Jennifer Michelle Goodwin, known professionally as Ginnifer Goodwin, was born on May 22, 1978, in Memphis, Tennessee, to Tim Goodwin, who previously owned and operated a recording studio, and Linda (née Kantor), a former FedEx employee. Her younger sister, Melissa Goodwin, is a stop-motion animator. Goodwin’s mother is Jewish, and her father is of Welsh descent; she was raised in her mother’s Jewish faith. She graduated from Lausanne Collegiate School in 1996 and subsequently attended Hanover College, where she majored in theater and graduated magna cum laude in 2000. She then studied at the London Academy of Dramatic Art and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in acting from Boston University in 2001.
Goodwin’s acting career began with guest roles in television series such as Law & Order and Ed. Her early film appearances included roles in Mona Lisa Smile (2003) and Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! (2004). She gained wider recognition for her role as Margene Heffman in the HBO drama series Big Love, which aired from 2006 to 2011.
Goodwin has starred in several notable films and television shows. Her film credits include:
Her television credits include: