- Roma Downey
Infobox actor
name = Roma Downey
imagesize =
caption =
birthname =
birthdate = birth date and age|1960|5|6
location =Derry ,Northern Ireland
height =
othername =
hoRoma Downey (born
May 6 ,1960 ) is anactress and producer, best known as Monica, the main character of the TV series "Touched by an Angel ."Biography
Early life
Raised Catholic in
Derry , Roma thought she would be a painter and Downey earned a BA atBrighton Art College ,England . But she turned her attention to acting and had a classical training attending theLondon Drama Studio where she performed in the plays ofShakespeare ,Shaw , andChekhov .Career
She joined the
Abbey Players inDublin , and toured theUnited States in a production of "The Playboy of the Western World ." The production led to a nomination during the Broadway run for theHelen Hayes Best Actress Award in 1991.Roma also starred on Broadway in "The Circle" with Sir Rex Harrison and also at the Roundabout theater and the Public Theater in NYCWith her growing popularity, Downey gained the role of
Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis in the 1991 U.S. TV 6 hour mini series "A Woman Named Jackie" which went on to win the emmy award that year. Eventually, this led to her most famous role, as the Angel "Monica" on the CBS hit Touched by an Angel ," which ran from 1994 to 2003.For her work on TBAA Roma has been nominated for emmys and golden globe awards and was awarded the tv guide award for most favorite actress on tv.She has produced and starred in many tv movies among them "Borrowed Hearts" and "Second Honeymoon" She has recorded a spoken word album "Healing Angel" and written a children"s book"love is a Family" She hosted "Its a Miracle" on the Pax network and most recently sarred again on stage in "A Picasso " at the Geffen Theatre in LAShe hosted SNL.was one of People Magazines Most beautiful people and is spokesperon for the volunteer group "Operation Smile" In 1996 she gave birth to her daughter, Reilly Marie (b. 1996).Della Reese was given the honor of being her godmother.She is currently married to television producer/entrepreneur
Mark Burnett . On Thanksgiving Day 2006, Burnett proposed to Downey during a family vacation inZihuatanejo Mexico . [ [http://www.people.com/people/article/0,26334,1563269,00.html Mark Burnett and Roma Downey Engaged - Mark Burnett, Roma Downey : People.com ] ] They wed onApril 28 ,2007 in their Malibu home. [ [http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20037196,00.html Mark Burnett, Roma Downey Marry in Malibu - Weddings, Mark Burnett, Roma Downey : People.com ] ] Her "Touched By An Angel" co-star,Della Reese , officiated at the wedding.Herdaughter Reilly as bridesmaid,her stepson James best Man and her youngest step son Cameron was ring bearer.She lives with her family and two Irish wolfhounds in MalibuFilmography
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
*1999: Won, "Favorite Actress in a Drama" — "Touched By an Angel"
*2000: Nominated, "Favorite Actress in a Drama" — "Touched By an Angel"References
External links
*imdb name|id=0004884
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
