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
- War of the Worlds as Helen Brown
- A Little Late with Lilly Singh as Self
- The Chaperone as Norma
- Downton Abbey as Cora Crawley
- JFK Jr. and Carolyn's Wedding: The Lost Tapes as Self (archive footage)
2018
- The Commuter as Karen MacCauley
- The Wife as Elaine Mozell
2016
- Showing Roots as Shirley
- The Queen At 90 as Narrator
2015
- Woman in Gold as Judge Florence-Marie Cooper
- Unexpected as Carolyn
- Swung as Dolly Adams
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
- Clash of the Titans as Marmara
- Kick-Ass as Mrs. Lizewski
- 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
2008
- Inconceivable as Tallulah 'Tutu' Williams
- Freezing
2007
- A Room with a View as Mrs Honeychurch
- Daphne as Ellen Doubleday
2006
- The Truth as Donna
- Three Moons Over Milford
2004
- Remembering Ragtime as Evelyn Nesbit (archive footage)
- Big Fat Quiz as Self - Guest
2003
- Thursday the 12th as Candice Hopper
- The Brotherhood of Poland, New Hampshire
2002
- Buffalo Soldiers as Mrs. Berman
2001
- Hawkins as Susie Hawkins
- The Flamingo Rising as Edna Lee
2000
- Manila as Elizabeth
- The House of Mirth as Mrs. Carry Fisher
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
- Clover as Sara Kate
- The Wings of the Dove as Susan Stringham
1996
- Broken Glass as Margaret Hyman
- The Summer of Ben Tyler as Celia Rayburn
1995
- Broken Trust as Janice Dillon
- Wings of Courage as Noëlle Guillaumet
- If Not for You as Jessie Kent
1994
- The Favor as Emily
1993
- The Changeling as Beatrice-Joanna
- King of the Hill as Lydia
- Me and Veronica as Fanny
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