Before starring as Monica in Touched by an Angel, Roma Downey was best known to television audiences for her portrayal of Jacqueline Kennedy in the mini-series A Woman Named Jackie. She was born and raised in Derry City, Northern Ireland, and earned a bachelor's degree at Brighton Art College in England, UK. She then attended the London Drama Studio, where she starred in productions of many classics, including the plays of Shakespeare, Shaw, and Chekhov. Downey toured the United States with Dublin's famous Abbey Players in a production of The Playboy of the Western World and was nominated for the Helen Hayes Best Actress Award in 1991. Her additional stage credits include the Broadway production of The Circle opposite Rex Harrison, and Off Broadway productions of Love's Labour's Lost, Tamara, and Arms and the Man. Downey's additional television credits include starring roles in the films A Child Is Missing and Borrowed Hearts, both on CBS, and Getting Up and Going Home. Among her feature film credits are The Last Word and Devlin. Downey has a daughter. Her birthday is May 6.
Her name, Roma originates from both her grandmother's names, Rose and Mary. One child; a daughter, Reilly Marie (b.1996) Chosen by "People" magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World. [1997] Mother, Maureen, died when Roma was 10. Has two sisters, Jacinta McLaughlin and Ann Flood. The Irish lass was once turned down for a TV commercial for Irish Spring Soap because she didn't sound Irish enough. When she married director David Anspaugh in 1996, her Touched by an Angel co-star Della Reese performed the Utah wedding ceremony. She was one of the two women originally considered for the role of Xena: Warrior Princess, along with Vanessa Angel. She was offered the role that made Lucy Lawless famous but turned it down as she was offered the role of Monica on Touched by an Angel at the same time. She chose an Angel over a warrior. Eloped and married her first husband, Leland Orser, in a Roman Catholic ceremony in Rome, Italy. Cannot type and admits that she pecks at the keys when typing emails and using her computer. Favorite film: Brief Encounter. Learned to play the piano as a child, but can no longer play. Studied Irish dancing as a child. Has two brothers, Lawrence who is two years older than her and a much older brother John, who is a Roman Catholic priest. Living with Survivor creator, Mark Burnett (2004). Her daughter, Reilly Anspaugh, was an extra and also had a few non-speaking roles on several later episodes of Touched by an Angel and in a few of Roma's television movies. Della Reese is the godmother of her daughter Reilly. Della Reese, who is an ordained minister, was the minister at Roma's wedding to David Anspaugh.