Elizabeth McGovern
Acting
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.
TV Shows(28)
Talamasca: The Secret Order
Helen
2025
War of the Worlds
Helen Brown
2019
A Little Late with Lilly Singh
Self
2019
The Kelly Clarkson Show
Self
2019
Civil War: The Untold Story
Narrator (voice)
2014
The Kumars
Self
2014
Downton Abbey
Cora Crawley
2010
10 Minute Tales
Ex-Wife
2009
Modern Family
California Mom (archive footage)
2009
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Self - Guest
2009
A Room with a View
Mrs Honeychurch
2008
Freezing
2008
Three Moons Over Milford
2006
Big Fat Quiz
Self - Guest
2004
The Brotherhood of Poland, New Hampshire
2003
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Faith Sutton
1999
Loose Women
Self
1999
The Scarlet Pimpernel
Marguerite Blakeney
1999
If Not for You
Jessie Kent
1995
Ashenden
Aileen Somerville
1991
Performance
Helen Schwartz
1991
Tales from the Crypt
Laura Kendall
1989
Agatha Christie's Poirot
Dame Celia Westholme
1989
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Self
1988
Faerie Tale Theatre
Snow White
1982
California Fever
1979
Omnibus
Self
1967
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Celia
1951
Movies(58)
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale
Cora Crawley
2025
Downton Abbey Celebrates the Grand Finale
Self
2025
And Mrs.
Margaret
2024
Downton Abbey: A New Era
Cora Crawley
2022
Downton Abbey
Cora Crawley
2019
JFK Jr. and Carolyn's Wedding: The Lost Tapes
Self (archive footage)
2019
The Chaperone
Norma
2019
The Commuter
Karen MacCauley
2018
The Wife
Elaine Mozell
2017
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
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
Kick-Ass
Mrs. Lizewski
2010
Clash of the Titans
Marmara
2010
Inconceivable
Tallulah 'Tutu' Williams
2008
A Room with a View
Mrs Honeychurch
2007
Daphne
Ellen Doubleday
2007
The Truth
Donna
2006
Remembering Ragtime
Evelyn Nesbit (archive footage)
2004
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
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
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
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
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