Elizabeth McGovern

Celebrity   , , , ,
Elizabeth McGovern

Name: Elizabeth Lee McGovern

Introduction: Elizabeth McGovern is an acclaimed American actress and musician, recognized for her versatile career spanning film, television, and theater. She rose to prominence in the early 1980s with an Academy Award nomination and gained widespread international fame for her portrayal of Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham, in the hugely popular British period drama “Downton Abbey.”

Date of birth: July 18, 1961

Height: Approximately 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m)

Place of birth: Evanston, Illinois, U.S.

Family:

  • Parents’ names: William Montgomery McGovern Jr. (father, university professor) and Katharine Wolcott (née Watts) (mother, high school English teacher).
  • Siblings: Cammie McGovern (younger sister, novelist). She is the middle of three children.
  • Spouse: Simon Curtis (m. 1992), a British film and television director.
  • Children:
    • Matilda Curtis (daughter)
    • Grace Curtis (daughter)
  • Relatives: William Montgomery McGovern (paternal grandfather, adventurer). Her maternal great-grandfathers were U.S. diplomat Ethelbert Watts and Admiral Charles P. Snyder.

Profession: Actress, singer-songwriter, musician.

Nationality: American (resides in London, UK).

Religion: Information not consistently available. She has stated she was unaware of World Vision’s faith-based nature when she supported them.

College or university attended:

  • American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco (summer program)
  • Juilliard School (1979-1981) in New York City (studied acting)
  • Oakwood School, Los Angeles
  • North Hollywood High School

Biography and What Famous For:

Elizabeth McGovern’s interest in acting began in high school after her family moved to Los Angeles. Her talent was quickly recognized, leading her to attend the prestigious Juilliard School. While still a student, she secured her first major film role in Robert Redford’s directorial debut, “Ordinary People” (1980), which won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Her rapid ascent continued with her role as Evelyn Nesbit in Miloš Forman’s “Ragtime” (1981), for which she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress at just 20 years old. This cemented her as a rising star in Hollywood. She went on to star in several significant films in the 1980s, including Sergio Leone’s epic “Once Upon a Time in America” (1984) alongside Robert De Niro, “Racing with the Moon” (1984) with Sean Penn and Nicolas Cage, and “The Bedroom Window” (1987).

In the early 1990s, she appeared in “The Handmaid’s Tale” (1990) and “The Favor” (1994) with Brad Pitt. After marrying British director Simon Curtis and relocating to the UK, McGovern began to focus more on British stage and television productions.

However, Elizabeth McGovern achieved a new level of global fame and critical acclaim for her role as Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham, in the ITV/PBS period drama “Downton Abbey” (2010–2015). Her portrayal of the American heiress who marries into the British aristocracy resonated with millions worldwide. For this role, she received Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominations, and a Screen Actors Guild Award as part of the ensemble cast. She reprised her role in the successful “Downton Abbey” films (2019 and 2022).

Beyond acting, McGovern is also an accomplished singer-songwriter. She fronts the band Sadie and the Hotheads, which she formed in 2008. The band has released several albums and toured, showcasing her musical talents.

Elizabeth McGovern is famous for:

  • Her early success as a dramatic actress, earning an Academy Award nomination.
  • Her iconic role as Cora Crawley in “Downton Abbey,” which made her a household name internationally.
  • Her transition to and success in the music industry with her band, Sadie and the Hotheads.
  • Her ability to seamlessly work in both American and British productions, across film, television, and theater.

Have participated (Selected Filmography, Television, Stage, and Music):

Film (Actress):

  • Ordinary People (1980)
  • Ragtime (1981) – Evelyn Nesbit (Academy Award nomination)
  • Lovesick (1983)
  • Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
  • Racing with the Moon (1984)
  • The Bedroom Window (1987)
  • She’s Having a Baby (1988)
  • Johnny Handsome (1989)
  • The Handmaid’s Tale (1990)
  • A Shock to the System (1990)
  • The Favor (1994)
  • The Wings of the Dove (1997)
  • The House of Mirth (2000)
  • Woman in Gold (2015)
  • The Chaperone (2018) – (also producer)
  • Downton Abbey (2019) – Cora Crawley
  • Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022) – Cora Crawley

Television (Actress):

  • Tales of the Unexpected (1984)
  • The Scarlet Pimpernel (1999–2000)
  • Thursday the 12th (2000)
  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2007)
  • Downton Abbey (2010–2015) – Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham (Golden Globe & Emmy nominations, SAG Award)
  • Shelley Duvall’s Faerie Tale Theatre (Snow White)

Stage (Selected):

  • Love Letters (Off-Broadway)
  • Hamlet (New York Shakespeare Festival)
  • When She Danced (London West End, Olivier Award nomination)
  • The Misanthrope (Young Vic, London)
  • Hurlyburly (Old Vic, London)
  • Three Days of Rain (Donmar Warehouse, London)
  • Dinner With Friends (Hampstead Theatre, London)
  • The Starry Messenger (Wyndham’s Theatre, London, 2019)
  • AVA: The Secret Conversations (Riverside Studios, London, 2022)

Music:

  • Sadie and the Hotheads (Lead singer and songwriter, formed 2008)
    • Albums include: “Yellow Submarine” (2008), “How Not to Lose Things” (2012), “The Truth” (2014), “The Little Album” (2019), “The Kids Don’t Care” (2021).