American actress Elizabeth McGovern is very well known to audiences throughout the world for her many and varied roles. Quite a lot of her work has been done in Britain, where she has lived since the early 1990s. She has performed in a British version of "North and South", the highly acclaimed "Scarlet Pimpernel" with Richard E. Grant and, at aged 50 in 2011, is currently playing Cora, the Countess of Grantham in Julian Fellowes' "Downton Abbey". She has also appeared in guest roles in the United States, such as "Law and Order: SVU".
Elizabeth is talented but accents seem to be a big stumbling block for her. In "The Scarlet Pimpernel", her character was French, but she had to do a British accent and in "Downton Abbey", in which her character is American, she sounds more British. There is nothing wrong with her performances at all, just with her delivery of lines in a multitude of different tongues. Naturally, she is more at home playing an American in an American show and it is always nice to see her pop up doing just that.
She is also, in 2011, doing very well in her "Downton Abbey" so she certainly has the capability.moreless
Elizabeth McGovern
Born
7/18/1961, Evanston, Illinois, USABirth Name
Gender
FemaleBiography
EDIT
Elizabeth McGovern was the daughter of educators. Born in Evanston, IL, Elizabeth moved to L.A. when her father accepted a job at UCLA. McGovern was appearing in her high school play, when she was discovered and encouraged to audition for film roles. She attended Julliard and the American Conservatory Theatre.more
Credits
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Star (28)
Role-
Downton Abbey
Cora, Countess of Grantham
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S 3:
Ep Christmas Special
Christmas Special 2012
12/25/12
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S 3:
Ep 8
Episode 8
11/4/12
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S 3:
Ep 7
Episode 7
10/28/12
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S 3:
Ep 6
Episode 6
10/21/12
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S 3:
Ep 5
Episode 5
10/14/12
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S 3:
Ep Christmas Special
Christmas Special 2012
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Cheerful Weather for the Wedding
Star2012
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Angels Crest
Star2011
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Clash of the Titans
Marmara2010
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Masterpiece Theatre
Mrs. Honeychurch
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S 37:
Ep 16
A Room with a View
4/13/08
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S 37:
Ep 16
A Room with a View
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Three Moons Over Milford
Laura Davis
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S 1:
Ep 8
Goodnight, Moon
9/24/06
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S 1:
Ep 7
Confessions of a Dangerous Moon
9/17/06
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S 1:
Ep 6
Wrestlemoonia
9/10/06
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S 1:
Ep 5
Dog Day Aftermoon
9/3/06
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S 1:
Ep 4
Moon Giver
8/27/06
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S 1:
Ep 8
Goodnight, Moon
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Buffalo Soldiers
Star2004
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The Brotherhood of Poland, N.H.
Helen Shaw
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S 1:
Ep 5
Little Girl Lost
10/22/03
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S 1:
Ep 4
Sleeping Lions
10/15/03
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S 1:
Ep 3
Tough Love
10/8/03
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S 1:
Ep 2
Secrets and Lies
10/1/03
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S 1:
Ep 1
Falling Acorns
9/24/03
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S 1:
Ep 5
Little Girl Lost
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JOHNNY HANDSOME
Star2002
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The Scarlet Pimpernel
Lady Marguerite Blakeney
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S 1:
Ep 2
Valentine Gautier
1/31/99
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S 1:
Ep 1
The Scarlet Pimpernel
1/24/99
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S 1:
Ep 2
Valentine Gautier
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Twice Upon A Yesterday
Star1999
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The Wings of the Dove
Susan 'Susie' Stringham1999
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Clover
Star1997
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If Not for You
Jessie Kent
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S 1:
Ep 5
Snap!
10/9/95
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S 1:
Ep 4
The Kiss
10/2/95
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S 1:
Ep 3
Taking A Shower With My Two True Loves
9/25/95
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S 1:
Ep 2
Detour Ahead
9/18/95
- S 1: Ep 8 Rise and Shine
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S 1:
Ep 5
Snap!
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Wings of Courage
Noelle Guillaumet1995
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The Favor
Star1994
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King of the Hill
Star1993
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The Handmaid's Tale
Moira1990
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A Shock to the System
Star1990
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She's Having a Baby
Kristy Briggs1988
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She's Having a Baby
Kristy Boggs1988
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Bedroom Window
Star1987
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Native Son
Star1986
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Once Upon a Time in America
Deborah Gelly1984
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Racing With The Moon
Star1984
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Lovesick
Star1983
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Ragtime
Evelyn Nesbit1981
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Ordinary People
Jeannine Pratt1980
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Downton Abbey
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Guest Star (13)
Role-
Sunday Brunch
Herself
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S 1:
Ep 31
Episode 31
11/4/12
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S 1:
Ep 31
Episode 31
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Agatha Christie's Poirot
Dame Celia Westholme
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S 11:
Ep 4
Appointment with Death
12/25/09
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S 11:
Ep 4
Appointment with Death
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Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Dr. Faith Sutton
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S 9:
Ep 5
Harm
10/23/07
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S 9:
Ep 5
Harm
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Table 12
Mel
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S 1:
Ep 1
Preserves
7/28/01
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S 1:
Ep 1
Preserves
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Omnibus (UK)
Herself
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S 31:
Ep 6
Milos Forman
3/16/97
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S 31:
Ep 6
Milos Forman
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Hallmark Hall Of Fame
Celia
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S 46:
Ep 2
The Summer of Ben Tyler
12/15/96
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S 46:
Ep 2
The Summer of Ben Tyler
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Tales from the Crypt (1996)
Laura Kendall
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S 7:
Ep 5
Horror in the Night
5/24/96
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S 7:
Ep 5
Horror in the Night
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The Joan Rivers Show
Herself
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S 1:
Ep 174
June 6, 1990
6/6/90
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S 1:
Ep 174
June 6, 1990
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The Academy Awards
Herself - Presenter
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S 62:
Ep 1
The 62nd Annual Academy Awards
3/26/90
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S 62:
Ep 1
The 62nd Annual Academy Awards
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Tales from the Crypt (1996)
Guest Star
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Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre
Snow White
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S 3:
Ep 5
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
7/16/84
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S 3:
Ep 5
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
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The Academy Awards
Herself - Co-Presenter: Best Visual Effects
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S 55:
Ep 1
The 55th Annual Academy Awards
4/11/83
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S 55:
Ep 1
The 55th Annual Academy Awards
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California Fever
Lisa Bannister
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S 1:
Ep 2
The Girl from Somewhere
10/2/79
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S 1:
Ep 2
The Girl from Somewhere
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Sunday Brunch
Trivia and Quotes
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Trivia
ADD TRIVIA-
Elizabeth and her husband, Simon Curtis, divide their time between West London (England) and Hollywood. The couple has 2 daughters.
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In Sex, Lies and Videotapes, Steven Soderburg originally wrote the role of Ann for Elizabeth. Eventually, the role was played by Andie MacDowell.
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In 1981, Elizabeth was nominated for both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Ragtime.
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Elizabeth was engaged to both Sean Penn (1983-1984)and Rob Reiner (1989-1990) at different times. Both engagements were broken.
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Quotes
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Elizabeth: I was incredibly lucky to work with highly intelligent directors who really cared enormously for actors and were very supportive. Nowadays, Hollywood seems more serious: So much focuses on the business side of things.
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Elizabeth: I think that I would definitely characterize myself as a muddle-througher.
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