Elizabeth McGovern

Elizabeth McGovern (born as Elizabeth Lee McGovern on 18th July 1961; Evanston, Illinois) is the American actress who plays Cora Crawley in Downton Abbey. She has been married to Downton Abbey: A New Era director Simon Curtis since 1992.

For her portrayal as Cora, McGovern has received general acclaim from professional critics, many deeming her as one of the biggest stand-outs on the show. McGovern has also nominated for several primetime awards, including the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a TV Series or Miniseries or a Movie, making her one of only two actors in this show to be nominated for an Emmy award for acting, the other being Maggie Smith. In 2012, McGovern was also nominated for the Golden Globe award for her performance. In a strange twist of fate 2 years before the premiere of Downton Abbey, McGovern and co-star Hugh Bonneville starred together in lead roles also as husband and wife in the mini-series Freezing (2008).

Elizabeth McGovern also sings lead vocals with folk group "Sadie & the Hot Heads".

Other notable roles[]

Series

Elizabeth (main role) in Freezing (3 ep 2008 mini-series)
Laura Davis (8 ep) in Three Moons Over Milford (9 ep 2006)
Helen Shaw in The Brotherhood of Poland, New Hampshire (7 ep 2003)
Beatrice-Joanna (3 ep) in Performance (1991 - 1998)
Jessie Kent (main role) in If Not for You (8 ep 1995)

Movies

Margaret in And Mrs (2024)
Gretchen Lansing in A Name Without a Place (2019)
Norma (main role) in The Chaperone (2018)
Karen MacCauley in The Commuter (2018)
Elaine Mozell in The Wife (2017)
Judge Florence Cooper in Woman in Gold (2015)
Wallis Simpson (voice) in Wallis Simpson: The Secret Letters (TV Movie 2011)
Mrs. Lizewski in Kick-Ass (2010)
Mrs. Honeychurch in A Room with a View (TV Movie 2007)
Ellen Doubleday (main role) in Daphne (2007)
Mrs. Berman in Buffalo Soldiers (2001)
Susie Hawkins in Hawkins (2001)
Mrs. Carry Fisher in The House of Mirth (2000)
Susan in The Wings of the Dove (1997)
Celia Rayburn in The Summer of Ben Tyler (1996)
Noëlle in Wings of Courage (1995)
Lydia in King of the Hill (1993)
Stella Anderson in A Shock to the System (1990)
Moira in The Handmaid's Tale (1990)
Donna McCarty in Johnny Handsome (1989)
Kristy Briggs (main role) in She's Having a Baby (1988)
Denise (main role) in The Bedroom Window (1987)
Mary Dalton in Native Son (1986)
Deborah in Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
Caddie Winger (main role) in Racing with the Moon (1984)
Chloe Allen (main role) in Lovesick (1983)
Evelyn Nesbit in Ragtime (1981)
Jeannine Pratt in Ordinary People (1980)

Notes[]

McGovern previously starred in The Scarlet Pimpernell, alongside Richard E. Grant.
McGovern and Stephen Campbell Moore both starred in the 2019 series War of the Worlds.