Elizabeth McGovern
Born: 1961-07-18 in Evanston, Illinois, USA
Known For: Acting
Biography
Elizabeth McGovern (born July 18, 1961) is an American film, television, and theater actress. In 1980, while studying at Juilliard, McGovern was offered a part in her first film, Ordinary People, in which she played the girlfriend of troubled teenager Timothy Hutton. The following year she completed her education as an actress at the American Conservatory Theatre and at The Juilliard School, and began to appear in plays, first Off-Broadway and later in famous theaters. In 1981, she earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Evelyn Nesbit in the film Ragtime. In 1984, she starred in Sergio Leone's gangster epic Once Upon a Time in America as Robert De Niro's romantic interest, Deborah Gelly. In 1989, she played Mickey Rourke's girlfriend in Johnny Handsome, directed by Walter Hill, and the same year she appeared as a rebellious lesbian in Volker Schlöndorff's thriller The Handmaid's Tale.
Filmography
2025
- Talamasca: The Secret Order as Helen
- Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale as Cora Crawley
- Downton Abbey Celebrates the Grand Finale as Self
2024
- And Mrs. as Margaret
2022
- Downton Abbey: A New Era as Cora Crawley
2019
- The Kelly Clarkson Show as Self
- A Little Late with Lilly Singh as Self
- War of the Worlds as Helen Brown
- Downton Abbey as Cora Crawley
- The Chaperone as Norma
- JFK Jr. and Carolyn's Wedding: The Lost Tapes as Self (archive footage)
2018
- The Commuter as Karen MacCauley
2017
- The Wife as Elaine Mozell
2016
- Showing Roots as Shirley
- The Queen At 90 as Narrator
2015
- Swung as Dolly Adams
- Woman in Gold as Judge Florence-Marie Cooper
- Unexpected as Carolyn
2014
- The Kumars as Self
- Civil War: The Untold Story as Narrator (voice)
2012
- Cheerful Weather for the Wedding as Mrs. Thatcham
- Screen Goddesses as Narrator
2011
- Angels Crest as Jane
- Wallis Simpson: The Secret Letters as Wallis Simpson (Voice)
2010
- Downton Abbey as Cora Crawley
- Kick-Ass as Mrs. Lizewski
- Clash of the Titans as Marmara
- Nature Amazing Places Hawaii ... (Writer)
2009
- Modern Family as California Mom (archive footage)
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen as Self - Guest
- 10 Minute Tales as Ex-Wife
2008
- Inconceivable as Tallulah 'Tutu' Williams
- Freezing
- A Room with a View as Mrs Honeychurch
2007
- A Room with a View as Mrs Honeychurch
- Daphne as Ellen Doubleday
2006
- Three Moons Over Milford
- The Truth as Donna
2004
- Big Fat Quiz as Self - Guest
- Remembering Ragtime as Evelyn Nesbit (archive footage)
2003
- The Brotherhood of Poland, New Hampshire
- Thursday the 12th as Candice Hopper
2002
- Buffalo Soldiers as Mrs. Berman
2001
- The Flamingo Rising as Edna Lee
- Hawkins as Susie Hawkins
2000
- The House of Mirth as Mrs. Carry Fisher
- Manila as Elizabeth
1999
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Faith Sutton
- Loose Women as Self
- The Scarlet Pimpernel as Marguerite Blakeney
1998
- The Misadventures of Margaret as Till Turner
- The Man with Rain in His Shoes as Diane
1997
- The Wings of the Dove as Susan Stringham
- Clover as Sara Kate
1996
- The Summer of Ben Tyler as Celia Rayburn
- Broken Glass as Margaret Hyman
1995
- If Not for You as Jessie Kent
- Wings of Courage as Noëlle Guillaumet
- Broken Trust as Janice Dillon
1994
- The Favor as Emily
1993
- King of the Hill as Lydia
- Me and Veronica as Fanny
- The Changeling as Beatrice-Joanna
1992
- Tales from Hollywood as Helen Schwartz
1991
- Performance as Helen Schwartz
- Ashenden as Aileen Somerville
1990
- The Handmaid's Tale as Moira
- A Shock to the System as Stella Anderson
- Tune in Tomorrow... as Elena Quince
- Women and Men: Stories of Seduction as Vicki
1989
- Agatha Christie's Poirot as Dame Celia Westholme
- Tales from the Crypt as Laura Kendall
- Johnny Handsome as Donna McCarty
1988
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark as Self
- She's Having a Baby as Kristy Briggs
1987
- The Bedroom Window as Denise
1986
- Native Son as Mary Dalton
1984
- Once Upon a Time in America as Deborah Gelly
- Racing with the Moon as Caddie Winger
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs as Snow White
1983
- Lovesick as Chloe Allen
1982
- Faerie Tale Theatre as Snow White
1981
- Ragtime as Evelyn Nesbit
1980
- Ordinary People as Jeannine Pratt
1979
1967
- Omnibus as Self
1951
- Hallmark Hall of Fame as Celia