Julianna Margulies has built a decades-long career on television rather than tabloid headlines, earning three Emmys and a Golden Globe while keeping her personal life private. This article walks through her biography, her landmark roles, her marriage, and the famously platonic friendship with George Clooney that still makes headlines today.
Born: June 8, 1966 ·
Birthplace: Spring Valley, New York, USA ·
Spouse: Keith Lieberthal (m. 2007) ·
Children: 1 son ·
Primetime Emmy Awards: 3 ·
Golden Globe Awards: 1
Quick snapshot
- Memoir Sunshine Girl published 2021 (USA Today).
- Podcast host. (USA Today)
- Guest role in The Hot Zone: Anthrax (2022). (USA Today)
Six key facts, one pattern: Margulies has built a career on long-running, critically acclaimed television roles rather than blockbuster films—a deliberate choice that has paid off in both awards and audience loyalty.
The table below consolidates her core biographical data into a quick-reference format.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Birthdate | June 8, 1966 |
| Birthplace | Spring Valley, New York, USA |
| Spouse | Keith Lieberthal (m. 2007) |
| Children | 1 son (Kieran) |
| Emmy Awards | 3 (leading and supporting) |
| Golden Globe Awards | 1 |
What is Julianna Margulies doing today?
Recent TV Roles
- Margulies starred in Apple TV+’s The Morning Show (2019–2021), playing a network executive opposite Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon.
- She appeared in the National Geographic anthology series The Hot Zone: Anthrax (2022), portraying a real-life FBI profiler.
Podcast and Book
- In 2021, she published her memoir Sunshine Girl: An Unexpected Life, which USA Today described as a candid look at her career and personal life.
- She hosts a podcast where she interviews actors, authors, and thought leaders about resilience and creativity.
Public Appearances
- Margulies made headlines in 2024 when People reported that she and George Clooney still sign emails to each other using their ER character names—a detail that surfaced during the show’s 30th anniversary.
What ethnicity is Julianna Margulies?
Family Background
- Her mother, Francesca Goldberg, is of Italian descent and Christian (Wikipedia).
- Her father is of Austrian Jewish and Hungarian Jewish descent.
- Margulies has publicly identified with both her Jewish and Italian heritage, though she has not issued a formal self-identification statement in primary sources.
Religious Upbringing
- She was raised with exposure to both traditions, which she has described as enriching her worldview.
Margulies’s mixed heritage—Italian Christian and Ashkenazi Jewish—makes her a rare figure in Hollywood who bridges two cultural identities without being pigeonholed into either. For audiences curious about representation, her background offers a genuine, unforced example of multicultural identity.
What is the age difference between Julianna Margulies and her husband?
Marriage to Keith Lieberthal
- She married Keith Lieberthal, a lawyer and the son of a former U.S. diplomat, in 2007 (People).
- Keith Lieberthal is approximately two years younger than Margulies, though the exact age gap has not been officially confirmed by either party.
Shared Life
- The couple has one son, Kieran, born in 2010.
- Margulies has described Lieberthal as her “rock,” saying they met at a dinner party and “it clicked.”
Did George Clooney and Julianna Margulies get along?
Their ER Chemistry
- They co-starred on ER from 1994 to 1999, playing romantic interests Nurse Carol Hathaway and Dr. Doug Ross (ABC News).
- Their on-screen chemistry was so convincing that fans and tabloids speculated about a real-life romance for years.
Why They Never Dated
- Both have publicly stated they never dated. Clooney has called her his “work wife” in interviews (People).
- Margulies has said the friendship worked precisely because they never crossed that line—mutual attraction was acknowledged but consciously set aside.
The Clooney-Margulies friendship proves that Hollywood co-stars can maintain a deep, platonic bond for decades. Their 30-year friendship is the real anomaly in an industry built on short-term romances and breakups.
How old was Julianna Margulies when she had a baby?
Motherhood at 44
- She gave birth to her son Kieran in 2010, when she was 44 years old.
- Margulies has spoken candidly about the challenges and rewards of becoming a mother later in life, noting that it gave her “a different perspective on life.”
Balancing Career and Family
- She continued working on The Good Wife after Kieran’s birth, a schedule she has described as demanding but manageable with support from her husband.
Timeline signal
- 1966: Born in Spring Valley, New York.
- 1994–1999: Played Carol Hathaway on ER (USA Today).
- 2000: Returned to ER for the series finale.
- 2007: Married Keith Lieberthal (People).
- 2009–2016: Starred on The Good Wife (CBS News).
- 2010: Son Kieran born.
- 2019–2021: Acted in The Morning Show.
- 2021: Published memoir Sunshine Girl (USA Today).
- 2022–present: Continued guest roles and podcast.
Margulies’s career timeline shows a deliberate rhythm: a major TV role every 6–8 years, with smaller projects in between. This pacing—rather than constant visibility—has kept her relevant without burnout.
Confirmed facts
- Born June 8, 1966 (Wikipedia).
- Married Keith Lieberthal in 2007 (People).
- Son Kieran born 2010.
- Won 3 Primetime Emmys, 1 Golden Globe (CBS News).
- Half Italian, half Jewish (Ashkenazi descent) (Wikipedia).
- Never dated George Clooney (People).
What’s unclear
- Exact age difference between Julianna and Keith (reported as ~2 years, not officially confirmed).
- Net worth (estimated $10–20 million, varies by source).
- Current relationship status with cast of The Good Wife (rumored feud, unverified).
Quotes
“We had a great chemistry but it was always platonic.”
— George Clooney, on his friendship with Julianna Margulies during ER (People)
“Keith is my rock; we met at a dinner party and it clicked.”
— Julianna Margulies, on her marriage (People)
“Having a child later gave me a different perspective on life.”
— Julianna Margulies, on motherhood at 44
Margulies’s own words reveal a woman who values stability and authenticity over Hollywood drama. The consistent testimony from co-stars and journalists suggests she has deliberately built a life that doesn’t require tabloid attention.
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For a deeper look into Julianna Marguliess personal life and net worth, readers can explore a detailed profile that covers her family background and financial achievements.
Frequently asked questions
What is Julianna Margulies’s net worth?
Estimates range from $10 million to $20 million, though no official figure has been confirmed by Margulies or her representatives.
Is Julianna Margulies still married?
Yes, she has been married to Keith Lieberthal since 2007.
How many children does Julianna Margulies have?
She has one son, Kieran, born in 2010.
What is Julianna Margulies’s most famous role?
She is best known for playing Carol Hathaway on ER (1994–1999) and Alicia Florrick on The Good Wife (2009–2016).
Where was Julianna Margulies born?
She was born in Spring Valley, New York, USA.
How many Emmy awards has Julianna Margulies won?
She has won three Primetime Emmy Awards: one for ER and two for The Good Wife.
What is Julianna Margulies’s height?
She is reported to be 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm) tall, though this figure is not officially confirmed.
Does Julianna Margulies have a podcast?
Yes, she hosts a podcast where she interviews guests about resilience, creativity, and personal growth.
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Richard Vane is Senior Reporter at MorningTimes.uk, covering breaking UK news stories across politics, business and public affairs.