You probably think you know the deal with Julianna Margulies. Most people do. They see the poise, the sharp legal mind of Alicia Florrick, or the steady hands of Nurse Carol Hathaway and assume she’s just the queen of the "prestige drama." But honestly? Her career is a lot weirder and more daring than the average viewer realizes. We're talking about an actress who turned down a $27 million paycheck—in 1990s money—just to see if she could make it on her own terms. That's not just a "career move." That's a statement.
If you're looking for the definitive rundown of Julianna Margulies movies and shows, you have to look past the awards. Sure, she has three Emmys and eight SAG Awards (making her one of the most decorated women in SAG history, second only to Julia Louis-Dreyfus). But the real story is in the risks she took when everyone told her she was crazy.
The ER Miracle and the $27 Million No
Let’s start with the big one. ER.
In 1994, Carol Hathaway was supposed to die. That was the script. She overdoses in the pilot, and that's it—end of story for Julianna. But something happened in those test screenings. Audiences didn't just like her; they were obsessed. The producers saw the chemistry she had with a then-mostly-unknown George Clooney and decided to "bring her back to life."
She spent six years as the heart of County General. Then came the moment that still makes Hollywood agents sweat. NBC offered her a two-year, $27 million contract to stay. She said no. Why? Because she felt the character was getting stale. She told the Los Angeles Times years later that she’d started playing Carol as an only child for six years, only for the writers to suddenly give her sisters in a random script. She realized the writers didn't know Carol as well as she did.
So, she left. She moved back to New York, did some theater, and waited.
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Essential Early TV and Film
- Out for Justice (1991): Her film debut. She played Rica, a prostitute, in a Steven Seagal flick. It’s a far cry from the courtroom, but everyone starts somewhere.
- The Mists of Avalon (2001): This was her big "post-ER" move. A lush, feminist retelling of the Arthurian legends where she played Morgaine. It proved she could carry a miniseries without a stethoscope.
- The Sopranos (2006-2007): A lot of fans forget she was in this. She played Julianna Skiff, a real estate agent who gets tangled up with Tony and Christopher. It was gritty, dark, and showed a side of her that wasn't "heroic."
The Good Wife: Redefining the "Leading Lady"
When The Good Wife premiered in 2009, people expected another procedural. What they got was a masterclass in internal acting. Alicia Florrick is a "repressed WASP," as Margulies once put it, but the show was actually about a woman finding her own power after being publicly humiliated.
The show ran for seven seasons, and by the third, she wasn't just the star—she was a producer. She had a hand in the show's famously "tech-savvy" vibe. Wired magazine even called it the most tech-literate show on TV.
But it wasn't all smooth sailing. There’s a lot of gossip about the "Kalinda vs. Alicia" rift (where she and Archie Panjabi didn't share a scene for years), but if you look at the work, the tension actually fed into the show’s themes of isolation and shifting loyalties. Alicia wasn't always likable. That’s what made her great.
The "Movies" Most People Miss
Margulies doesn't do a lot of blockbusters. She prefers the indie lane or the occasional weird genre experiment.
- Ghost Ship (2002): Yes, the one with the wire-cable opening scene. She’s the lead, Maureen Epps. It’s a cult horror classic now. Is it high art? No. Is she great in it? Absolutely.
- Snakes on a Plane (2006): She played the flight attendant, Claire. She took the role because she wanted to work with Samuel L. Jackson and thought the title was hilarious.
- City Island (2009): This is the hidden gem. She plays Joyce Rizzo, the wife of a prison guard (Andy Garcia). It’s a chaotic, funny, New York family dramedy that won the Audience Award at Tribeca. Watch this if you want to see her actually let loose.
- The Upside (2017): A smaller role, but she brings a lot of grounded energy to this remake of The Intouchables starring Kevin Hart and Bryan Cranston.
Recent Hits and Modern Controversies
Lately, she’s been leaning into complicated, sometimes polarizing characters. In The Morning Show, she joined as Laura Peterson, a legendary journalist who becomes a love interest for Bradley Jackson (Reese Witherspoon).
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This sparked some real-world debate. People questioned if a straight actress should be playing a lesbian character, especially one whose backstory involves being outed in the 90s. Margulies defended the role, saying, "We're actors. We're supposed to embody a character regardless of their sexuality." It’s a conversation that’s still very much alive in Hollywood today, reflecting how much the industry has changed since her ER days.
What to Watch Now
- The Hot Zone (2019): She plays Dr. Nancy Jaax, a real-life scientist dealing with an Ebola outbreak on U.S. soil. It’s high-stress, terrifying, and very "Margulies."
- Billions (2020): She had a three-episode arc as Catherine Brant, a sociology professor. It was short but punchy.
- Dietland (2018): She played Kitty Montgomery, a high-fashion magazine editor. If you liked her in The Good Wife, you'll love her being absolutely ruthless here.
Julianna Margulies Movies and Shows: The Practical Checklist
If you want to catch up on her best work, don't just watch everything. Some of it is dated. Start with these three tiers to get the full picture of her range.
The "Must-Watch" Essentials
- ER (Seasons 1–6): Specifically the pilot and the "All in the Family" episode.
- The Good Wife (Entire Series): It’s a long haul, but the evolution of Alicia is one of the best arcs in TV history.
- City Island: For a glimpse of her comedic timing and "real person" vibes.
The "Cult Classic" Tier
- The Sopranos: Watch her episodes in Season 6. It’s a different energy.
- Ghost Ship: Purely for the 2000s nostalgia and the amazing opening.
- The Mists of Avalon: If you like fantasy but want it told from a woman's perspective.
The "New Era" Tier
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- The Morning Show: See how she holds her own against Aniston and Witherspoon.
- The Hot Zone: For a tight, procedural thriller that feels very relevant.
Actionable Insights for Fans
To really appreciate her filmography, pay attention to her eyes. Margulies is famous for "stillness." In The Good Wife, she often says more by staying silent for ten seconds than she does in a monologue. She once mentioned in an interview with The Wrap that she actually wishes she could be as reserved in real life as Alicia Florrick is.
If you're looking for her latest work, she’s back on the stage. She recently starred in Left on Tenth on Broadway (2024-2025), proving she’s still prioritizing live performance over the "easy" Hollywood paycheck.
Whether you're a die-hard ER fan or just discovered her on Apple TV+, the through-line is clear: she’s never been afraid to walk away from a "sure thing" to find something more interesting. That’s why, even in 2026, we’re still talking about her.
To get the most out of your binge-watch, start with The Good Wife on Paramount+ or ER on Hulu. Watch for the subtle shift in her voice between the two roles; it's a lesson in how to age a character's authority. If you're short on time, stick to the first three seasons of The Good Wife—it's arguably the tightest writing in network drama history.