Elizabeth McGovern
Birthday: 18 July 1961, Evanston, Illinois, USA
Height: 178 cm
Daughter of a law professor at Northwestern University, she moved with her family to Los Angeles when he transferred to the University of California at Los Angeles (U.C.L.A.). She began acting in scho ...Show More
I've found acting on stage much more challenging than on screen.
I've found acting on stage much more challenging than on screen.
I turned down the opportunity to be in some films that went on to be blockbusters.
I turned down the opportunity to be in some films that went on to be blockbusters.
My job now is to work hard and learn all I can.
My job now is to work hard and learn all I can.
We lack rituals in this modern world.
We lack rituals in this modern world.
Now we have to contend with overstimulation and too many opportunities all the time, and too many de Show more
Now we have to contend with overstimulation and too many opportunities all the time, and too many decisions all the time. Hide
I love having the opportunity to explore a part for a great length of time, really get deeper and de Show more
I love having the opportunity to explore a part for a great length of time, really get deeper and deeper into it, because you only have a chance to do that once or twice in a career. Hide
Well, when I moved to England I was making a lot of personal adjustments because I was getting marri Show more
Well, when I moved to England I was making a lot of personal adjustments because I was getting married and starting a family, that sort of thing. Hide
Honestly, I am always shocked when I see myself in the mirror because I feel exactly the same as I d Show more
Honestly, I am always shocked when I see myself in the mirror because I feel exactly the same as I did when I was 18 getting off the plane to go to Juilliard in New York. Hide
I just find it fascinating, like everybody, to be in a different life. It's an escape.
I just find it fascinating, like everybody, to be in a different life. It's an escape.
It's peaceful for people to know how their lives are going to be, pretty much.
It's peaceful for people to know how their lives are going to be, pretty much.
If I feel I can play a part I do everything in my power to try to play it.
If I feel I can play a part I do everything in my power to try to play it.
My father was an academic, an eccentric. He was a lecturer.
My father was an academic, an eccentric. He was a lecturer.
Whenever I work on anything, there's always the fantasy that what one is doing is the next 'Citizen Show more
Whenever I work on anything, there's always the fantasy that what one is doing is the next 'Citizen Kane'-slash-'Sopranos.' Hide
I like writing letters and receiving letters. It's a shame that we've lost the art of letter-writing Show more
I like writing letters and receiving letters. It's a shame that we've lost the art of letter-writing and saving correspondence. I mourn that. Hide
My family were all into classical music, and I found that very intimidating.
My family were all into classical music, and I found that very intimidating.
I've got my private life - that's sacred - and I didn't have that before.
I've got my private life - that's sacred - and I didn't have that before.
I miss sometimes the buzz of America. A sense that anything can change at the drop of a hat. In a wa Show more
I miss sometimes the buzz of America. A sense that anything can change at the drop of a hat. In a way, it's an exhausting thing to live with. Hide
I wasn't ecstatic about being pregnant - I wasn't somebody who actively wanted kids. Certainly there Show more
I wasn't ecstatic about being pregnant - I wasn't somebody who actively wanted kids. Certainly there were no fantasies about nappy-changing. Hide
I don't believe in villains - just people who channel their energy in the wrong way.
I don't believe in villains - just people who channel their energy in the wrong way.
I can't just sit around thinking how lucky I am.
I can't just sit around thinking how lucky I am.
By definition, an actor's life is a recipe for regret. There are always roads you could have taken. Show more
By definition, an actor's life is a recipe for regret. There are always roads you could have taken. But I've lived long enough to realize that each road has its own rewards. Hide
As far as I can see women who have facelifts don't look younger, just weirder. You see them on scree Show more
As far as I can see women who have facelifts don't look younger, just weirder. You see them on screen with these tight, little porcelain faces - then the hand goes up to the face and it looks like it belongs to an alien. I find it really freaky. Hide
To me, the lyrics of the song define the kind of style it is.
To me, the lyrics of the song define the kind of style it is.
So the English approach to show business and their work is more - and this is a big generalization, Show more
So the English approach to show business and their work is more - and this is a big generalization, I hasten to say - but it's more, they work on it as a craft job. Hide
I'm someone who's done the opposite of whatever the received wisdom is, to keep your career going in Show more
I'm someone who's done the opposite of whatever the received wisdom is, to keep your career going into your 50s. Hide
Well, I have a band, "Sadie and the Hotheads", and we have an album that is already out that is avai Show more
Well, I have a band, "Sadie and the Hotheads", and we have an album that is already out that is available on our website. Hide
On careers other than acting: "I probably would have become a veterinarian, or I might have lived on Show more
On careers other than acting: "I probably would have become a veterinarian, or I might have lived on a ranch somewhere and raised horses, or I might have become more serious about painting, or I might have worked in a Burger King." Hide
In today's world, we all live with the burden of feeling that anything is possible if we're only cle Show more
In today's world, we all live with the burden of feeling that anything is possible if we're only clever enough, smart enough, work hard enough. Hide
There is nothing in my life where I view myself as a 1920s person.
There is nothing in my life where I view myself as a 1920s person.
Hollywood never suited me, I didn't ever feel comfortable with it, it took me a couple of years but Show more
Hollywood never suited me, I didn't ever feel comfortable with it, it took me a couple of years but I found where I was always meant to be... Chiswick! Hide
That feeling of being 19 or 20 and 'hot' in Hollywood was so intense.
That feeling of being 19 or 20 and 'hot' in Hollywood was so intense.
I have a terrible sense of direction.
I have a terrible sense of direction.
I've been in things that have impressed people and they've come up to congratulate you but in a kind Show more
I've been in things that have impressed people and they've come up to congratulate you but in a kind of, you-must-think-you're-really-special way. Hide
It's very tough when two creative people are together.
It's very tough when two creative people are together.
Most people grow up dreaming of going to Hollywood and some of them work and work and work and final Show more
Most people grow up dreaming of going to Hollywood and some of them work and work and work and finally end up in Hollywood. Hide
In London, I take the Tube everywhere.
In London, I take the Tube everywhere.
I had reconciled myself to being happily out to pasture, a bit.
I had reconciled myself to being happily out to pasture, a bit.
North Hollywood isn't actually Hollywood, it's in the San Fernando Valley... it's not the most glamo Show more
North Hollywood isn't actually Hollywood, it's in the San Fernando Valley... it's not the most glamorous part of L.A. Hide
England as a culture has endured so much more than America has as a culture, so it's given them a di Show more
England as a culture has endured so much more than America has as a culture, so it's given them a different perspective. Hide
I still feel I'm doing the same work I've always done.
I still feel I'm doing the same work I've always done.
Elizabeth McGovern's FILMOGRAPHY
as Actor (105)
Elizabeth McGovern'S roles
Evelyn Nesbit
Cora Crawley
Deborah Gelly
Marmara
Mrs. Lizewski
Laura Kendall
