Margaret Colin has cultivated an extraordinary Hollywood career that spans decades, featuring in numerous blockbuster films and beloved television series. The accomplished actress first gained recognition through daytime television before transitioning to major motion pictures and prime-time success.
Early Career and Breakthrough Roles
The actress began her professional journey on the soap opera The Edge of Night, portraying an heiress with a complex past. Her breakthrough came when she secured the role of Margo Hughes on the long-running series As the World Turns, appearing from 1980 to 1983. This early success established her as a talented performer in the television landscape.
Transition to Prime Time and Film
Following her soap opera success, Colin graduated to prime-time television with appearances on popular shows including Magnum P.I., Chicago Hope, and later Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Her film career began with supporting roles in notable productions, including playing an English teacher opposite Molly Ringwald in the 1986 teen classic Pretty in Pink.
She further demonstrated her versatility with roles in Something Wild alongside Melanie Griffith in 1986 and as Rebecca in the 1987 hit Three Men and a Baby. Throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, Colin continued to build her filmography with appearances alongside established Hollywood stars.
Blockbuster Success and Iconic Television
Colin achieved major cinematic recognition with her role as White House Communications Director Constance Spano in the 1996 science fiction phenomenon Independence Day, starring opposite Will Smith. The following year, she appeared alongside Brad Pitt and Harrison Ford in The Devil's Own, playing the character Sheila O'Meara.
A decade later, she secured what would become one of her most memorable roles as Eleanor Waldorf, the sophisticated and sharp-tongued mother of Blair Waldorf, in the hit teen drama Gossip Girl. Colin portrayed this recurring character throughout the show's first five seasons from 2007 to 2012, earning praise for her performance.
Later Career and Personal Reflections
In subsequent years, Colin continued to work across television and film. She appeared in Blue Bloods, Nurse Jackie, The Good Wife, and Madam Secretary. Her performance as fictional CBS News anchor Jane McCabe in the sixth season of HBO's Veep in 2017 showcased her comedic talents.
Reflecting on her Gossip Girl character, Colin once remarked that her favorite quality about Eleanor Waldorf was her unique perspective and self-centered worldview, which she found compelling to portray. She also expressed particular admiration for working with co-star Leighton Meester, praising both her acting and musical abilities.
Personal Life and Recent Work
Colin's personal life includes her marriage to actor Justin Deas, whom she met when he played her love interest on As the World Turns. The couple married in January 1988 and have two sons together. Recently, the actress was spotted embracing the winter weather in New York City, demonstrating her enduring connection to her home state.
Her most recent film appearance was in 2025's Three Wisest Men, where she played Barbara Brenner. Throughout her career, Margaret Colin has worked with an impressive array of Hollywood talent including Katie Holmes, Tom Selleck, Demi Moore, and many others, establishing herself as a respected and versatile actress in the entertainment industry.
