Roma Downey | |
|---|---|
 Downey in 2015 | |
| Born | 6 May 1960[1] |
| Alma mater | Brighton College of Art (BA) Drama Studio London |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Known for | Touched by an Angel A Woman Named Jackie |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 1[a] |
Roma Downey OBE (born 6 May 1960) is an Irish actress, producer, and author. She gained recognition for her role as Monica the angel, in the CBS television series Touched by an Angel, which ran for nine seasons. Downey portrayed Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in the Emmy Award-winning miniseries A Woman Named Jackie. Downey stars in and produces the television series The Baxters. She has a stage career, performing with the Abbey Theatre, the National Theatre of Ireland, and appearing on and off Broadway.
Downey has starred in and served as an executive producer for CBS television movies, including Borrowed Hearts and Second Honeymoon. As President of Lightworkers Media, the faith and family division of MGM, she and her husband, Mark Burnett, produced the miniseries The Bible, in which she played Mary, mother of Jesus. In collaboration with Burnett, Downey has produced feature films, including Ben-Hur (2016), Son of God, Little Boy, Woodlawn, Resurrection, Messiah, and Country Ever After. They produced The Dovekeepers for CBS and A.D. The Bible Continues for NBC. Downey was the executive producer of the documentary Faithkeepers, which focuses on the persecution of Christians in the Middle East, as well as Bump Along the Way and the short film Rough, which won the IFTA for Best Short Film in 2021.[2] Downey produced the Amazon Prime feature film On a Wing and a Prayer. This film closed the Sarasota Film Festival, where Downey received a Lifetime Achievement Award. Most recently, she executive produced and starred as Elizabeth Baxter in the family drama series The Baxters, released in Spring 2024 on Amazon Prime Video, based on the best-selling book series by Karen Kingsbury.
Variety recognized Downey and Burnett as "trailblazers," and listed Downey as one of its "100 Most Powerful Women in Hollywood".[3] The Hollywood Reporter included the couple in its "Most Influential People of 2013," and named Downey one of the "100 Women in Entertainment Power" in 2014.[4] She was honored on Variety's "Women of Impact" list in 2014.[5] On 11 August 2016, Downey received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2021, she was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the International Christian Film & Music Festival,[6] and was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her services to the arts, drama, and the community in Northern Ireland.[7]
Downey is a published author, with several books, including the New York Times best-seller Box of Butterflies (2018). Her most recent work, Be an Angel: Devotions to Inspire and Encourage Love and Light Along the Way, was released in 2023. She serves as an ambassador for Operation Smile, participating in missions to Honduras, Vietnam, and Jordan.
- ^ "Roma Downey - Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes.
- ^ Grater, Tom (4 July 2021). "'Normal People' & 'Wolfwalkers' Triumph At Irish Film & TV Awards". Deadline.
- ^ "Variety's Most Influential People of 2013". Variety. 19 December 2013. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
- ^ "The Hollywood Reporter's 2014 Women in Entertainment Power 100". The Hollywood Reporter. 4 December 2014. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
- ^ "Variety's Women's Impact List 2013". Variety. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
- ^ "International Christian Film & Music Festival to honor Roma Downey at annual event". The Christian Post. 18 March 2021.
- ^ "Derry actress and producer Roma Downey awarded OBE in Honours List". www.derryjournal.com. 12 June 2021.
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