Roma Downey

Roma Downey
Born May 6, 1960(1960-05-06) (age 48)
Derry, Northern IrelandSpouse(s) Mark Burnett(2007-Present)
David Anspaugh(1995-1998)
Leland Orser(1987-1989) ,
Daniel Grant (unknown)

Roma Downey (born May 6, 1960 in Derry, Northern Ireland) is an actress and producer, best known as Monica, the main character of the TV series Touched by an Angel.

1 Biography
2 Filmography
3 Awards & Nominations
4 References
5 External links

Biography

Early life

Raised in Derry, Downey earned a BA at Brighton Art College, East Sussex, England. While attending the London Drama Studio she performed in classic plays of Shakespeare, Shaw, and Chekhov.

Career

She joined the Abbey Players in Dublin, and toured the United States in a production of The Playboy of the Western World. The production led to a nomination during the Broadway run for the Helen Hayes Best Actress Award in 1991.

With her growing popularity, Downey gained the role of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis in the 1991 U.S. TV movie A Woman Named Jackie and as the Amazon leader in Hercules and the Amazon Women. Eventually, this led to her most famous role, as the Angel Monica in the dramatic series Touched by an Angel, which ran from 1994 to 2003.

A message from Roma Downey on the Touched by an Angel website [Touched.com] states, "Soon I hope to announce a new tv show that Della Reese and myself are putting together and we hope to have on the air next year..."[1].

Personal life

Downey has been married four times. Her first marriage was to Daniel Grant, a teacher from Derry. She then married fellow actor Leland Orser, whom she eloped with in 1987 in Rome, Italy. They divorced in 1989. In 1995, she married American director, David Anspaugh. Downey's Touched by an Angel co-star, Della Reese, officiated the wedding. During her marriage to Anspaugh, she gave birth to her daughter, Reilly Marie Anspaugh (b. 1996). Della Reese was given the honor of godmother. In 1998, she and Anspaugh ended their three-year marriage.

She is currently married to television producer/entrepreneur Mark Burnett. Burnett and Downey, who had been long-time neighbors, began dating in January 2004, after Burnett's divorce to his first wife was finalized. On Thanksgiving Day 2006, Burnett proposed to Downey during a family vacation in Zihuatanejo Mexico. [2] They wed on April 28, 2007 in their Malibu home.[3] The wedding was once again officiated by her Touched By An Angel co-star Della Reese, an ordained minister. Ironically, Burnett served with the British Army in Downey's native Northern Ireland during The Troubles.

Despite what many first assume, "Roma" is not a derivation from "Rosemary"; rather, "Roma" is her given name, a mixture of the names of her two grandmothers, Rose and Mary.

Filmography

Film Year Film Role Other notes 1995The Last Word Roxy 2004Funky Monkey Megan Television Year Title Role Notes 1988 One Life to LiveLady Johanna Leighton 1991 The 100 Lives of Black Jack SavageDanielle St. Clair TV-Movie A Woman Named Jackie Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis NBC Miniseries 1992Getting Up and Going Home Kimberly Stevens TV-MovieDevlin Eileen TV-Movie 1994 Diagnosis MurderHeather Winslow Episode: Reunion with Murder Hercules and the Amazon Women Hippolyta TV-Movie 1994–2003 Touched by an Angel Monica 1995A Child is Missing' Samantha Hallihan TV-Movie 1996, 1998 Promised Land MonicaEpisode: Homecoming
Episode: Vengeance Is Mine: Part 2 1997Borrowed Hearts Kathleen Russell CBS TV-Movie 1998 Saturday Night LiveHost Episode: Roma Downey/Missy 'Misdemeanor' ElliottMonday After the Miracle Annie Sullivan TV-Movie 1999A Secret Life Cassie Whitman TV-MovieThe Test of Love Cassie Whitman TV-Movie 2001Second Honeymoon Maggie TV-MovieSons of Mistletoe Helen Radke CBS TV-Movie 2004 The Survivors ClubJillian Hayes TV-Movie The DivisionReagan Gilancy Episode: The Kids Are Alright
Episode: Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep
Episode: Acts of Desperation

Awards & Nominations

Emmy Award

1997: Nominated, "Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series" — Touched By an Angel
1998: Nominated, "Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series" — Touched By an Angel

Gemini Award

1998: Nominated, "Best TV Movie or Mini-Series" — Borrowed Hearts (shared w/co-stars)

Golden Globe Award

1998: Nominated, "Best Performance by an Actress in a TV-Series - Drama" — Touched By an Angel
1999: Nominated, "Best Performance by an Actress in a TV-Series - Drama" — Touched By an Angel

TV Guide Award