Julianna Margulies
An actress who brought profound depth and quiet resilience to two defining television roles, shaping decades of drama with her commanding presence.
Born 1966 (age 60)·American actress·Birthday: June 8·Generation X
Biography
Julianna Margulies didn't just land roles; she inhabited them with such intelligence and emotional authenticity that they became cultural landmarks. Her breakthrough as nurse Carol Hathaway on 'ER' was supposed to be a one-episode arc, but her performance was so compelling it launched a seven-season journey, earning her an Emmy and setting a new standard for strong female characters on television. After walking away from a massive contract to seek creative challenge, she proved her mettle again by anchoring 'The Good Wife' as Alicia Florrick. In that role, she masterfully charted a political spouse's transformation into a formidable legal mind and independent force, winning two more Emmys and defining the modern prestige drama. Margulies's career is a study in selective power, choosing projects that allow her to explore complex women with nuance and gravitas.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Julianna was born in 1966, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Julianna Was Born
The biggest hits of 1966
#1 Movie
The Bible: In the Beginning
Best Picture
A Man for All Seasons
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Julianna's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1966Born
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1971Started school
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1979Became a teenager
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1982Could drive
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1984Could vote
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Turned 21
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1996Turned 30
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 40
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 50
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 60
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Carol Hathaway on 'ER'.
- Won two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Alicia Florrick on 'The Good Wife'.
- Received a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama for 'The Good Wife'.
- Her decision to leave 'ER' after a landmark contract dispute became a noted case for actor agency in television.
Did You Know?
Her 'ER' character was originally written to die by suicide in the pilot episode, but was kept on due to audience reaction to Margulies's performance.
She is a trained modern dancer and attended Sarah Lawrence College before switching to acting.
She turned down a $27 million contract to stay on 'ER' for two more seasons, a decision considered a major career risk at the time.
She provided the voice for a character in the video game 'The Sorcerer's Apprentice' in 2010.
“The minute you settle for less than you deserve, you get even less than you settled for.”
