Margaret Colin
A versatile actress who moved seamlessly from soap opera roots to defining sharp, memorable characters in blockbuster films and cult TV series.
Born 1958 (age 68)·American actress·Birthday: May 26·Baby Boomers
Biography
Margaret Colin built a career on intelligence and wit, often playing women who commanded the room. She first gained attention as the original Margo Hughes on the enduring soap 'As the World Turns,' a role that launched her into the daytime spotlight. Colin quickly demonstrated her range, shifting to prime-time television and film with a knack for sharp, supporting turns that stole scenes. Her portrayal of White House Communications Director Constance Spano in 'Independence Day' showcased her ability to project calm authority amidst cinematic chaos. Later, she brought a deliciously icy poise to Eleanor Waldorf, the formidable socialite mother in 'Gossip Girl,' introducing her to a new generation of viewers. Across decades, her performances have been defined by a grounded, no-nonsense authenticity that makes even the most elite characters feel real.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Margaret was born in 1958, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Margaret Was Born
The biggest hits of 1958
#1 Movie
South Pacific
Best Picture
Gigi
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Margaret's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1958Born
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1963Started school
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1971Became a teenager
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
1974Could drive
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1976Could vote
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1979Turned 21
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
1988Turned 30
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1998Turned 40
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 50
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 60
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 68 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Originated the role of Margo Hughes on the long-running CBS soap opera 'As the World Turns.'
- Played White House Communications Director Constance Spano in the blockbuster film 'Independence Day.'
- Portrayed Eleanor Waldorf, Blair's mother, throughout all six seasons of the hit series 'Gossip Girl.'
- Has maintained a consistent career in television, film, and theatre for over four decades.
Did You Know?
She is married to actor Justin Deas, whom she met when he played her character's husband on 'As the World Turns.'
She studied at the William Esper Studio for acting in New York City.
She played the love interest of John Cusack's character in the 1990 film 'The Grifters.'
Before acting full-time, she worked as a copywriter for an advertising agency.
“A good scene is like a sharp knife—clean, precise, and it cuts to the truth.”
