Elizabeth McGovern

Academy Award-nominated actress Elizabeth McGovern is Cora, Countess of Grantham in the critically acclaimed series "Downton Abbey." The smash hit "Downton Abbey" wrapped its final season after winning multiple awards including Emmys, Golden Globes, and BAFTAs. Elizabeth has been nominated for both an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her performance as Lady Cora. While studying at The Juilliard School in New York City in 1980, Elizabeth was offered a part in her first movie, Ordinary People, starring opposite Timothy Hutton and directed by Robert Redford. She then went on to earn an Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of Evelyn Nesbit in Milos Forman's Ragtime. In 1984, Elizabeth starred with Robert De Niro and James Woods in Sergio Leone's cult gangster movie Once Upon a Time in America, and later opposite Mickey Rourke in Johnny Handsome. Her recent film Unexpected, in which she stars opposite Cobie Smulders, premiered at Sundance, and she just finished shooting Showing Roots with Maggie Grace. Her other film credits include Buffalo Soldiers, King of the Hill, She's Having a Baby and Racing with the Moon. Since moving to England and starting a family of her own with husband Simon Curtis (director of My Week With Marilyn and Woman in Gold), Elizabeth continued to work in theatre and television. Born in Illinois, Elizabeth is also a singer-songwriter and has just recorded her third album, Still Waiting, with the band she formed and fronts, Sadie and the Hotheads. Sadie and the Hotheads have played the Isle of Wight and Hard Rock Calling Festival (Bruce Springsteen and Paul Simon headlining) and have completed a mini tour with Mike and the Mechanics. She will next be seen opposite Liam Neeson in The Commuter.