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Julianna Margulies

Julianna Margulies

Actor · Born June 8, 1966 (60) · Spring Valley, New York, USA

Julianna Margulies (born June 8, 1966) is an American film and television actress, best known for her role on ER, for which she won an Emmy Award, and The Good Wife, for which she won a Golden Globe, two Emmy and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 8, 1966 (60)
From
Spring Valley, New York, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
39 on Motif · 51 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Up 43% in 30 days

What are Julianna Margulies' films like?

Across their 26 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy7 titlesTypical Motif score: 54th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama7 titlesTypical Motif score: 58th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action2 titlesTypical Motif score: 38th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Motif score: 26th percentile
: browse their Crime movies

Their Motif films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Motif score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
31%
Self
19%
Morality
19%
Survival
13%
Society
11%
Ideas
4%
Power
4%
Family bonds9 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth5 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship3 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 21 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 15 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 2

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 5 · Charged 9 · Intense 7

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 11 · Shifting 9 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 9 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 3

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 9 · Even-paced 10 · Relentless 2

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 8 · Engaged 13 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 15 · Open-ended 6 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

11 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 5 of 11 analyzed roles.

Hero
5 of 11
Ally
3 of 11
Shapeshifter
2 of 11
Herald
1 of 11
Show the 11 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
18
Melancholic
14
Hopeful
8
Warm
7
Contemplative
4
Other
19

How their films linger

Thought-provoking11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet11
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous7

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Julianna Margulies' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 29 of their 39 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Julianna Margulies' titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Motif score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

51 credits, 39 with a Motif page; 32 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Millers in Marriage(2024)

    as Maggie

    Motif score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Jack and Sam (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2023)

    Executive Producer

  • The Hate We Can’t Forget: A Holocaust Memorial Special (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2022)

    as Host

  • Unladylike2020 (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2020)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Viral: Antisemitism In Four Mutations(2020)

    as Opening Narration

    Motif score: 21st percentile of all films

  • The Morning Show(2019)

    Show 20 episodes · as Laura Peterson

    Motif score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • The Hot Zone(2019)

    Show 6 episodes · as Lt. Col. Nancy Jaax

    Motif score: 70th percentile of all shows

  • The Upside(2017)

    as Lily Foley

    Motif score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Dietland(2018)

    Show 10 episodes · as Kitty Montgomery

    Motif score: 32nd percentile of all shows

  • Three Christs(2017)

    as Ruth

    Motif score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Above the Drowning Sea (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2017)

    as (voice)

  • The Last Gold: The Greatest Untold Story in Olympic Swimming History (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2016)

    as Narrator

  • Billions(2016)

    Show 3 episodes · as Catherine Brant

    Motif score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Stand Up Guys(2012)

    as Nina Hirsch

    Motif score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Good Wife(2009)

    Show 156 episodes · Producer · as Alicia Florrick

    Motif score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • City Island(2009)

    as Joyce Rizzo

    Motif score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Canterbury's Law(2008)

    Show 6 episodes · Producer · as Elizabeth Canterbury

    Motif score: 32nd percentile of all shows

  • The Darwin Awards(2006)

    as Carla

    Motif score: 37th percentile of all films

  • The Lost Room(2006)

    Show 3 episodes · as Jennifer Bloom

    Motif score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Beautiful Ohio(2006)

    as Mrs. Cubano

    Motif score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Snakes on a Plane(2006)

    as Claire Miller

    Motif score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Slingshot(2005)

    as Karen

    Motif score: 7th percentile of all films

  • The Grid (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 6 episodes · as NSA Agent Maren Jackson

  • Autism Is a World (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2004)

    as Narrator

  • Hitler: The Rise of Evil(2003)

    Show 2 episodes · as Helene Hanfstaengl

    Motif score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • Ghost Ship(2002)

    as Maureen Epps

    Motif score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Evelyn(2002)

    as Bernadette Beattie

    Motif score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Jenifer(2001)

    as Jenifer's Psychiatrist

    Motif score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Scrubs(2001)

    Show 2 episodes · as Neena

    Motif score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • The Man from Elysian Fields(2001)

    as Dena

    Motif score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Mists of Avalon (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 2 episodes · as Morgaine

  • Dinosaur(2000)

    as Neera (voice)

    Motif score: 58th percentile of all films

  • What's Cooking?(2000)

    as Carla

    Motif score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Big Day(1999)

    as Sara

    Motif score: 4th percentile of all films

  • The Sopranos(1999)

    Show 4 episodes · as Julianna Skiff

    Motif score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • A Price Above Rubies(1998)

    as Rachel

    Motif score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Newton Boys(1998)

    as Louise Brown

    Motif score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Austin Powers' Electric Psychedelic Pussycat Swingers Club(1997)

    as The Swingers Club

    Motif score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Traveller(1997)

    as Jean

    Motif score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Paradise Road(1997)

    as Topsy Merritt

    Motif score: 68th percentile of all films

  • ER(1994)

    Show 136 episodes · as Carol Hathaway

    Motif score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • ER: 24 Hours (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1994)

    as Nurse Carol Hathaway

  • Ellen(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Ellen Screen Test #5

    Motif score: 13th percentile of all shows

  • Homicide: Life on the Street(1993)

    Show 2 episodes · as Linda

    Motif score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • The Larry Sanders Show(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Julianna Margulies

    Motif score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Out for Justice(1991)

    as Rica

    Motif score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Lieutenant Ruth Mendoza

    Motif score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Rachel Novaro

    Motif score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Love Gets You Twisted (not in the Motif catalog yet)

    as Narrator

  • Penny (not in the Motif catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 51 titles, 49 of them dated from 1984 to 2024; peak year 2001.

Biggest box office

Dinosaur (2000)

$350M worldwide

Highest rated

The Good Wife (2009)

Motif 96th

Film career

19842024

Peak 2001 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 4 Motif titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting50 of 51: 48 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Motif score58thProducing3 of 51: 1 only producing, 2 with another role

By decade

1980s1 · acting1990s15 · acting2000s19 · 19 acting · 2 crew2010s9 · acting2020s5 · 4 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 7% of 15 roles
9702

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Motif score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on Motif, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Julianna Margulies' films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Motif score in the 45th percentile, the median of all 23; across their 21 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 51st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Approval · how many liked their films

48thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Reach · how many have seen their films

79thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Motif score across 39 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up13
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th12
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

15 of their 39 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser15
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed10

Most divisive · actor

Viral: Antisemitism In Four Mutations (2020)

98th percentile spread · 48% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Sopranos (1999)

Motif 99th · 94% liked

Reviewers score the acting 72/100 in their films, across 18 reviewed titles; fans 82, detractors 49. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Motif score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their Motif titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Julianna Margulies' work okay for kids?

Across up to 11 Motif titles with content scores, violence & gore and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore8 titles39–84 · median 61 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity11 titles11–55 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 31
Profanity7 titles10–85 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 35
Alcohol & Drugs7 titles20–57 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense6 titles29–77 · median 67 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Julianna Margulies work with?

People who share at least 2 of Julianna Margulies' Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Bruce Beresford shares the most, 2.

Directors

Actors

Producers