Roma Downey
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Bibliography
Biography
This dark-haired actress from war-torn Northern Ireland studied art and acting in England before coming to the US in 1986. Shortly after arriving, Downey made her off-Broadway debut in the environmental theater piece, "Tamara" (1987), and her TV debut in a recurring role on the ABC soap "One Life to Live." She played the ingenue in the 1989 Broadway revival of Somerset Maugham's "The Circle" in the eminent company of Rex Harrison, Glynis Johns and Stewart Granger. Downey received notice portraying Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis from age 16 to 60 in the 1991 NBC mini-series "A Woman Named Jackie." Although criticized by Kennedy loyalists, the miniseries did well in the ratings and Downey spent the next two years starring in a variety of TV-movies made for both cable and the broadcast networks, as well as in the syndicated "Hercules and the Amazon Women" (1994). Among Downey's more notable TV-movies were "Devlin" (Showtime, 1992) in which she portrayed a compassionate girlfriend, and "Getting Up and Going Home" (Lifetime, 1992) in which she was again the girlfriend; this time to a married man simultaneously involved with three women. Such non-virginal roles did not keep Downey from being cast in "Touched By an Angel," a 1994 CBS pilot. Downey portrayed Monica, an apprentice angel just promoted to caseworker, with Tess (Della Reese) as her advisor. While the pilot had dark elements, when CBS put the project on its fall 1994 schedule, the tenor of the series became more spiritually motivated. At first, "Touched By an Angel" was practically overlooked by critics and was near death on CBS' Wednesday night schedule. But the network moved the show behind "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman" on Saturday nights in February 1995 and by the fall, it was winning its time period. The show was one of the few network series to openly affirm the existence of a deity, and to speak of God "having a plan" for the characters whose lives Downey's angel affected. Her lilting, yet not overbearing, Irish accent helped give the series a charming edge. The success of the series helped lift Downey's profile, and she starred in "The Last Word" (Showtime, 1995) and "A Child is Missing" (CBS, 1995).
After "Touched By An Angel" came to a close in 2003, Downey kept a low profile, appearing in occasional TV movies but little more. After marrying reality show producer Mark Burnett in 2007, the Evangelical Christian couple began working together on an ambitious passion project: a TV miniseries version of "The Bible" for The History Channel that aired to high ratings and some controversy in 2013. Along with serving alongside Burnett as executive producer, Downey also took the pivotal role of Mother Mary for herself.
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Producer (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Cast (TV Mini-Series)
Life Events
1986
Moved to the U.S.with then-husband Leland Orser
1987
Off-Broadway debut, "Tamara"
1988
Landed small role as a British aristocrat on ABC soap "One Life to Live"
1989
Made Broadway debut in "The Circle"
1991
Appeared on short-lived NBC series "Disney Presents 'The Lives of Black Jack Savage'"
1991
Starred as Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis in six-hour NBC miniseries "A Woman Named Jackie"
1994
Co-starred as Tess, a novice spirit on CBS drama series "Touched By an Angel"
1998
Made producing debut with CBS TV movie "Monday After the Miracle"; also starred as Annie Sullivan
1998
Hosted NBC's "Saturday Night Live"
1999
Released New Age album <i>Healing Angel</i>
2004
Guest starred on "The Division" (Lifetime)
2013
With husband Mark Burnett, co-executive produced miniseries "The Bible" (History Channel), also played Mary, mother of Christ
Family
Companions
