Téa Leoni
A sharp-witted actress who transitioned from 90s comedic film star to the commanding center of a political drama series.
Born 1966 (age 60)·American actress·Birthday: February 25·Generation X
Biography
Téa Leoni portrayed Elizabeth McCord on 'Madam Secretary' for six seasons, bringing gravity and political intelligence to the role. She bypassed college for New York City, where modeling and commercial work led to television. Her early sitcoms showcased a screwball energy. The 1995 action comedy 'Bad Boys' proved her big-screen mettle, followed by the blockbusters 'Deep Impact' and 'Jurassic Park III.' She grounded high-concept plots with relatable exasperation and wit, then re-emerged as a shrewd, principled Secretary of State.
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.
Téa 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 Téa 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
Téa'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
- Starred as Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord for six seasons on the CBS drama 'Madam Secretary' (2014-2019).
- Headlined the disaster film 'Deep Impact' (1998), which grossed over $349 million worldwide.
- Played paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant's love interest in the blockbuster 'Jurassic Park III' (2001).
- Produced and starred in the political comedy 'Madam President,' a pilot that reimagined her 'Madam Secretary' role.
Did You Know?
Her first name, Téa, is not a nickname but her given name, inspired by her great-aunt.
She is married to actor David Duchovny, and they have two children together.
She served as a co-chair for the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities under the Obama administration.
“I'm drawn to characters who are smart but have absolutely no control over their circumstances.”
