Bio
Ginnifer Goodwin is an American actress best known for her roles in the feature films Mona Lisa Smile, Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! and Walk the Line, in which she played Vivian Liberto, Johnny Cash's first wife.
She is best known to television audiences as the recurring character Diane Snyder in Ed, and more recently as Margene, the third wife in a polygamous family, on the HBO original series Big Love, from 2006-2011.
She currently stars as Mary Margaret Blanchard (Snow White) in the fantasy drama television series Once Upon a Time, since 2011.
Goodwin also voiced the role of Amanda Bynes in the animated series Robot Chicken from 2005-2006.
She began her screen career with a guest appearance in the 2001 episode of Law & Order entitled "Myth Of Fingerprints" (Season 12, Episode 7), which she followed up with a role in the 2002 made-for-TV movie Porn 'n Chicken.
Hailing from Memphis, Tennessee, Goodwin quickly found a home in Hollywood. With effusive talent, she shined in the Oscar-nominated biopic Walk the Line, as Johnny Cash's first wife, opposite Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon.
Goodwin was also seen in the ensemble comedy He's Just Not that Into You, based on the best-selling book by Greg Behrendt, with Jennifer Aniston and Drew Barrymore.
Goodwin can also be seen in Tom Ford's directorial debut A Single Man. She co-stars with Julianne Moore and Colin Firth in this drama that centers on an English professor who tries to go about his typical day in Los Angeles after the sudden death of his partner.
In August 2010, she appeared in Ramona and Beezus, based on the classic children's book series by Beverly Cleary. Elizabeth Allen directed the Fox 2000 film. Goodwin plays 10-year-old Ramona's favorite person, Aunt Bea, and Bridget Moynahan and John Corbett played the two girls' parents, Dorothy and Bob Quimby.
Her breakthrough role was in her first feature film - Mike Newell's Mona Lisa Smile, starring alongside Julia Roberts, Marcia Gay Harden and Kirsten Dunst. This freshman performance garnered industry buzz and critical interest, and she was considered a standout among an experienced ensemble.
Soon after, she starred in Robert Luketic's romantic comedy, Win a Date with Tad Hamilton, opposite Kate Bosworth, Topher Grace and Josh Duhamel.
She has also lent her acting talents to a small cameo in Jon Kasdan's In the Land of Women.
Goodwin was seen in the independent project Day Zero with Chris Klein and Elijah Woods. She also appeared in the indie comedy Birds of America co-starring Matthew Perry and Hillary Swank which premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival.
Goodwin is classically trained in English theatre. She studied at Stratford-upon-Avon's Shakespeare Institute, in conjunction with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
She also earned an "Acting Shakespeare Certificate" at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where she played Joan of Arc, Ophelia and Jessica in The Merchant of Venice. A few years later, she attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts.
At Boston University, Goodwin performed at the Huntington Theatre in productions such as Dead End with Broadway director Nicholas Martin. Subsequently, Goodwin was awarded with the Excellence in Acting: Professional Promise Award by The Bette Davis Foundation, and graduated with honours.
After her college graduation, she quickly got a small role on Law and Order. Then, at the top of its second season, Ed welcomed Goodwin as a regular. She also starred in Comedy Central's collaboration with Tribeca Films Porn N Chicken.
Goodwin currently resides in Los Angeles.