- Born
- Height5′ 4″ (1.63 m)
- Roma Downey is an Emmy-nominated actress and producer who has been creating inspirational content for 25 years. Born in Northern Ireland, she was classically trained in London. She has performed on stage with the famed Abbey Theater and has appeared both on and off Broadway. For almost a decade, Roma starred on the hit CBS show, "Touched by an Angel". In her role as the tender-hearted angel, Monica, she garnered multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.
Downey is President of LightWorkers, the joint venture owned by MGM, Downey and her husband Mark Burnett. Under the LightWorkers banner, Downey and Burnett produced "The Bible" series on HISTORY that was viewed by more than 100 million people in the U.S. alone, and was nominated for three Emmy awards. Downey and Burnett also produced the feature film "Son of God" that stunned the box office when it became one of the highest faith movie openings of all time. Downey also won the Movie Guide Grace Award for her role as Mother Mary in the film. In 2016, Downey received the Irish Diaspora Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Screen from the Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA), as well as a star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame. The Hollywood trade publication Variety recognized Downey as a "Trailblazer" and The Hollywood Reporter profiled her on its 100 Most Powerful Women in Hollywood issue and featured her on their list of Most Influential People of 2013. In 2014, Downey was also honored as a woman of impact in Variety's 2014 Women's Impact Report. More recently Downey was awarded an OBE from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.
In addition to "The Bible" and "Son of God," Downey has produced numerous television series under LightWorkers including "Messiah" and "Country Ever After" for Netflix, "The Women of the Bible" for Lifetime, "The Dovekeepers" for CBS, "A.D. The Bible Continues" for NBC, and "Answered Prayers" for TLC .She also was the Executive Producer on the feature films "Little Boy" for Open Road Films, "Woodlawn" for PureFlix, "Ben-Hur" for MGM and Paramount, and the documentary "Faithkeepers" about the persecution of Christians and other minorities in the Middle-East. She executive produced the Irish comedy "A Bump Along the Way " with Bronagh Gallagher and the short award winning movie "Rough". She is Executive Producer on "Redeeming Love", based on the best selling novel by Francine Rivers. Downey produced "On A Wing and A Prayer" for LightWorkers and MGM in 2023. The movie stars Dennis Quaid, Heather Graham and Jessie Metcalfe. The film closed the Sarasota Film Festival, at which Downey was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award. She is also the Executive Producer on "The Baxters", releasing in Spring of 2024 on Amazon Prime Video, based on the Karen Kingsbury best selling book series. In the series, Roma also plays the role of Elizabeth Baxter.
Roma has also authored several books, among them, the New York Times best seller "Box of Butterflies", her 90-day devotional "Unexpected Blessings", and her most recent, best-selling book "Be an Angel: Devotions to Inspire and Encourage Love and Light Along the Way".- IMDb Mini Biography By: Roma Downey
- SpousesMark Burnett(April 28, 2007 - present)David Anspaugh(November 24, 1995 - March 15, 1998) (divorced, 1 child)Leland Orser(1987 - 1989) (divorced)
- Children
- ParentsMaureen O'Reilly Downey
- RelativesJacinta McLaughlin(Sibling)Ann Flood(Sibling)Lawrence Downey(Sibling)John Downey(Sibling)
- Natural auburn hair
- Large brown eyes
- Seductive deep voice
- She was one of the two women originally considered for the role of Xena: Warrior Princess (1995), along with Vanessa Angel. She was offered the role that made Lucy Lawless famous but turned down as she was offered the role of Monica on Touched by an Angel (1994) at the same time.
- Her name, Roma, originates from both her grandmother's names, Rose and Mary.
- Her mother, Maureen O'Reilly Downey, passed away from a heart attack at age 48 when Roma was age 10.
- In spite of being born in Derry (Northern Ireland), she was once turned down for a television commercial for Irish Spring Soap because she did not sound Irish enough.
- Cannot type and admits that she pecks at the keys when typing emails and using her computer.
- One of the reasons I haven't been going off on location is because I am the queen of the carpool!
- [When asked about how she felt about turning 40... She said]: For me, it's a milestone age. I'm at a great place in my life. I have exceeded my own expectations in terms of what I wanted to accomplish by this time - I am a mother, a successful working actress, a producer, and an author.
- [on starring in a TV movie with John Schneider]: I'm reunited with John Schneider - tall John! It was nice. It worked so out well. It was great to be back on set, although I think the second or third night, after crawling into bed from a very long day and a lot sitting around and waiting, I remember calling Mark very late at night and us laughing about it and going, 'Why did I want to do this again? Would you please remind me?
- I have the soul of a singer and do splendidly in the shower, but the world will never hear it. Basically, I'm the only Irish person who can't carry a tune.
- [on the charitable organization that she participated - Operation Smile]: I've been on multiple international missions with them, and in fact Mark and I last spring took our three children to Jordan, and it was a fantastic experience for all of us. We went knowing we would help change the lives of children, but when we came home, really, it was our lives that had been changed!
- Touched by an Angel (1994) - $100,000 per episode
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