Transformation

Elizabeth McGovern is even cooler than you know. Not only does she play the Countess of Grantham on Downton Abbey, she also fronts her own band, Sadie and the Hotheads. There's also the matter of her career, which began with a role in Ordinary People and was quickly followed by an Oscar-nominated turn in Ragtime and a big screen hit with She's Having a Baby. The rising star then swapped life in Hollywood for a move to the U.K. "Life is too precious to put it aside for career success," she told People. "Somehow, by embracing life, that's been the best career move I could've made." With a blockbuster TV series and more movies on the way, who could disagree?

A wedge cut-sporting McGovern took a break from Juilliard to appear in Ordinary People.