Downton Abbey’s Elizabeth McGovern reveals she ‘wasn’t into’ turning 60 as she stuns in a teal dress

Elizabeth McGovern admitted she ‘wasn’t into’ her latest milestone birthday after turning 60 last July. 

The Downton Abbey star, who, for an interview and shoot with Woman & Home showed off her age-defying beauty in a teal satin dress, had no qualms about turning 50 – but didn’t feel the same a decade later on her 60th year.

Speaking to the monthly lifestyle magazine, the Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham actress said: ‘As it encroached, everything about me was like, “No, I cannot be 60 I’m not into it!” Once I got past the milestone and with a little help from friends, now I’m loving it.’ 

Candidly revealing it’s been a ‘tough couple of years,’ Elizabeth continued: ‘There is less opportunity for a woman my age than a man my age. That is the reality, but things are changing slowly. 

‘Conversations over the past couple of years have been very profound and although it’s been a tough couple of years, I feel very hopeful about the future.’

The Illinois born and mother-of-two wed British producer and director Simon Curtis in 1992. 

The Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham actress said: ‘As it encroached, everything about me was like, “No, I cannot be 60 I’m not into it!”‘

They will celebrate their Pearl Anniversary in December and Elizabeth believes the key to their long-lasting marriage is humour. 

‘When I was pregnant with our first baby, the doctor was checking for the baby’s heartbeat and asking if we wanted to know whether it was a boy or girl. My husband said, “I don’t care what it is. I just want it to have a sense of humour.” 

‘At that moment, I realised, “that’s why I’m with this guy.” Humour is a way of processing problems, which makes them easier to bear,’ she retold.

Candidly revealing it’s been a ‘tough couple of years,’ Elizabeth continued: ‘There is less opportunity for a woman my age than a man my age’

Latest issue: Downton’s Elizabeth spoke to Woman & Home on turning 60 and career opportunities, the secret to long-lasting love and being an empty nester

The interview wrapped up with talk of another challenging period in Elizabeth’s life, when her daughters Matilda, 27, and Grace, 23, flew the nest. 

She recalled: ‘Shortly after they left we had lockdown, so they both moved back in and I couldn’t have been happier! I would be lying if I said I don’t miss them. I was branching out during their upbringing. 

‘As they began school, I started a band and then the challenge and responsibility of writing this play hit me at the perfect time. It’s really distracted me from feeling the loneliness of having them go.’

As well as her period drama role in Downton Abbey, Elizabeth’s additional nods include an Academy Award nomination for her role as Evelyn Nesbit in the 1981 film Ragtime.  

The multi-talented star is also a singer-songwriter with her part-time band Sadie and the Hotheads. 

The April issue of woman&home is on sale Thursday 3 March 2022. 

Long-lasting love: The Illinois born and mother-of-two wed British producer and director Simon Curtis in 1992 (pictured in 2011)