Ginnifer Goodwin

Early life and education

Goodwin was born in Memphis, Tennessee. Her mother, Linda (née Kantor) Goodwin, is a former teacher who also worked for FedEx. Her father, Tim Goodwin, formerly owned and operated a recording studio. Goodwin changed the spelling of her name from "Jennifer" to "Ginnifer" to make it distinct and to reflect how it is pronounced in her Southern regional dialect. Her younger sister, Melissa Goodwin, is a stop-motion animator on shows such as Robot Chicken.

Goodwin's mother is Jewish. Goodwin was raised attending both the First Unitarian Church and Temple Israel. As a child, she attended the Henry S. Jacobs Camp, a summer camp for Reform Jewish children in Utica, Mississippi. She was baptized as a child and also studied to have a bat mitzvah service, in the Jewish custom of recognizing her coming of age.

In her youth, Goodwin was affiliated with the North American Federation of Temple Youth. She was active in BBYO at the Jewish Community Center in Memphis. She attended the private St. Mary's Episcopal School in Memphis, Tennessee. She graduated from Lausanne Collegiate School in 1996.

She attended Hanover College (majoring in theater) for one year before transferring and completing her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Boston University. While a student at BU, she performed in numerous student short films, as well as several college and local stage productions. Goodwin was given the "Excellence in Acting: Professional Promise Award" by the Bette Davis Foundation, and graduated with honors. After her time at Boston University, she lived for a time in England and studied at Stratford on Avon's Shakespeare Institute, in conjunction with the Royal Shakespeare Company. The following year, she earned an Acting Shakespeare Certificate from London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

Career

1996–2010: Early work

Goodwin first had roles in the NBC television programs Law & Order and Ed before appearing in the Comedy Central television movie Porn 'n Chicken. She later had substantial roles in the films Mona Lisa Smile, Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!, Walk the Line—in which she portrayed Vivian Liberto, Johnny Cash's first wife—and Birds of America. She also played Dori Dumchovic in the dark comedy Love Comes to the Executioner. Goodwin played a leading role as Margene Heffman, the third wife in a polygamous family, on the HBO original series Big Love, which concluded on March 20, 2011. Goodwin has done voice work in the Adult Swim series Robot Chicken, where her younger sister Melissa works as an animator.

In 2008, Max Mara honored Goodwin with a "Face of the Future" award, an award recognizing up-and-coming women in film.

Goodwin played Gigi in He's Just Not That Into You (2009). For this role, she received a nomination for the People's Choice Award for Breakout Movie Actress. In April 2009, she began filming Ramona and Beezus, playing "Aunt Bea". The film was released on July 23, 2010.

2011–2021: Independent roles

From 2011 to 2017, Goodwin played a leading role in the ABC fantasy drama series Once Upon a Time. She played both the fairy tale heroine Snow White and her real-world counterpart, schoolteacher Mary Margaret Blanchard. Goodwin and husband Josh Dallas left the show at the end of its sixth season to move back to Los Angeles with their family. They both returned to the series for its finale at the end of the seventh season.

Goodwin voiced Judy Hopps, the protagonist rabbit police officer in Disney's Zootopia, as well as Fawn in Disney's animated film Tinker Bell and the Legend of the Neverbeast. She also voiced Gwen, a kitchen maid who wants to be an inventor, in the animated series Sofia The First.

In January 2017, Goodwin was cast as Marianne in the Los Angeles production of Constellations. The play ran from June 14 to July 23, 2017, at the Geffen Playhouse.

In 2019, Goodwin appeared in episodes of the anthology series The Twilight Zone and Heartstrings. Also in 2019, she starred as Beth Ann in the first season of the CBS All Access dark comedy-drama series Why Women Kill.

2022–present: Breakthrough and Post-''Zootopia''

Goodwin played Jodie in the Fox comedy series Pivoting, which premiered on January 9, 2022. The show was cancelled after one season.

Archive audio of Goodwin as the character Judy Hopps was used in the animated anthology series Zootopia+, streamed on Disney+ in 2022. She reprised her voice role in Disney's Zootopia 2, released in November 2025.

Personal life

Goodwin dated actor Joey Kern beginning in April 2009 and they became engaged in December 2010. They ended the engagement in May 2011. Goodwin subsequently began dating her Once Upon a Time co-star Josh Dallas in late 2011. They got engaged in October 2013 and married on April 12, 2014, in California. They have two sons, born in May 2014 and June 2016.

In 2013, Goodwin said that after leaving Memphis, she "up and left Judaism for a very long time," and that "for 10 years, there was nothing. No ritual. No tradition. No community." She later reconnected with her faith, and has said, "I was a Jew by birth, and now I'm a Jew by choice."

Politics

Following the 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel, Goodwin has been vocal about her support for Israel on social media, calling for the return of hostages on her Instagram account. Goodwin also filmed a video for the American Jewish Committee in which she said that the phrase "Globalize the Intifada" is a call for widespread violence against Jews. In February 2024, Goodwin signed an open letter by Creative Community for Peace rejecting calls for Israel to be banned from Eurovision 2024. In September 2024, Goodwin attended Zionist activist Hen Mazzig's seminar Jews Talk Justice Laboratories in Los Angeles.

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

• Disney Infinity 3.0 (2015), as Judy Hopps (voice role)

Theater

• Constellations (2017) at Geffen Playhouse, as Marianne

Awards and nominations

Notes

References

References

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5. Stated by Goodwin on the ''[[Late Show with David Letterman]]'', March 18, 2009
6. Stein, Danielle. (June 1, 2009). "Not So Goodwin". [[W (magazine).
7. Waters, David. (May 25, 2013). "Ginnifer Goodwin comes 'home' to Jewish faith". Faith in Memphis.
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9. [http://www.wmagazine.com/people/celebrities/2009/06/ginnifer_goodwin Ginnifer Goodwin] {{Webarchive. link. (December 25, 2016 . ''W Magazine''. Retrieved June 5, 2014.)
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13. (November 10, 2009). "2010 People's Choice Award Nominees Revealed; Neil Patrick Harris, Hugh Jackman & Green Day Honored".
14. Lucas, Anthony J.. (March 4, 2009). "Today's new movie announcements.".
15. [http://www.tvline.com/2011/07/once-upon-a-time-cast-video-scoop-comic-con/ "Once Upon a Time's Jennifer Morrison, Ginnifer Goodwin & Co. on Their Literal "Dream" Project"] {{Webarchive. link. (November 10, 2012 , TV Line (July 25, 2011))
16. Johnson, Diedre. (June 6, 2017). "After Once Upon a Time and Downton Abbey, Ginnifer Goodwin and Allen Leech Star on Stage". Paste.
17. Mitovich, Matt Webb. (March 21, 2018). "'Once Upon a Time': Jennifer Morrison, Ginnifer Goodwin, Josh Dallas and Emilie de Ravin Return for Series Finale".
18. (May 6, 2015). "Ginnifer Goodwin Joins Jason Bateman in Disney Animation's 'Zootopia' (Exclusive)". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
19. Gardner, Chris. (January 23, 2017). "Ginnifer Goodwin Set for 'Constellations' at Geffen Playhouse". The Hollywood Reporter.
20. (June 22, 2017). "Los Angeles Premiere Of "Constellations" At The Geffen Playhouse Extends Through July 23". Westside Today.
21. (February 11, 2019). "Lucy Liu To Star In 'Why Women Kill' On CBS All Access".
22. (May 14, 2022). "'Pivoting' Canceled By Fox In Nail-Biter After One Season".
23. (October 19, 2021). "Fox Sets Midseason Premiere Dates For 'Next Level Chef,' 'Call Me Kat' & 'Pivoting'".
24. Campione, Katie. (August 9, 2024). "'Zootopia 2': Ke Huy Quan Joins Cast Of Upcoming Animated Sequel".
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26. Zuckerman, Blaine. (May 20, 2011). "Ginnifer Goodwin and Fiancé Break Up". People.
27. Johnson, Zach. (April 14, 2012). "Ginnifer Goodwin and Josh Dallas Make Red Carpet Debut as a Couple!". Us Weekly.
28. Jordan, Julie. (October 11, 2013). "Ginnifer Goodwin Engaged to Josh Dallas". People.
29. Michaud, Sarah. (April 13, 2014). "Ginnifer Goodwin Marries Josh Dallas". People.
30. Jordan, Julie. (May 30, 2014). "Ginnifer Goodwin and Josh Dallas Are Parents of Baby Boy". People.
31. (June 8, 2016). "Once Upon a Time's Ginnifer Goodwin and Josh Dallas Welcome Baby No. 2". E! News.
32. (2023-11-22). "Actress Ginnifer Goodwin speaks on behalf of child hostages held by Hamas".
33. (2023-11-30). "Actress Ginnifer Goodwin explains how "Globalize the Intifada" is a Call for Violence {{!}} AJC".
34. (May 6, 2025). "Former Eurovision contestants call for Israel and broadcaster KAN to be banned".
35. CCFPeace. (2024-02-14). "Open Letter – Eurovision 2024".
36. Abramovitch, Seth. (2024-09-18). "Why Pro-Israel Hollywood Stars Like Debra Messing and Ginnifer Goodwin Turn to Hen Mazzig for Advice".
37. Petski, Denise. (February 7, 2019). "'The Twilight Zone': Ginnifer Goodwin To Star In Episode Of CBS All Access Reboot".
38. Andreeva, Nellie. (November 7, 2018). "Kathleen Turner, Ginnifer Goodwin & Kyle Bornheimer To Star In 'These Old Bones' Episode of Dolly Parton Netflix Anthology".
39. Ausiello, Michael. (February 13, 2019). "Ginnifer Goodwin Joins Marc Cherry's ''Why Women Kill'' at CBS All Access".
40. Andreeva, Nellie. (May 20, 2020). "Ginnifer Goodwin To Star In Fox Comedy Pilot 'Pivoting'". [[Deadline Hollywood]].
41. (2015). "[[Disney Infinity 3.0]]".
42. "2016 Voice Arts Awards Nominees".
43. "2016 AWFJ EDA Award Winners {{!}} Alliance of Women Film Journalists".
44. (March 11, 2017). "Kids' Choice Awards 2017: Full Nominees and Winners List".
45. (December 22, 2025). "2025 EDA AWARD NOMINEES". [[Alliance of Women Film Journalists]].
46. Negila, Matt. (December 7, 2025). "The 2025 St. Louis Film Critics Association (StLFCA) Nominations". Next Best Picture.