Elizabeth McGovern
Known for
An American actress from Evanston, Illinois, who earned early acclaim before finding renewed fame decades later. She was Oscar-nominated as a teenager for 'Ragtime' and starred as the doomed Deborah in Sergio Leone's epic 'Once Upon a Time in America' (1984), later appearing in 'Kick-Ass' (2010) and 'Clash of the Titans' (2010). A whole new generation knows her as Lady Cora, the American-born Countess of Grantham, on the hit series 'Downton Abbey'. A graceful, poised performer with enduring elegance.
Elizabeth McGovern
42 Movies
11 Series
An American actress from Evanston, Illinois, who earned early acclaim before finding renewed fame decades later. She was Oscar-nominated as a teenager for 'Ragtime' and starred as the doomed Deborah in Sergio Leone's epic 'Once Upon a Time in America' (1984), later appearing in 'Kick-Ass' (2010) and 'Clash of the Titans' (2010). A whole new generation knows her as Lady Cora, the American-born Countess of Grantham, on the hit series 'Downton Abbey'. A graceful, poised performer with enduring elegance.
Movies
Plays Deborah
Once Upon a Time in America
1984
Plays Marmara
Clash of the Titans
2010
Plays Mrs. Lizewski
Kick-Ass
2010
Plays Cora Crawley
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale
2025
Plays Karen MacCauley
The Commuter
2018
Plays Cora Crawley
Downton Abbey
2019
Plays Elaine Mozell
The Wife
2017
Plays Cora Crawley
Downton Abbey: A New Era
2022
Plays Donna McCarty
Johnny Handsome
1989
Plays Jeannine Pratt
Ordinary People
1980
Plays Moira
The Handmaid's Tale
1990
Plays Dolly Adams
Swung
2015
Plays Kristy Briggs
She's Having a Baby
1988
Plays Denise
The Bedroom Window
1987
Plays Emily
The Favor
1994
Plays Susan Stringham
The Wings of the Dove
1997
Plays Evelyn Nesbit
Ragtime
1981
Plays Caddie Winger
Racing with the Moon
1984
Plays Stella Anderson
A Shock to the System
1990
Plays Mrs. Carry Fisher
The House of Mirth
2000
Plays Margaret
And Mrs.
2024
Plays Diane
The Man with Rain in His Shoes
1998
Plays Mrs. Berman
Buffalo Soldiers
2002
Plays Lydia
King of the Hill
1993
Plays Noëlle Guillaumet
Wings of Courage
1995
Plays Celia Rayburn
The Summer of Ben Tyler
1996
Plays Till Turner
The Misadventures of Margaret
1998
Plays Mrs. Thatcham
Cheerful Weather for the Wedding
2012
Plays Tallulah 'Tutu' Williams
Inconceivable
2008
Plays Fanny
Me and Veronica
1993
Plays Carolyn
Unexpected
2015
Plays Mary Dalton
Native Son
1986
Plays Chloe Allen
Lovesick
1983
Plays Jane
Angels Crest
2011
Plays Elena Quince
Tune in Tomorrow...
1990
Plays Elizabeth
Manila
2000
Plays Shirley
Showing Roots
2016
Producer
Plays Norma
The Chaperone
2019
TV Shows
Plays Cora Crawley
Downton Abbey
2010
Plays Helen Brown
War of the Worlds
2019
Plays Marguerite Blakeney
The Scarlet Pimpernel
1999
Plays Helen
Talamasca: The Secret Order
2025
Plays Laura Kendall
Tales from the Crypt
1989
Plays Snow White
Faerie Tale Theatre
1982
Plays Celia
Hallmark Hall of Fame
1951
Plays Helen Schwartz
Performance
1991
Plays Dame Celia Westholme
Agatha Christie's Poirot
1989
Plays Ex-Wife
10 Minute Tales
2009
Plays Mary Dalton
American Playhouse
1982
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale
Full Filmography
Talamasca: The Secret Order
Helen · 6 episodes
2025
TV
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale
Cora Crawley
2025
Film
And Mrs.
Margaret
2024
Film
Downton Abbey: A New Era
Cora Crawley
2022
Film
War of the Worlds
Helen Brown · 9 episodes
2019–2021
TV
Downton Abbey
Cora Crawley
2019
Film
The Chaperone
Norma
2019
Film
The Commuter
Karen MacCauley
2018
Film
The Wife
Elaine Mozell
2017
Film
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Elizabeth McGovern and where are they from?
Elizabeth McGovern is 65 years old, born on July 18, 1961 in Evanston, Illinois, USA.
What are the most famous roles of Elizabeth McGovern?
Elizabeth McGovern is best known for roles in Kick-Ass, Clash of the Titans, Once Upon a Time in America.
How many movies has Elizabeth McGovern been in?
Over a 46-year career (since 1980), Elizabeth McGovern has appeared in 41 movies and 11 TV shows.
What was Elizabeth McGovern's first movie?
The career of Elizabeth McGovern began with Ordinary People (1980).
What is Elizabeth McGovern's most recent movie or series?
Elizabeth McGovern's most recent release is Talamasca: The Secret Order, which premiered on October 19, 2025.
What TV shows has Elizabeth McGovern appeared in?
On television, Elizabeth McGovern has appeared in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Downton Abbey, Tales from the Crypt, War of the Worlds.
Elizabeth McGovern
1961-07-18 · Evanston, Illinois, USA
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.