Roma Downey
Encyclopedia
Roma Downey is an actress, singer, and producer
, from Derry
, Northern Ireland
. She is best known as Tess's (played by Della Reese
) angel/employee, Monica, the main character of the TV series Touched by an Angel
. She is also the wife of television producer, Mark Burnett
.
. Originally, Downey thought she would be a painter and earned a BA at Brighton College of Art, England
. But she turned her attention to acting and had a classical training attending Drama Studio London
, where she performed in the plays of Shakespeare, Shaw
, and Chekhov
.
. The production led to a nomination during the Broadway
run for the Helen 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 NYC.
With 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, also starring Della Reese
. Touched by an Angel
ran on CBS
network for almost ten years, playing to over 20 million people a week. For this role, she earned one nomination and one win at the TV Guide awards for favorite actress, and also garnered two Emmy Award nominations and two Golden Globe nominations.
She has produced and starred in many TV movies including Borrowed Hearts
and Second Honeymoon. She has recorded a spoken word album called "Healing Angel" and written a children's book called Love Is A Family. She hosted "It's a Miracle" on the Pax Network and most recently starred again on stage in "A Picasso" at the Geffen Theatre in LA. She has hosted SNL, was one of People
magazine's most beautiful people and is a spokesperson for the volunteer group "Operation Smile
". For her nine seasons on-air, she developed a chemistry with Reese. In the aftermath of the show, she and Reese remain friends.
She recently starred along side John Schneider
in the movie "Come Dance at My Wedding".
On 18 April 2009, Downey and her husband Mark Burnett, delivered the keynote address and accepted an honorary doctorate of law at Pepperdine University's Graziadio School of Business and Management commencement ceremony.
Roma graduated from The University of Santa Monica with a Masters in Spiritual Psychology.
On July 16, 2011 Roma appeared with actress Marion Ross
in the made for TV movie Keeping up with the Randalls,
on the Hallmark Channel
. http://www.hallmarkchannelpress.com/pr/randalls/home.
On May 24, 2011, Roma Downey and Mark Burnett announced they are producing a 10-Hour Docudrama for the History Channel Network based on stories from the Bible scheduled to air sometime 2013. THE BIBLE series is being produced for the HISTORY CHANNEL by Lightworkers Media and Hearst Entertainment & Syndication. Executive Producers are Mark Burnett, Roma Downey and Richard Bedser.
Roma's is the executive producer of a new animated video series "Little Angels", currently in production with her company Lightworkers Media.
. On Thanksgiving Day 2006, Burnett proposed to Downey during a family vacation in Zihuatanejo
, Mexico
. They wed on 28 April 2007 in their Malibu home.
Her Touched By An Angel co-star, Della Reese, officiated at the wedding.
Roma is a "Smile Ambassador" for the non-profit organization named Operation Smile which provides surgeries for children around the world who were born with severe cleft lips and palates.
Gemini Award
Golden Globe Award
TV Guide Award
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
, from Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. She is best known as Tess's (played by Della Reese
Della Reese
Delloreese Patricia Early, known professionally as Della Reese , is an American actress, singer, game show panelist of the 1970s, one-time talk-show hostess and ordained minister. She started her career in the 1950s as a gospel, pop and jazz singer, scoring a hit with her 1959 single "Don't You...
) angel/employee, Monica, the main character of the TV series Touched by an Angel
Touched by an Angel
Touched by an Angel is an American drama series that premiered on CBS on September 21, 1994 and ran for 211 episodes and nine seasons until its conclusion on April 27, 2003. Created by John Masius and produced by Martha Williamson, the series stars Roma Downey, as an angel named Monica, and Della...
. She is also the wife of television producer, Mark Burnett
Mark Burnett
Mark Burnett is a British television producer and executive producer, based in the United States. He currently is the executive producer of five network television series with seven hours of network programming. Works with which Burnett is associated have won multiple awards and recognition...
.
Early life
Downey was born and raised in Derry. She attended grammar school at Thornhill CollegeThornhill College
Thornhill College is a Roman Catholic girls' grammar school in Derry, Northern Ireland. It was founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1886 and moved to Culmore in 1932. It moved into its new building in 2003. It has a student population of approximately 1500 and a staff of 100 teachers. Miss Hamilton...
. Originally, Downey thought she would be a painter and earned a BA at Brighton College of Art, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. But she turned her attention to acting and had a classical training attending Drama Studio London
Drama Studio London
Drama Studio London is a drama school based in Ealing, London, England, United Kingdom. It is accredited by the National Council for Drama Training, London and is a Member of the Conference of Drama Schools...
, where she performed in the plays of Shakespeare, Shaw
Shaw
-United Kingdom:*Shaw, Berkshire, a village*Shaw, Wiltshire, a village*Shaw and Crompton, a town in Greater Manchester-United States:*Shaw, Mississippi, a city*Shaw, Washington, D.C., a neighborhood*Shaw, St...
, and Chekhov
Anton Chekhov
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was a Russian physician, dramatist and author who is considered to be among the greatest writers of short stories in history. His career as a dramatist produced four classics and his best short stories are held in high esteem by writers and critics...
.
Career
She joined the Abbey Players in Dublin, and toured the United States in a production of The Playboy of the Western WorldThe Playboy of the Western World
The Playboy of the Western World is a three-act play written by Irish playwright John Millington Synge and first performed at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, on January 26, 1907. It is set in Michael James Flaherty's public house in County Mayo during the early 1900s...
. The production led to a nomination during the Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
run for the Helen Hayes
Helen Hayes
Helen Hayes Brown was an American actress whose career spanned almost 70 years. She eventually garnered the nickname "First Lady of the American Theatre" and was one of twelve people who have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony Award...
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 NYC.
With 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
Touched by an Angel
Touched by an Angel is an American drama series that premiered on CBS on September 21, 1994 and ran for 211 episodes and nine seasons until its conclusion on April 27, 2003. Created by John Masius and produced by Martha Williamson, the series stars Roma Downey, as an angel named Monica, and Della...
, which ran from 1994 to 2003, also starring Della Reese
Della Reese
Delloreese Patricia Early, known professionally as Della Reese , is an American actress, singer, game show panelist of the 1970s, one-time talk-show hostess and ordained minister. She started her career in the 1950s as a gospel, pop and jazz singer, scoring a hit with her 1959 single "Don't You...
. Touched by an Angel
Touched by an Angel
Touched by an Angel is an American drama series that premiered on CBS on September 21, 1994 and ran for 211 episodes and nine seasons until its conclusion on April 27, 2003. Created by John Masius and produced by Martha Williamson, the series stars Roma Downey, as an angel named Monica, and Della...
ran on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
network for almost ten years, playing to over 20 million people a week. For this role, she earned one nomination and one win at the TV Guide awards for favorite actress, and also garnered two Emmy Award nominations and two Golden Globe nominations.
She has produced and starred in many TV movies including Borrowed Hearts
Borrowed Hearts
Borrowed Hearts is a 1997 made-for-tv Christmas film directed by Ted Kotcheff, and starring Roma Downey and Eric McCormack.- Plot :...
and Second Honeymoon. She has recorded a spoken word album called "Healing Angel" and written a children's book called Love Is A Family. She hosted "It's a Miracle" on the Pax Network and most recently starred again on stage in "A Picasso" at the Geffen Theatre in LA. She has hosted SNL, was one of People
People (magazine)
In 1998, the magazine introduced a version targeted at teens called Teen People. However, on July 27, 2006, the company announced it would shut down publication of Teen People immediately. The last issue to be released was scheduled for September 2006. Subscribers to this magazine received...
magazine's most beautiful people and is a spokesperson for the volunteer group "Operation Smile
Operation Smile
Operation Smile is a not-for-profit medical service organization based in Norfolk, Virginia , founded in 1982. A secular NGO, the children's medical charity provides cleft lip and palate repair surgeries to children worldwide, assists countries in reaching self-sufficiency with these surgeries, and...
". For her nine seasons on-air, she developed a chemistry with Reese. In the aftermath of the show, she and Reese remain friends.
She recently starred along side John Schneider
John Schneider (television actor)
John Richard Schneider III is an American actor and singer. He is best known for his portrayal of Bo Duke in the 1980s American television series The Dukes of Hazzard, and as Jonathan Kent on Smallville, a 2001 television adaptation of Superman.Alongside his acting career, Schneider performed as a...
in the movie "Come Dance at My Wedding".
On 18 April 2009, Downey and her husband Mark Burnett, delivered the keynote address and accepted an honorary doctorate of law at Pepperdine University's Graziadio School of Business and Management commencement ceremony.
Roma graduated from The University of Santa Monica with a Masters in Spiritual Psychology.
On July 16, 2011 Roma appeared with actress Marion Ross
Marion Ross
Marion Ross is an American actress best known for her role as Marion Cunningham on the television series Happy Days from 1974 to 1984.-Early life:...
in the made for TV movie Keeping up with the Randalls,
on the Hallmark Channel
Hallmark Channel
The Hallmark Channel is a cable television network that broadcasts across the United States. Their programming includes a mix of television movies/miniseries, syndicated series, and lifestyle shows that are appropriate for the whole family...
. http://www.hallmarkchannelpress.com/pr/randalls/home.
On May 24, 2011, Roma Downey and Mark Burnett announced they are producing a 10-Hour Docudrama for the History Channel Network based on stories from the Bible scheduled to air sometime 2013. THE BIBLE series is being produced for the HISTORY CHANNEL by Lightworkers Media and Hearst Entertainment & Syndication. Executive Producers are Mark Burnett, Roma Downey and Richard Bedser.
Roma's is the executive producer of a new animated video series "Little Angels", currently in production with her company Lightworkers Media.
Personal life
She is currently married to television producer/entrepreneur Mark BurnettMark Burnett
Mark Burnett is a British television producer and executive producer, based in the United States. He currently is the executive producer of five network television series with seven hours of network programming. Works with which Burnett is associated have won multiple awards and recognition...
. On Thanksgiving Day 2006, Burnett proposed to Downey during a family vacation in Zihuatanejo
Zihuatanejo
Zihuatanejo or Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, is the fourth-largest city in the Mexican state of Guerrero. Politically the city belongs to the municipality of Zihuatanejo de Azueta in the western part of Guerrero, but both are commonly referred to as Zihuatanejo...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. They wed on 28 April 2007 in their Malibu home.
Her Touched By An Angel co-star, Della Reese, officiated at the wedding.
Roma is a "Smile Ambassador" for the non-profit organization named Operation Smile which provides surgeries for children around the world who were born with severe cleft lips and palates.
Music career
In 1999 Roma Downey signed with RCA Victor Records and recorded a CD called Healing Angel, released on September 14, 1999.Discography
| Year | Album Details | Peak | Certifications Music recording sales certification Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,... (sales threshold) |
|---|---|---|---|
| US New Age New Age The New Age movement is a Western spiritual movement that developed in the second half of the 20th century. Its central precepts have been described as "drawing on both Eastern and Western spiritual and metaphysical traditions and then infusing them with influences from self-help and motivational... |
|||
| 1999 | Healing Angel Healing Angel "Healing Angel" is the first recording released by Irish actress and Touched By An Angel star Roma Downey. It was issued in 1999 on RCA Records. The album features Downey reading ancient Celtic texts, while Phil Coulter , plays the music.It peaked very high on the New Age chart, reaching number 5...
|
5 |
|
Filmography
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1995 | The Last Word | Roxy | |
| 2004 | Funky Monkey | Megan | |
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1988 | One Life to Live | Lady Johanna Leighton | |
| 1991 | The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage is a television series broadcast in the United States by NBC and produced by Stephen J. Cannell Productions in association with Walt Disney Television. This show originated as a TV-movie. The program originally aired in 1991, but lasted less than one season... |
Danielle St. Clair | TV-Movie |
| A Woman Named Jackie A Woman Named Jackie A Woman Named Jackie is a 1991 American made for television miniseries chronicling the life of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. It was based on C... |
Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis | Miniseries | |
| 1992 | Getting Up and Going Home | Kimberly Stevens | TV-Movie |
| Devlin | Eileen | TV-Movie | |
| 1994 | Diagnosis Murder Diagnosis Murder Diagnosis: Murder is a mystery/medical/crime drama television series starring Dick Van Dyke as Dr. Mark Sloan, a medical doctor who solves crimes with the help of his son, a homicide detective played by his real-life son Barry Van Dyke. The series began as a spin-off of Jake and the Fatman... |
Heather Winslow | Episode: Reunion with Murder |
| Hercules and the Amazon Women Hercules And The Amazon Women "Hercules and the Amazon Women" is the first movie-length pilot episode of the television series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.-Plot overview:... |
Hippolyta Hippolyta In Greek mythology, Hippolyta or Hippolyte is the Amazonian queen who possessed a magical girdle she was given by her father Ares, the god of war. The girdle was a waist belt that signified her authority as queen of the Amazons.... |
TV-Movie | |
| 1994–2003 | Touched by an Angel Touched by an Angel Touched by an Angel is an American drama series that premiered on CBS on September 21, 1994 and ran for 211 episodes and nine seasons until its conclusion on April 27, 2003. Created by John Masius and produced by Martha Williamson, the series stars Roma Downey, as an angel named Monica, and Della... |
Monica | 212 episodes |
| 1995 | A Child is Missing | Samantha Hallihan | TV-Movie |
| 1996, 1998 | Promised Land Promised Land (1996 TV series) Promised Land is an American drama series which aired on CBS from 1996 to 1999. It was a spin-off from another series, Touched by an Angel.-Plot:... |
Monica | Episode: Homecoming Episode: Vengeance Is Mine: Part 2 |
| 1997 | Borrowed Hearts Borrowed Hearts Borrowed Hearts is a 1997 made-for-tv Christmas film directed by Ted Kotcheff, and starring Roma Downey and Eric McCormack.- Plot :... |
Kathleen Russell | TV-Movie |
| 1998 | Saturday Night Live Saturday Night Live Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture... |
Host | Episode: Roma Downey/Missy 'Misdemeanor' Elliott |
| Monday After the Miracle | Annie Sullivan | TV-Movie | |
| 1999 | A Secret Life | Cassie Whitman | TV-Movie |
| The Test of Love | Cassie Whitman | TV-Movie | |
| 2001 | Second Honeymoon | Maggie | TV-Movie |
| Sons of Mistletoe | Helen Radke | TV-Movie | |
| 2004 | The Survivors Club | Jillian Hayes | TV-Movie |
| The Division The Division The Division is an American Lifetime Television original series about a team of women police officers in the San Francisco Police Department. The series premiered on January 7, 2001 and ended on June 28, 2004 after 88 episodes.-Synopsis:... |
Reagan Gilancy | Episode: The Kids Are Alright Episode: Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Episode: Acts of Desperation |
|
| 2009 | Come Dance at My Wedding | Laura Williams | TV-Movie |
| 2011 | Keeping Up with the Randalls | Barb Randall | TV-Movie |
Awards and nominations
Emmy AwardEmmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
- 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
Gemini Award
The Gemini Awards are annual television broadcasting industry awards in Canada.First awarded in 1986, the Geminis celebrate the achievements of TV members of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Essentially, it presents awards for the best television productions in Canada. Awards are...
- 1998: Nominated, "Best TV Movie or Mini-Series" — Borrowed Hearts (shared w/co-stars)
Golden Globe Award
Golden Globe Award
The Golden Globe Award is an accolade bestowed by the 93 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association recognizing excellence in film and television, both domestic and foreign...
- 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