
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