Elizabeth McGovern

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.

Known For

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

Modern Family

The Kelly Clarkson Show

Agatha Christie's Poirot

Downton Abbey

LIVE with Kelly and Mark

LIVE with Kelly and Mark

All Movies (59)

• Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale2025 · as Cora Crawley
• Downton Abbey Celebrates the Grand Finale2025 · as Self
• And Mrs.2024 · as Margaret
• Downton Abbey: A New Era2022 · as Cora Crawley
• Downton Abbey2019 · as Cora Crawley
• JFK Jr. and Carolyn's Wedding: The Lost Tapes2019 · as Self (archive footage)
• The Chaperone2019 · as Norma
• The Commuter2018 · as Karen MacCauley
• The Wife2017 · as Elaine Mozell
• Showing Roots2016 · as Shirley
• The Queen At 902016 · as Narrator
• Unexpected2015 · as Carolyn
• Swung2015 · as Dolly Adams
• Woman in Gold2015 · as Judge Florence-Marie Cooper
• Screen Goddesses2012 · as Narrator
• Cheerful Weather for the Wedding2012 · as Mrs. Thatcham
• Angels Crest2011 · as Jane
• Wallis Simpson: The Secret Letters2011 · as Wallis Simpson (Voice)
• Kick-Ass2010 · as Mrs. Lizewski
• Clash of the Titans2010 · as Marmara
• Inconceivable2008 · as Tallulah 'Tutu' Williams
• A Room with a View2007 · as Mrs Honeychurch
• Daphne2007 · as Ellen Doubleday
• The Truth2006 · as Donna
• Remembering Ragtime2004 · as Evelyn Nesbit (archive footage)
• Thursday the 12th2003 · as Candice Hopper
• Buffalo Soldiers2002 · as Mrs. Berman
• Hawkins2001 · as Susie Hawkins
• The Flamingo Rising2001 · as Edna Lee
• The House of Mirth2000 · as Mrs. Carry Fisher
• Manila2000 · as Elizabeth
• The Misadventures of Margaret1998 · as Till Turner
• The Man with Rain in His Shoes1998 · as Diane
• Clover1997 · as Sara Kate
• The Wings of the Dove1997 · as Susan Stringham
• The Summer of Ben Tyler1996 · as Celia Rayburn
• Broken Glass1996 · as Margaret Hyman
• Broken Trust1995 · as Janice Dillon
• Wings of Courage1995 · as Noëlle Guillaumet
• The Favor1994 · as Emily
• The Changeling1993 · as Beatrice-Joanna
• Me and Veronica1993 · as Fanny
• King of the Hill1993 · as Lydia
• Tales from Hollywood1992 · as Helen Schwartz
• Tune in Tomorrow...1990 · as Elena Quince
• Women and Men: Stories of Seduction1990 · as Vicki
• A Shock to the System1990 · as Stella Anderson
• The Handmaid's Tale1990 · as Moira
• Johnny Handsome1989 · as Donna McCarty
• She's Having a Baby1988 · as Kristy Briggs
• The Bedroom Window1987 · as Denise
• Native Son1986 · as Mary Dalton
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs1984 · as Snow White
• Once Upon a Time in America1984 · as Deborah
• Racing with the Moon1984 · as Caddie Winger
• Lovesick1983 · as Chloe Allen
• Ragtime1981 · as Evelyn Nesbit
• Chytilová Versus Forman1981 · as Self
• Ordinary People1980 · as Jeannine Pratt

All TV Shows (32)

• Talamasca: The Secret Order2025 · as Helen
• War of the Worlds2019 · as Helen Brown
• A Little Late with Lilly Singh2019 · as Self
• The Kelly Clarkson Show2019 · as Self
• Civil War: The Untold Story2014 · as Narrator (voice)
• The Kumars2014 · as Self
• Downton Abbey2010 · as Cora Crawley
• 10 Minute Tales2009 · as Ex-Wife
• Modern Family2009 · as California Mom (archive footage)
• Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen2009 · as Self - Guest
• A Room with a View2008 · as Mrs Honeychurch
• Freezing2008
• Three Moons Over Milford2006
• Big Fat Quiz2004 · as Self - Guest
• The Brotherhood of Poland, New Hampshire2003
• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit1999 · as Faith Sutton
• Loose Women1999 · as Self
• The Scarlet Pimpernel1999 · as Marguerite Blakeney
• If Not for You1995 · as Jessie Kent
• Ashenden1991 · as Aileen Somerville
• Performance1991 · as Helen Schwartz
• Performance1991 · as Margaret Hyman
• Performance1991 · as Beatrice-Joanna
• Tales from the Crypt1989 · as Laura Kendall
• Agatha Christie's Poirot1989 · as Dame Celia Westholme
• LIVE with Kelly and Mark1988 · as Self
• LIVE with Kelly and Mark1988 · as Self - Guest
• Faerie Tale Theatre1982 · as Snow White
• California Fever1979
• Omnibus1967 · as Self
• Hallmark Hall of Fame1951 · as Celia
• Hallmark Hall of Fame1951 · as Edna Lee