See Photos of the "Downton Abbey" Cast Then and Now

McGovern came into her role as Cora, Countess of Grantham, with some serious honors under her belt already. In 1981, she earned her first Oscar nomination for best supporting actress for her role in "Ragtime." She also starred in several other high-profile movies, and in 2007, she formed a band, Sadie and the Hotheads.