# Roma Downey
**Roma Downey** (born 1960) is an actress, producer, and author from Derry, Northern Ireland, best known for playing the angel Monica for nine seasons on the CBS drama *Touched by an Angel* (1994–2003)[1](https://projects.latimes.com/hollywood/star-walk/roma-downey/) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004884/). Since that series ended she has worked mainly as a producer of faith-based film and television with her husband, [Mark Burnett](https://www.edgepedia.org/mark-burnett), including the [History Channel](https://www.edgepedia.org/history-channel) miniseries *The Bible* and the feature film *Son of God*[3](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/roma-downey/10005/).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1960 in Derry, Londonderry, Northern Ireland; youngest of six children[1](https://projects.latimes.com/hollywood/star-walk/roma-downey/) • [4](https://abilitymagazine.com/roma-downey-touching-interview-with-an-angel/) |
| Signature role | Monica on *Touched by an Angel*, 1994–2003, nine seasons and 211 episodes[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004884/) |
| Acting honors | Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 1997 and 1998; Golden Globe nominations in 1998 and 1999[1](https://projects.latimes.com/hollywood/star-walk/roma-downey/) • [5](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/roma-downey) |
| Breakthrough role | Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in NBC's six-hour miniseries *A Woman Named Jackie* (1991)[6](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-10-12-ca-127-story.html) |
| Producing landmark | *The Bible* (History Channel, 2013, 10 parts), produced with Mark Burnett; 13.1 million viewers for the first episode and 14.3 million for the final night; she also played Mother Mary[3](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/roma-downey/10005/) |
| Company | President of LightWorkers Media, the faith and family division of MGM; co-owner of the Light TV network with MGM Television and Hearst Communications[7](https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Roma-Downey/2102324980) • [8](https://www.sidewalkstv.com/interview-roma-downey-2017/) |
| Honors | Officer of the Order of the British Empire, 2021 birthday honors, for services to the Arts, Drama, and to the Community in Northern Ireland; star No. 2,586 on the Hollywood Walk of Fame[7](https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Roma-Downey/2102324980) • [1](https://projects.latimes.com/hollywood/star-walk/roma-downey/) |
## Early life and training
Downey grew up in Derry during the years of the Troubles, the period of sectarian violence in [Northern Ireland](https://www.edgepedia.org/northern-ireland). She has described shootings, bombings, and bomb scares as part of everyday life, and has said she knew people killed in the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre[9](https://www.irishamerica.com/2023/03/winging-her-way-to-stardom/). Her mother, Maureen, died of a heart attack when Downey was ten years old; her father, Patrick "Paddy" Downey, a schoolteacher, died in 1985[9](https://www.irishamerica.com/2023/03/winging-her-way-to-stardom/) • [10](https://www.deseret.com/2003/1/23/19781777/roma-downey-aura-of-an-angel/). One of her brothers is a Catholic priest, and she attended a [Catholic school](https://www.edgepedia.org/catholic-school) run by the [Sisters of Mercy](https://www.edgepedia.org/sisters-of-mercy) for 13 years[10](https://www.deseret.com/2003/1/23/19781777/roma-downey-aura-of-an-angel/).
She first trained as an artist, earning a bachelor's degree at Brighton Art College in England, then studied acting at the London Drama Studio, where she performed in classic productions including plays by Shakespeare, Shaw, and Chekhov[4](https://abilitymagazine.com/roma-downey-touching-interview-with-an-angel/) • [11](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Station-Albums/Networks/CBS-Tour-2001-July.pdf).
## Stage and early television
Downey left Derry for New York in 1986. Within months she played Eliza in Syracuse Stage's production of Shaw's *Pygmalion*, joined the union, and began getting Off Broadway roles[6](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-10-12-ca-127-story.html). Her Broadway break came when the actor [Rex Harrison](https://www.edgepedia.org/rex-harrison), having seen her play Raina in *Arms and the Man* at the Roundabout Theater, cast her opposite himself in *The Circle* at the Ambassador Theater; she has called it the biggest break of her career[9](https://www.irishamerica.com/2023/03/winging-her-way-to-stardom/). She toured the United States with Dublin's Abbey Players in *The Playboy of the Western World*, receiving a Helen Hayes Best Actress Award nomination in 1991[4](https://abilitymagazine.com/roma-downey-touching-interview-with-an-angel/) • [11](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Station-Albums/Networks/CBS-Tour-2001-July.pdf).
Her television introduction came as [Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis](https://www.edgepedia.org/jacqueline-kennedy-onassis) in *A Woman Named Jackie*, NBC's six-hour miniseries that began in October 1991. She beat out roughly 400 actresses for the part and prepared with wardrobe, dialect, and horseback lessons; she said she tried to capture an essence of Onassis rather than an impersonation[9](https://www.irishamerica.com/2023/03/winging-her-way-to-stardom/) • [6](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-10-12-ca-127-story.html).
## Touched by an Angel
During pilot season of 1994, Downey was reading what she described as endless poor scripts when an unusual pilot about two angels arrived. As a person of faith she was drawn to its spiritual content, and she auditioned for Monica[4](https://abilitymagazine.com/roma-downey-touching-interview-with-an-angel/). At the audition she was worried her Irish accent was too exotic, but the producers told her to do it Irish, and she was cast[12](https://guideposts.org/articles/positive-living/health-and-wellness/life-advice/finding-life-purpose/roma-downey-an-angel-in-her-fathers-eyes/).
The show was not an immediate success. Critics panned it in its first season, and *TV Guide* called it the season's "iffiest new show"; a fan campaign is credited with persuading CBS to keep it on the air, and by the 1997 season it was a hit[13](https://www.thelist.com/190644/whatever-happened-to-touched-by-an-angels-roma-downey/). Downey starred alongside [Della Reese](https://www.edgepedia.org/della-reese) as Tess and [John Dye](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-dye) as Andrew, angels sent to help people facing crises of faith[1](https://projects.latimes.com/hollywood/star-walk/roma-downey/). The series ran nine seasons, ending in 2003, and by 1999 it was CBS's highest-rated drama[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004884/) • [9](https://www.irishamerica.com/2023/03/winging-her-way-to-stardom/). Downey earned Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 1997 and 1998 and Golden Globe nominations in 1998 and 1999[5](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/roma-downey) • [1](https://projects.latimes.com/hollywood/star-walk/roma-downey/).
Elements of Downey's own personality were written into Monica, including going barefoot, loving coffee, and being unable to sing; Downey has said she was removed from a childhood choir because she could not sing[10](https://www.deseret.com/2003/1/23/19781777/roma-downey-aura-of-an-angel/). Her friendship with Della Reese extended off screen: Reese became godmother to Downey's daughter, and after Reese's own daughter died, the two agreed to treat each other as mother and daughter[14](https://gospelmusic.org/news/industry-qa-roma-downey-founder-president-lightworkers-media).
## Producing with Mark Burnett
After *Touched by an Angel* ended, Downey moved largely to the production side of the industry[15](https://www.tvinsider.com/1225341/roma-downey-touched-by-an-angel-where-now/). With her husband, Mark Burnett, the creator of *[Survivor](https://www.edgepedia.org/survivor-american-tv-series)* whom she married in April 2007 at a ceremony officiated by Reese, she executive produced the ten-part History Channel miniseries *The Bible* (2013), the NBC sequel series *A.D. The Bible Continues*, the two-part *The Dovekeepers*, and the films *Son of God*, *Little Boy*, *Woodlawn*, and *Ben-Hur*[3](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/roma-downey/10005/) • [8](https://www.sidewalkstv.com/interview-roma-downey-2017/) • [1](https://projects.latimes.com/hollywood/star-walk/roma-downey/).
*The Bible* was the couple's first major project together. They personally financed it, and it drew 13.1 million viewers for its first episode and 14.3 million for its final night; the Television Academy lists Downey as an executive producer nominee when the miniseries was nominated for Outstanding Miniseries or Movie in 2013[3](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/roma-downey/10005/) • [5](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/roma-downey). She also played the Virgin Mary in the series and reprised the role in *[Son of God](https://www.edgepedia.org/son-of-god-film)* (2014), the theatrical adaptation focusing on the life of Jesus[3](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/roma-downey/10005/) • [16](https://melaniesaxtonmedia.com/2020/11/08/spiritual-editor-a-chat-with-roma-downey/). Later producing credits include *Redeeming Love* (2022), *On a Wing and a Prayer* (2023), and the 2024 series *The Baxters*, in which she also played Elizabeth Baxter[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004884/).
Downey is president of LightWorkers Media, described by her publisher as the faith and family division of MGM, and she and Burnett co-own the Light TV network with MGM Television and [Hearst Communications](https://www.edgepedia.org/hearst-communications)[7](https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Roma-Downey/2102324980) • [8](https://www.sidewalkstv.com/interview-roma-downey-2017/).
## Writing, music, and recognition
Downey has written several books. Her first children's book, *Love Is a Family*, was published in the fall of 2001[4](https://abilitymagazine.com/roma-downey-touching-interview-with-an-angel/). *Box of Butterflies* became a New York Times bestseller, and she has since published the devotional *Unexpected Blessings*[7](https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Roma-Downey/2102324980). She also recorded a spoken-word and [Celtic music](https://www.edgepedia.org/celtic-music) album, *Healing Angel*, after signing with RCA Victor Records; one biography dates the signing to 1999, while an interview-based profile dates the album's release to 2002[3](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/roma-downey/10005/) • [4](https://abilitymagazine.com/roma-downey-touching-interview-with-an-angel/).
Her humanitarian work includes long-term support for [Operation Smile](https://www.edgepedia.org/operation-smile), which provides surgery for children with cleft lips and palates, and Compassion International; she received a Sally Award from the Salvation Army for her contribution to entertainment and helping those in need[7](https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Roma-Downey/2102324980) • [4](https://abilitymagazine.com/roma-downey-touching-interview-with-an-angel/). Downey holds a star on the [Hollywood Walk of Fame](https://www.edgepedia.org/hollywood-walk-of-fame), and the Queen's 2021 birthday honors list made her an OBE, recognizing her work in the arts, in drama, and with communities in Northern Ireland.[7](https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Roma-Downey/2102324980) • [1](https://projects.latimes.com/hollywood/star-walk/roma-downey/)
## Personal life
Downey was previously married to the film director David Anspaugh, whose credits include *Hoosiers*; the marriage ended in divorce, and they have a daughter, Reilly Anspaugh[1](https://projects.latimes.com/hollywood/star-walk/roma-downey/) • [9](https://www.irishamerica.com/2023/03/winging-her-way-to-stardom/). She and Mark Burnett live in California[7](https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Roma-Downey/2102324980).
## References
1. [Roma Downey – Hollywood Star Walk, Los Angeles Times](https://projects.latimes.com/hollywood/star-walk/roma-downey/)
2. [Roma Downey – IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004884/)
3. [Roma Downey biography and filmography – Tribute.ca](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/roma-downey/10005/)
4. [Roma Downey – Touching Interview With An Angel, ABILITY Magazine](https://abilitymagazine.com/roma-downey-touching-interview-with-an-angel/)
5. [Roma Downey – Emmy Awards and Nominations, Television Academy](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/roma-downey)
6. [A Woman Named Roma – Los Angeles Times (October 12, 1991)](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-10-12-ca-127-story.html)
7. [Roma Downey – Official Publisher Page, Simon & Schuster](https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Roma-Downey/2102324980)
8. [Interview: Roma Downey (2017) – Sidewalks Entertainment](https://www.sidewalkstv.com/interview-roma-downey-2017/)
9. [Winging Her Way to Stardom – Irish America (February/March 1999)](https://www.irishamerica.com/2023/03/winging-her-way-to-stardom/)
10. [Roma Downey: Aura of an angel – Deseret News (2003)](https://www.deseret.com/2003/1/23/19781777/roma-downey-aura-of-an-angel/)
11. [CBS Tour 2001 biographies – WorldRadioHistory](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Station-Albums/Networks/CBS-Tour-2001-July.pdf)
12. [Roma Downey: An Angel in Her Father's Eyes – Guideposts](https://guideposts.org/articles/positive-living/health-and-wellness/life-advice/finding-life-purpose/roma-downey-an-angel-in-her-fathers-eyes/)
13. [Whatever Happened To Touched By An Angel's Roma Downey? – The List](https://www.thelist.com/190644/whatever-happened-to-touched-by-an-angels-roma-downey/)
14. [Industry Q&A: Roma Downey, Founder & President, LightWorkers Media – Gospel Music Association](https://gospelmusic.org/news/industry-qa-roma-downey-founder-president-lightworkers-media)
15. [Where Is 'Touched by an Angel' Star Roma Downey Now? – TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/1225341/roma-downey-touched-by-an-angel-where-now/)
16. [Spiritual Editor — A Chat With Roma Downey – Melanie Saxton Media](https://melaniesaxtonmedia.com/2020/11/08/spiritual-editor-a-chat-with-roma-downey/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › Irish actors › Surnames A to F*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license