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
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale
Cora Crawley
2025
And Mrs.
Margaret
2024
Downton Abbey: A New Era
Cora Crawley
2022
War of the Worlds
Helen Brown · (24 episodes)
2019
A Little Late with Lilly Singh
Self · (1 episode)
2019
Downton Abbey
Cora Crawley
2019
The Kelly Clarkson Show
Self · (1 episode)
2019
JFK Jr. and Carolyn's Wedding: The Lost Tapes
Staring
2019
The Chaperone
Norma
2019
The Wife
Elaine Mozell
2018
The Commuter
Karen MacCauley
2018
Showing Roots
Shirley
2016
The Queen At 90
Narrator
2016
Unexpected
Carolyn
2015
Swung
Dolly Adams
2015
Woman in Gold
Judge Florence-Marie Cooper
2015
Civil War: The Untold Story
Narrator (voice) · (5 episodes)
2014
The Kumars
Self · (1 episode)
2014
Screen Goddesses
Narrator
2012
Cheerful Weather for the Wedding
Mrs. Thatcham
2012
Angels Crest
Jane
2011
Wallis Simpson: The Secret Letters
Wallis Simpson (Voice)
2011
Downton Abbey
Cora Crawley · (47 episodes)
2010
Kick-Ass
Mrs. Lizewski
2010
Clash of the Titans
Marmara
2010
10 Minute Tales
(1 episode)
2009
Modern Family
California Mom (archive footage) · (1 episode)
2009
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2009
Inconceivable
Tallulah 'Tutu' Williams
2008
Freezing
(3 episodes)
2008
A Room with a View
Mrs Honeychurch
2007
Daphne
Ellen Doubleday
2007
Three Moons Over Milford
(8 episodes)
2006
The Truth
Donna
2006
Big Fat Quiz
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2004
Remembering Ragtime
Evelyn Nesbit (archive footage)
2004
The Brotherhood of Poland, New Hampshire
(8 episodes)
2003
Thursday the 12th
Candice Hopper
2003
Buffalo Soldiers
Mrs. Berman
2002
Hawkins
Susie Hawkins
2001
The Flamingo Rising
Edna Lee
2001
The House of Mirth
Mrs. Carry Fisher
2000
Manila
Elizabeth
2000
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Faith Sutton · (1 episode)
1999
Loose Women
Self · (1 episode)
1999
The Scarlet Pimpernel
Marguerite Blakeney · (6 episodes)
1999
The Misadventures of Margaret
Till Turner
1998
The Man with Rain in His Shoes
Diane
1998
Clover
Sara Kate
1997
The Wings of the Dove
Susan Stringham
1997
The Summer of Ben Tyler
Celia Rayburn
1996
Broken Glass
Margaret Hyman
1996
If Not for You
Jessie Kent · (8 episodes)
1995
Broken Trust
Janice Dillon
1995
Wings of Courage
Noëlle Guillaumet
1995
The Favor
Emily
1994
The Changeling
Beatrice-Joanna
1993
Me and Veronica
Fanny
1993
King of the Hill
Lydia
1993
Tales from Hollywood
Helen Schwartz
1992
Ashenden
Aileen Somerville · (1 episode)
1991
Performance
Helen Schwartz · (1 episode)
1991
Performance
Margaret Hyman · (1 episode)
1991
Performance
Beatrice-Joanna · (1 episode)
1991
Tune in Tomorrow...
Elena Quince
1990
Women and Men: Stories of Seduction
Vicki
1990
A Shock to the System
Stella Anderson
1990
The Handmaid's Tale
Moira
1990
Johnny Handsome
Donna McCarty
1989
Tales from the Crypt
Laura Kendall · (1 episode)
1989
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
(1 episode)
1988
She's Having a Baby
Kristy Briggs
1988
The Bedroom Window
Denise
1987
Native Son
Mary Dalton
1986
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Snow White
1984
Once Upon a Time in America
Deborah Gelly
1984
Racing with the Moon
Caddie Winger
1984
Lovesick
Chloe Allen
1983
Ragtime
Evelyn Nesbit
1981
Ordinary People
Jeannine Pratt
1980
Switzerland
Agatha Christie's Poirot
Dame Celia Westholme · (1 episode)
1989
Faerie Tale Theatre
Snow White · (1 episode)
1982
California Fever
(1 episode)
1979
Omnibus
Self · (1 episode)
1967
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Celia · (1 episode)
1951
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Edna Lee · (1 episode)
1951
Talamasca: The Secret Order
Helen · (1 episode)