This 1980s star made her screen debut in the Oscar-winning film “Ordinary People.” Since then, she continues to turn heads with her beauty and has been described as “beautiful in silver hair.”

Her acting career began unexpectedly at the age of 19, while she was still a student at New York’s Juilliard School. Landing the role in “Ordinary People” was, in her words, “a total fluke” — the result of perfect timing.

Working with director Robert Redford, whose “warm, reassuring presence” made the experience memorable, proved to be the ideal start to her career, she said in an interview. The breakout role launched her into stardom, and by the 1980s and early 1990s, she was one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actresses.

Her portrayal of Evelyn Nesbit in “Ragtime” earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, solidifying her reputation as a remarkable talent.

The celebrity starred alongside Robert DeNiro in “Once Upon a Time in America” (1984), played Kevin Bacon’s partner in “She’s Having a Baby” (1988), and appeared with Brad Pitt in “The Favor” (1994).

Despite the veteran star’s success, Hollywood never felt like home. In the 1990s, the actress left Los Angeles behind and moved to London.

There, her life took a new turn when she married British film director Simon Curtis in 1992. The couple welcomed their first daughter, Matilda, in 1993, and their second daughter, Grace, arrived in 1998.

Despite stepping away from Hollywood’s spotlight, her personal life flourished in London. After 32 years of marriage, she believes she has uncovered the secret to a lasting relationship. “The key to our long-lasting love is a sense of humor. That’s basically the key to everything!” said the celebrity in an interview.

One moment, in particular, solidified this belief. While expecting their first child, the doctor asked if they wanted to know the baby’s gender. Her husband, Simon, replied, “I don’t care what it is. I just want it to have a sense of humor.”

That was the moment she knew she had chosen the right partner. Humor, she believes, is a powerful way to process challenges, making them easier to bear. Together, they’ve built a family with their daughters, Matilda and Grace, who have grown up surrounded by this same lighthearted approach to life.

As the siblings entered adulthood, another transition came when they finally left home. The change was significant, and just as their absence settled in, the lockdown period began, bringing them back under the same roof. It was a silver lining, and the mother of two couldn’t have been happier to have her daughters close again.

Even though she admitted to missing them, she found comfort in creative pursuits. During their childhood, she kept herself busy by forming a band and taking on the challenge of writing a play. These projects came at just the right time, helping her manage the loneliness that followed when Matilda, 31, and Grace, 26, began carving out their own lives.

After her daughters ventured out on their own, the three-time Golden Globe nominee continued to thrive creatively. She solidified her status as a household name by reprising the role of Lady Cora in “Downton Abbey: A New Era.”

The role remains her longest-running, spanning all six seasons of the series and the 2018 feature film. Notably, her professional life intertwined with her personal one when she worked with her husband, Simon, who directed the film.

This wasn’t their first collaboration. In a twist she described as “all too weird,” they had previously teamed up on the 2008 sitcom “Freezing,” where Hugh Bonneville, who plays her on-screen husband in “Downton Abbey,” portrayed her husband in the series.

This recent experience of working with Simon offered her a fresh perspective. The film star, who also pursued a career as a musician, proudly acknowledged his professional growth. She said it was “a real opportunity for me to see a man who had professionally really matured and come into his own.” Yet, in her signature humor, she quickly added, “Because to me, he had just become the guy that forgot to take out the garbage.”

At 63, Elizabeth McGovern continues to embrace life with her signature blend of honesty and humor. Though she initially struggled with the idea of turning 60 — describing it as something she resisted with a firm “No, I cannot be 60, I’m not into it!” — she found acceptance with support from friends.

Now, she is fully “loving it,” she said. The star has acknowledged the realities that come with her age, particularly the challenges women face in the industry compared to men. “There is less opportunity for a woman my age than a man my age,” Elizabeth admitted.

However, she sees progress, noting that recent discussions about these disparities have been “very profound.” Despite the difficulties of the past few years, Elizabeth remains hopeful that change is on the horizon. Though Elizabeth remains optimistic about the future, Elizabeth acknowledges that acting roles at her age can be limiting.

She noted that women her age often face two narrow choices: playing “the crazy woman who refused ever to become the perfect mother and wife and is now a neurotic, mostly alcoholic mess” or “the nice perfect grandmother with hands folded in your lap.”

Despite these constraints, her passion for acting remains unwavering. With Matilda and Grace now pursuing their own lives, Elizabeth continues to approach her career with the same authenticity and wit that have always defined her.

Though Elizabeth feels restricted by the roles available to women her age, she has fully embraced the natural changes that come with time. She now proudly showcases her silver hair on social media, where users regularly celebrate her enduring beauty.

Comments like “Beautiful in Silver” and “You look so glamorous and beautiful” reflect admiration for her grace. Others note, “Aging so gracefully, so beautifully,” while some remark that “Her smile hasn’t changed at all.”

Elizabeth McGovern’s journey in Hollywood and beyond is one of authenticity, humor, and strength. As she continues to evolve, she remains a source of inspiration for those who admire her talent, beauty, and unwavering honesty.