Daughter of a law professor at Northwestern University, she relocated with her family to Los Angeles when her father transferred to the University of California at Los Angeles (U.C.L.A.). This pivotal move marked the beginning of her journey towards a life in the performing arts. She started acting in school plays at North Hollywood High, laying the foundation for her future endeavors. Upon graduating from The Oakwood School, she further honed her craft at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco and the drama division of The Juilliard School in New York.
Following a promising screen debut in Robert Redford's Oscar-winning film Ordinary People (1980),McGovern gave a standout performance as Evelyn Nesbit in Ragtime (1981),earning her an Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actress. This early success was only the beginning of a long and illustrious career, marked by a commitment to both stage and screen.
Throughout her career, McGovern has continued to perform on stage between screen assignments, eschewing the spotlight of film stardom in favor of a more nuanced and varied artistic journey. Her notable work in prolific plays, including an acclaimed production of Alexi Kaye Campbell's "Sunset at the Villa Thalia", premiered in London at the National Theatre of Great Britain in May 2016, directed by Simon Godwin and featuring a brilliant cast that included Ben Miles, Sam Crane, Pippa Nixon, Christos Callow, Glykeria Dimou, and Eve Polycarpou.
