Cora Crawley (née Levinson), Countess of Grantham (b. July 18, 1868) is the wife of Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham, mother of Lady Mary Crawley, Lady Edith Crawley, and Lady Sybil Crawley, mother-in-law of Tom Branson and future mother-in-law of Matthew Crawley. Soon-to-be Grandmother to her youngest daughter and son-in-law's first child, and daughter of Martha and Isadore Levinson. An American heiress by birth she married into British nobility. Portrayed by Elizabeth McGovern.
McGovern's portrayal of Cora has been widely acclaimed, with most of the critics commending her ability to make Cora as a stand-out among so many cast there. McGovern has been nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie, the only one to nominated for an Emmy in acting category other than Maggie Smith. She also has been nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actress - Miniseries or a Movie.
Biography
Early Life
Born Cora Levinson in Cincinnati on July 18, 1868, she was the daughter of Isadore Levinson, a dry goods multi-millionaire.
As a young woman she traveled to Britain chaperoned by her socially ambitious mother, Martha, to find a husband. By the end of her first season she was engaged to Robert Crawley, Viscount Downton much to the chagrin of his mother. As part of their marriage contract Cora's fortune was tied to the Title of the Estate as to keep the Earldom of Grantham from becoming bankrupt.
Life at Downton
While their marriage was initially one-sided in love, after a year Robert fell in love with her. After her father-in-law died Cora became a countess as her husband became Earl of Grantham. The Countess would give birth to three daughters, Mary, Edith, and Sybil, however none of her daughters could inherit the title or her wealth. The solution was to have the eldest daughter, Mary, marry the heir Patrick Crawley.
Season One
In season one she was seen