories of Seduction (1990) as Vicki
- Tune in Tomorrow... (1990) as Elena Quince
- Agatha Christie's Poirot (1989) as Dame Celia Westholme
- Tales from the Crypt (1989) as Laura Kendall
- Johnny Handsome (1989) as Donna McCarty
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark (1988) as Self
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark (1988) as Self - Guest
- She's Having a Baby (1988) as Kristy Briggs
- The Bedroom Window (1987) as Denise
- Native Son (1986) as Mary Dalton
- Once Upon a Time in America (1984) as Deborah
- Racing with the Moon (1984) as Caddie Winger
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1984) as Snow White
- Lovesick (1983) as Chloe Allen
- American Playhouse (1982) as Mary Dalton
- American Playhouse (1982) as Helen Schwartz
- Faerie Tale Theatre (1982) as Snow White
- Ragtime (1981) as Evelyn Nesbit
- Chytilová Versus Forman (1981) as Self
- Ordinary People (1980) as Jeannine Pratt
- California Fever (1979)
- Omnibus (1967) as Self
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Celia
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Edna Lee