Roma Downey
{{Short description|Irish actress, producer and author}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Roma Downey
| honorific_suffix = OBE
| image = Roma Downey 2015.jpg
| caption = Downey in 2015
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|5|6|df=y}}{{cite web | url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/roma_downey | title=Roma Downey - Rotten Tomatoes | website=Rotten Tomatoes }}
| birth_place = Derry, Northern Ireland
| known_for = Touched by an Angel
A Woman Named Jackie
| occupation = {{hlist|Actress|producer|author}}
| yearsactive = 1988–present
| spouse = {{plainlist|
- {{marriage|Leland Orser|1987|1989|end=divorced}}
- {{marriage|David Anspaugh|1995|1998|end=divorced}}
- {{marriage|Mark Burnett|2007|}}
}}
| children = 1{{efn|Downey has one biological daughter and two stepsons}}
| alma_mater = Brighton College of Art (BA)
Drama Studio London
}}
Roma Downey {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|OBE}} (born 6 May 1960) is an actress, producer, and author from Northern Ireland. 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.{{Cite web|last=Grater|first=Tom|date=4 July 2021|title='Normal People' & 'Wolfwalkers' Triumph At Irish Film & TV Awards|url=https://deadline.com/2021/07/normal-people-wolfwalkers-triumph-irish-film-tv-awards-1234786104/|website=Deadline|language=en-US}} 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".{{cite web|title=Variety's Most Influential People of 2013|url=https://variety.com/gallery/varietys-most-influential-people-of-2013/#!7/mark-burnett-and-roma-downey|work=Variety|date=19 December 2013 |access-date=21 September 2015}} 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.{{cite news |title=The Hollywood Reporter's 2014 Women in Entertainment Power 100 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/list/hollywood-reporters-2014-women-entertainment-754104 |access-date=21 September 2015 |work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=4 December 2014}} She was honored on Variety's "Women of Impact" list in 2014.{{cite news|title=Variety's Women's Impact List 2013|url=https://variety.com/gallery/varietys-womens-impact-list-2013/#!17/risa-gertner-putting-it-all-together|access-date=21 September 2015|work=Variety}} 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,{{Cite web|date=18 March 2021|title=International Christian Film & Music Festival to honor Roma Downey at annual event|url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/international-christian-film-music-festival-honors-roma-downey.html|website=The Christian Post|language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web|date=12 June 2021|title=Derry actress and producer Roma Downey awarded OBE in Honours List|url=https://www.derryjournal.com/news/people/derry-actress-and-producer-roma-downey-awarded-obe-in-honours-list-3270817|website=www.derryjournal.com|language=en}}
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.
Early life
Downey was born and raised in Derry, Northern Ireland, in the Bogside district.Tracey, Olivia. [http://www.independent.ie/woman/celeb-news/an-angel-with-her-feet-firmly-on-the-ground-26246597.html An angel with her feet firmly on the ground], Irish Independent, 7 January 2001. Roma is named after her two grandmothers, Ro from Rose and Ma from Mary, joined to make Roma. She attended Thornhill College, a Catholic girls school. Her mother, Maureen O'Reilly Downey, a housewife with an interest in the performing arts, died from a heart attack at age 48 when Downey was ten years old. Her father, Patrick Downey, was a mortgage broker.{{cite web|url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/77/Roma-Downey.html|title=Roma Downey profile|publisher=Filmreference.com|access-date=11 August 2016}} Her father died when Downey was 20. Originally, she planned to be a painter and earned a Bachelor of Arts at Brighton College of Art. Roma studied BA (Hons) Expressive Arts at Brighton Polytechnic. Based at the Falmer campus, she combined Art and Drama for her degree. She then went on to study acting in London at The Drama Studio.
Career
She joined the Abbey Players, based at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin, and toured the United States in a production of The Playboy of the Western World.{{cite news|title=Abbey Theater, at the Kennedy, does 'Playboy' as it should be done|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1990/09/19/abbey-theater-at-the-kennedy-does-playboy-as-it-should-be-done/|access-date=20 September 2015|work=The Baltimore Sun|date=19 September 1990}} Downey moved to New York City after an agent, whom she met during the tour of The Playboy of the Western World, suggested she had potential for success there. She took a job as a coat checker at an Upper West Side restaurant, before getting cast in Broadway shows.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-37058180|title=Roma Downey: Londonderry-born actress dedicates Hollywood star to home city|work=BBC News |date=12 August 2016}}
The production led to a nomination during the Broadway run for the Helen Hayes Best Actress Award in 1991.{{cite web|title=HHA Nominees & Recipients|url=http://theatrewashington.org/find-hha-nominees?page=108|work=Theatre Washington|access-date=20 September 2015}} She also starred on Broadway in The Circle with Sir Rex Harrison and also at the Roundabout Theater and The Public Theater in New York City.{{cite web|title=Roma Downey|url=http://www.hallmarkmoviesandmysteries.com/keeping-up-with-the-randalls/cast/roma-downey|work=Hallmark movies and Mysteries|access-date=20 September 2015}}
Downey played the role of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in the American television miniseries A Woman Named Jackie (1991) which won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries in 1992.{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101238/awards?ref_=tt_ft|title=Awards for 'A Woman Named Jackie' (1991)|publisher=IMDb|access-date=11 August 2016}}
=''Touched by an Angel''=
Downey's role as Jacqueline Kennedy led to her most famous role, as the angel Monica, on the CBS series Touched by an Angel, opposite singer-actress, Della Reese and John Dye, which ran from 1994 to 2003.
She received one nomination and one win at the TV Guide awards for favorite actress and also received two Emmy Award nominations and two Golden Globe nominations. Downey has said the character Monica interested her because it was a strong female role, which were "few and far between" and for its spiritual aspects: {{cquote
|It was pilot season of ‘94 and I was reading through endless junk scripts that were being sent my way. Typically the roles were to play his wife or his girlfriend — leading roles for women were few and far between. Suddenly a very unusual script turned up. "Now this is curious," I remember thinking. Because I'm a person of faith, the spiritual aspects got my attention. Also, the actress in me was delighted to read a show that had not one but two strong female roles - female angels. I was to audition for Monica and I very much liked Della Reese, who of course ended up playing Tess.{{cite web|url=http://www.abilitymagazine.com/Roma_Downey.html|title=Ability Magazine: Interview with Roma Downey - by Chet Cooper|access-date=11 August 2016}}}}Downey has also spoken of her deep and lasting love for and friendship with Della Reese.{{cite web|title=Producer, author, actor Roma Downey's life has been more than touched by an angel|url=http://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/news/2012/10/roma-downeys-life-has-been-more-than-touched-by-an-angel.php|publisher=beliefnet.com|access-date=20 September 2015}} The two remained close until Reese's death on 19 November 2017.{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/tv/2017/11/20/della-reese-dies-touched-by-an-angel-star-dead|title=Della Reese, singer and Touched by an Angel star, dies|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=21 November 2017 |access-date=27 November 2017}} She commented that Reese was "such an influence on my life. She was my mother. I was a girl without a mother and for certain God brought her into my life. She was one of the lasting gifts of Touched by an Angel."{{cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/922256/roma-downey-on-touched-by-an-angel-co-star-della-reese-i-miss-her-everyday|title=Roma Downey on Touched by an Angel Co-Star Della Reese: I Miss Her Everyday|author=Swertlow, Meg|publisher=eonline.com|date=21 March 2018 |access-date=26 March 2018}}
=''The Bible''=
On 24 May 2011, Downey and husband Mark Burnett announced they were producing a 10-hour docudrama for the History channel, The Bible, based on stories from the Bible scheduled to air in 2013.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/24/arts/television/reality-tv-producer-mark-burnett-tackles-the-bible.html|title=Next for 'Survivor' Producer: Bible-Based Scripted Drama|first=Bill|last=Carter|newspaper=The New York Times |date=24 May 2011}} They began planning it in 2009 and lined up their own financing.[https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2013/02/27/bible-miniseries-history/1951817 "Producers had big plans for 'The Bible' at its genesis"], USA Today, 27 March 2013. The full production cost was US$22 million.Ellerton, Julie & Knowles Adkisson. [http://www.malibutimes.com/malibu_life/article_2a3820ec-96f7-11e2-a175-001a4bcf887a.html Roma Downey reflects on ‘The Bible’], The Malibu Times, 27 March 2013. Downey and Burnett wanted to stay as true to the content in the Bible as possible so they put together a wide variety of pastors and academics to review the script and filming. For example, they worked with Pastors Joel Osteen and Rick Warren and academics such as Craig A. Evans and Mark Goodacre.{{cite web|url=http://www.outreach.com/the-bible/about.aspx|title=About The Bible|publisher=Outreach.com|access-date=11 August 2016}}
The Bible has been watched by over 100 million viewers in the United States alone{{cite web|last=Somers|first=Meredith|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/may/27/are-you-up-to-the-bible-challenge-scripture-based-/?page=all|title=What would Jesus think? Smash-hit scripture-based quiz show doles out cash prizes|work=The Washington Times|date=27 May 2014|access-date=11 August 2016}}Press Release. [https://archive.today/20130410171100/http://www.cnbc.com/id/100589601 Roma Downey And Mark Burnett's #1 New Cable Series THE BIBLE Is Also A New York Times Best Seller, Dominating Amazon And is No. 1 On iTunes And #1 On Twitter], 25 March 2013. The series has been the number one downloaded series in iTunes and ranked on Amazon's best sellers in movies and television. A theatrical release was released on 28 February 2014 in the United States, under the title Son of God.{{cite news|last=Daly|first=Sean|url=http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/from_tv_to_silver_screen_bible_movie_VbYQv8DDj4nvp774Wb3XrJ |title=From TV to silver screen: 'Bible' movie in the works|work=New York Post|date=23 April 2013|access-date=11 August 2016}} The Bible was nominated for the 2013 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries or Movie. Downey played the role of Mary, the mother of Jesus. The Bible was filmed in 2012 in Morocco.{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/24/the-bible-history-channel-mark-burnett-miniseries_n_866030.html|title='The Bible': History Channel, Mark Burnett Creating CGI 10-Hour Miniseries|date=24 May 2011|access-date=28 August 2011|first=Lynn|last=Elber|work=HuffPost}}Lloyd, Matt. [http://breathecast.christianpost.com/articles/6719/20130321/bible-series-history-channel-reaches-nearly-70.htm "The Bible Series History Channel Reaches Nearly 70 Million in 3 Weeks"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130326010857/http://breathecast.christianpost.com/articles/6719/20130321/bible-series-history-channel-reaches-nearly-70.htm |date=26 March 2013 }}, BREATHEcast News, 21 March 2013.
In July 2013, it was announced that Downey and Burnett would produce A.D., the sequel to The Bible.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2013/07/nbc-snags-follow-up-to-the-bible-from-mark-burnett-and-roma-downey-533455/|title='The Bible' Sequel From Mark Burnett Bought By NBC|publisher=Deadline Hollywood|date=1 July 2013|access-date=11 August 2016}} In December 2013, NBC ordered A.D.. The series covered the spread of Christianity after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.{{cite web|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|url=https://deadline.com/2013/12/the-bible-sequel-a-d-gets-12-episode-order-from-nbc-653884/|title=NBC Sets 'The Bible' Sequel 'A.D.' For Spring 2015 Premiere|publisher=Deadline Hollywood|date=17 December 2013|access-date=11 August 2016}}
=Other work=
Downey also produced and starred in television movies including Borrowed Hearts and Second Honeymoon. During the run of Touched by an Angel, she recorded the spoken-word album Healing Angel.{{cite news|title=Roma Downey: No voice of an angel|url=http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/Music/9910/15/roma.downey|access-date=20 September 2015|publisher=CNN|date=15 October 1999}} and wrote the children's book Love Is A Family.{{cite book|title=Love Is a Family|isbn=0060393742|last1=Downey|first1=Roma|date=4 September 2001|publisher=HarperCollins }} She also co-authored a book with her husband, A Story of God and All of Us. She hosted It's a Miracle (TV series), on the Pax Network and appeared on stage in A Picasso at the Geffen Theatre in Los Angeles. She portrayed Annie Sullivan in the TV movie Monday After the Miracle (1998).{{cite news|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/663014/Roma-Downey-also-stars-in-CBS-movie-Miracle.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222110557/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/663014/Roma-Downey-also-stars-in-CBS-movie-Miracle.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 February 2017|title=Roma Downey also stars in CBS movie 'Miracle'|date=15 November 1998|work=Deseret News}} She has hosted Saturday Night Live,{{cite news|title=Roma Downey Monologue|url=https://screen.yahoo.com/roma-downey-monologue-000000478.html|access-date=21 September 2015|work=Saturday Night|publisher=Yahoo!}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} was one of People's most beautiful people. She is a spokesperson for the volunteer group Operation Smile.{{cite news|title=Roma Downey works miracles with Operation Smile|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/health/spotlighthealth/2003-11-04-roma_x.htm|access-date=20 September 2015|work=USA Today|date=4 November 2003}} In 2009, she starred in the movie Come Dance at My Wedding alongside John Schneider. On 16 July 2011, she appeared with actress Marion Ross in the made-for-TV movie Keeping up with the Randalls, broadcast on the Hallmark Channel.{{Cite web|url=https://www.crownmediapress.com/?SiteID=142&NodeID=144|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426093912/http://www.hallmarkchannelpress.com/pr/randalls/home|title=Hallmark Channel Press Room|archivedate=26 April 2011|website=www.crownmediapress.com}}
Downey is the executive producer of the animated video series, Little Angels, which was released on DVD with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment on 14 February 2012.{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/people/story/2012-02-14/roma-downey-little-angels/53107304/1 |title=Roma Downey has lofty goals with 'Little Angels'|work=USA Today|date=15 February 2012|access-date=11 August 2016}}
In December 2013, CBS announced a new miniseries with Downey and Burnett, The Dovekeepers based on the New York Times bestseller by Alice Hoffman. The miniseries aired in 2015.{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/cbs-orders-mark-burnett-mini-664105 | work=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Lesley|last=Goldberg|title=CBS Orders Mark Burnett Mini 'The Dovekeepers' for 2015}} In September 2014, MGM acquired a 55% interest in One Three Media and Lightworkers Media. The two companies consolidated into a new film and television company, United Artists Media Group. Burnett became UA's CEO and Downey became president of LightWorkers Media.{{cite news|title=MGM Buys 55% Of Roma Downey And Mark Burnett's Empire; Relaunches United Artists|url=https://deadline.com/2014/09/mgm-roma-downey-and-mark-burnetts-united-artists-838595|access-date=21 September 2015|publisher=Deadline Hollywood}}{{dead link|date=November 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-mgm-deals-downey-burnett-20140923-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|title=MGM buys 55% stake in production firms of Roma Downey and Mark Burnett|date=23 September 2014}}
In December 2015, MGM acquired the remaining 45% of Hearst's, Burnett's and Downey's interests in United Artists Media Group (UAMG), which was absorbed under the MGM Television Group umbrella. Downey remains President of LightWorkers Media, which became the Faith & Family division of MGM.{{citation needed|date=August 2016}}
Downey executive produced a re-telling of Ben-Hur,{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/mark-burnett-roma-downey-on-board-ben-hur-as-producers-1201163901|title=Mark Burnett, Roma Downey Board 'Ben-Hur' Remake|work=Variety|date=25 April 2014|access-date=11 August 2016|first=Dave|last=McNary}} starring Jack Huston, which was released in August 2016.{{cite web|title='Ben-Hur' Remake: 'Boardwalk Empire's Jack Huston Lands Title Role|date=17 September 2014 |url=https://deadline.com/2014/09/ben-hur-remake-cast-jack-huston-boardwalk-empire-835419/|publisher=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=21 September 2015}}
On November 16, 2016, it was announced Downey and her husband were starting the religious-themed TV network Light TV airing on Fox stations and affiliates.{{cite web|title=Mark Burnett, Roma Downey to start religion-themed TV network|date=16 November 2016 |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mark-burnett-roma-downey-to-start-religion-themed-tv-network/|publisher=cbsnews.com|access-date=16 November 2016}} It was reported on December 5, 2020, that Light TV would stop broadcasting and be replaced by TheGrio.TV.{{cite web|title=Light TV to be turned off; replaced by TheGrio.TV|url=https://www.tdogmedia.com/2020/12/https://www.tdogmedia.com/2020/12/light-tv-to-be-turned-off-replaced-by-thegrio-tv.html/|publisher=tdogmedia.com|access-date=5 December 2020}}
Downey is the author of several books, including Unexpected Blessings and Box of Butterflies, which became a New York Times best seller.
Personal life
Downey is married to television producer Mark Burnett. She has two step-sons, James Burnett and Cameron Burnett, and a daughter, Reilly Marie Downey Anspaugh (born 3 June 1996) from her previous marriage to director David Anspaugh. She was also previously married to actor Leland Orser. Reilly is named after her grandmother, Maureen O'Reilly Downey. On Thanksgiving Day 2006, Burnett proposed to Downey during a family vacation in Zihuatanejo, Mexico.{{cite magazine |url=https://people.com/celebrity/mark-burnett-and-roma-downey-engaged/ |title=Mark Burnett and Roma Downey Engaged |first1=Sharon |last1=Cotliar |first2=Cynthia |last2=Wang |date=November 27, 2006 |access-date=October 14, 2020}} They wed on 28 April 2007 in their Malibu home.{{cite web|last=Wang|first=Cynthia|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20037196,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070501031434/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20037196,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 May 2007|title=Mark Burnett, Roma Downey Marry in Malibu - Weddings, Mark Burnett, Roma Downey|work=People|date=29 April 2007|access-date=11 August 2016}} Her Touched by an Angel co-star, Della Reese, officiated at the wedding.
Downey is a "Smile Ambassador" for the non-profit organization Operation Smile which provides surgeries for children around the world who were born with severe cleft lip and palate.{{cite web |title=Roma Downey |url=http://www.operationsmile.org/about_us/our-supporters/smile-ambassadors/roma-downey-1.html |work=Operation Smile |access-date=June 8, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110603203441/http://www.operationsmile.org/about_us/our-supporters/smile-ambassadors/roma-downey-1.html |archive-date=June 3, 2011 }} She has traveled on several international missions with the group to Vietnam, Honduras and Jordan.{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2016/biz/spotlight/roma-downeys-sweet-charity-1201834951/|title=Roma Downey works miracles with Operation Smile|last1=Littleton|first1=Cynthia|date=2016-08-11|newspaper=Variety|access-date=October 14, 2020}}
Downey received the Sally Award by the Salvation Army for her contribution to entertainment and helping those in need on 1 October 2015.{{cite news |title=Roma Downey to Receive The Salvation Army's Sally Award on 1 October at L.A. Live |url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150902005384/en/Roma-Downey-Receive-Salvation-Army%E2%80%99s-Sally-Award |access-date=21 September 2015 |publisher=businesswire.com |date=2 September 2015}}
Downey was raised as a Roman Catholic.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/actress-roma-downey-on-religion-faith-219/2012/02/09/gIQATJNT1Q_video.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121219184046/http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/actress-roma-downey-on-religion-faith-219/2012/02/09/gIQATJNT1Q_video.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-12-19 |newspaper=The Washington Post |title=Actress Roma Downey on religion, faith (2:19) - The Washington Post}}{{Cite web |date=2021-03-26 |title=Catholic Filmmaker Roma Downey on ‘Resurrection’: Hope Didn’t Die on the Cross |url=https://www.ncregister.com/features/catholic-filmmaker-roma-downey-on-resurrection-hope-didn-t-die-on-the-cross |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=National Catholic Register |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2021-03-29 |title=Roma Downey says her Catholic faith influenced new film “Resurrection” |url=https://www.irishcentral.com/culture/entertainment/roma-downey-says-catholic-faith-influenced-film-resurrection |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=IrishCentral.com |language=en}}
On 18 April 2009, Downey and Burnett delivered the keynote address and accepted honorary doctorate degrees{{cite web |url=https://bschool.pepperdine.edu/about/leadership/honorary-doctorate-awardees/ |title=Honorary Doctorate Awardees |website=bschool.pepperdine.edu |access-date=October 14, 2020}} at Pepperdine University's Graziadio School of Business and Management commencement ceremony.{{cite web |url=http://bschool.pepperdine.edu/newsroom/index.php/2009/03/roma-downey-and-mark-burnett-to-address-pepperdine-business-school-commencement-and-mckesson-us-pharmaceutical-president-john-figueroa-honored/ |title=Roma Downey and Mark Burnett to Address Pepperdine Business School Commencement and McKesson U.S. Pharmaceutical President John Figueroa Honored |website=bschool.pepperdine.edu |date=March 12, 2009 |author=D. Gore |access-date=October 14, 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003112732/http://bschool.pepperdine.edu/newsroom/index.php/2009/03/roma-downey-and-mark-burnett-to-address-pepperdine-business-school-commencement-and-mckesson-us-pharmaceutical-president-john-figueroa-honored/ |archive-date=October 3, 2011}}
In 2014, Roma Downey and her husband were recipients of the Anti-Defamation League's Entertainment Industry Award. The husband and wife are heavily involved with philanthropic organizations Operation Smile and Compassion International. In 2015, they partnered with the Institute for Global Engagement to launch the Cradle Fund (TCF). TCF is focused on raising $25 million to help Middle Eastern minorities displaced by ISIS to return to a home where they can practice their faith without fear. As of 2019, they have helped more than 10,000 displaced Christian refugees to relocate.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}
In February 2016, Downey and Burnett gave the keynote address at the National Prayer Breakfast held in Washington DC by President Obama.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}
Downey also has a Doctor of Fine Art (DFA) honorary degree from the University of Ulster for her outstanding contribution to acting and philanthropy,{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-28187859 |title=Ciaran Hinds and Roma Downey receive honorary degrees |work=BBC |date=July 7, 2014 |access-date=October 14, 2020}} and she and Burnett received honorary Doctor of Letters degrees from Nyack College in 2014.{{cite web |url=https://www.nyack.edu/news/release-three-may-2014-honorary-doctorates-to-be-conferred/ |title=Three May 2014 Honorary Doctorates to Be Conferred |date=March 21, 2014 |access-date=October 14, 2020}}
In 2010, Downey graduated from the University of Santa Monica with a master's degree in Spiritual Psychology.{{cite web |url=http://www.universityofsantamonica.edu/testimonial/roma-downey-5 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140928093416/http://www.universityofsantamonica.edu/testimonial/roma-downey-5/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 September 2014 |title=Class of 2010 - Roma Downey |publisher=University of Santa Monica |date=6 January 2016 |access-date=6 January 2016}}
Downey was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2021 Birthday Honours for services to the arts, drama and the community in Northern Ireland.{{London Gazette|issue=63377|supp=y|page=B11|date=12 June 2021}}
Filmography
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| +TV roles
! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
| 1988
| Lady Johanna Leighton | Unknown episodes |
| 1991
| {{sortname|The|100 Lives of Black Jack Savage}} | Danielle St. Clair | Movie |
| 1991
| Disney Presents The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage | Danielle St. Clair | 7 episodes |
| 1991
| {{sortname|A|Woman Named Jackie}} | Miniseries; 3 episodes |
| 1992
| Getting Up and Going Home | Kimberly Stevens | Movie |
| 1992
| Devlin | Eileen | Movie |
| 1993
| New Year | Suzanne Hartman | Movie |
| 1994
| Hercules and the Amazon Women | Movie |
| 1994
| Heather Winslow | Episode: "Reunion with Murder" |
| 1994–2003
| Monica | 211 episodes |
| 1995
| {{sortname|A|Child Is Missing|nolink=1}} | Samantha Hallihan | Movie |
| 1996–1998
| Monica | 3 episodes |
| 1997
| Kathleen Russell | Movie |
| 1998
| Monday After the Miracle | Movie |
| 1999
| {{sortname|A|Secret Life|A Secret Life (film)}} | Cassie Whitman | Movie |
| 1999
| {{sortname|The|Test of Love}} | Cassie Whitman | Movie |
| 2001
| Herself | 3 episodes |
| 2001
| Second Honeymoon | Maggie Weston | Movie |
| 2001
| Helen Radke | Movie |
| 2004
| {{sortname|The|Survivors Club|nolink=1}} | Jillian Hayes | Movie |
| 2004
| {{sortname|The|Division}} | Reagan Gilancy | 3 episodes |
| 2009
| Come Dance at My Wedding | Laura Williams | Movie |
| 2011
| Keeping Up with the Randalls | Barb | Movie |
| 2013
| Miniseries; 3 episodes |
| 2024
| Elisabeth Baxter | Lead role |
= Film =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| +Feature film roles
! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
| 1995
| Roxy | |
| 2004
| Megan | |
| 2008
| At Jesus' Side | Petra | Voice role |
| 2014
| Mother Mary | |
= Producer =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Notes |
|---|
| 1997
| TV movie |
| 1998
| Monday After the Miracle | TV movie |
| 1999
| {{sortname|The|Test of Love}} | TV movie |
| 2001
| Second Honeymoon | TV movie |
| 2001
| TV movie |
| 2004
| {{sortname|The|Survivors Club|nolink=1}} | TV movie |
| 2004
| |
| 2013
| Miniseries |
| 2014
| |
| 2015
| Miniseries |
| 2015
| Limited series |
| 2015
| TLC series |
| 2015
| Woodlawn | |
| 2016
| Ben-Hur | |
| 2019
| Messiah | TV series |
| 2023
| |
| 2024
| TV series |
| TBA
| Merv | |
Discography
In 1999, Downey signed with RCA Victor Records and recorded a CD called Healing Angel, released on 14 September 1999.
| class="wikitable" |
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Album details !| Peak ! rowspan="2"| Sales |
|---|
| style="font-size:smaller;"
! style="width:40px;"| US New Age |
1999
| style="text-align:center;"| 5 | style="text-align:left;"| US sales: 42,901{{cite book|title=Billboard Oct 2, 1999|date = 2 October 1999|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cggEAAAAMBAJ&q=healing+angel+sales+copies&pg=PA26|page=26}} |
Stage
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Year !Title !Role(s) !Notes !Ref. |
| 1987
|Tamara |Emilia Pavese | |
| 1988
|Regina | |
| 1989
|Rosaline | |
| 1989
|Aristocrats |Anna's Voice | |
| 1989
|Raina Petkoff | |
| 1989
|Elizabeth | |
| 1990
|The Playboy of the Western World |Margaret Flaherty | |
| 2007
|A Picasso |Miss Fischer | |
Awards and nominations
|2025
|Visionary Award
Publications
- "Love Is a Family." (2001). Harper Entertainment {{ISBN|978-0060393748}}
- "Box of Butterflies: Discovering the Unexpected Blessing All Around Us." (2018). {{ISBN|978-1501150937}}
- "Unexpected Blessings: 90 Inspirations to Nourish Your Soul and Open Your Heart." (2022). Howard Books {{ISBN|978-1982199227}}
- "A Message in the Moon." (2023). Convergent Books {{ISBN|978-0593235171}}
- "Be an Angel: Devotions to Inspire and Encourage Love and Light Along the Way." (2023). Convergent Books {{ISBN|978-0593444023}}
References
{{Reflist}}
Notes
{{notelist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Roma Downey}}
- [http://www.irishcentral.com/gossip/Roma-Downey-My-return-to-the-acting-life-43738442.html Roma Downey at Irish Central]
- {{IMDb name|0004884}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Downey, Roma}}
Category:20th-century actresses from Northern Ireland
Category:21st-century actresses from Northern Ireland
Category:Actresses from Derry (city)
Category:Alumni of the Drama Studio London
Category:Alumni of the University of Brighton
Category:British women film producers
Category:Film actresses from Northern Ireland
Category:Film producers from Northern Ireland
Category:Mass media people from Derry (city)
Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire
Category:People educated at Thornhill College
Category:Stage actresses from Northern Ireland
Category:Television actresses from Northern Ireland