Ginnifer Goodwin

Jennifer Michelle " Ginnifer"  Goodwin   (born May 22, 1978),  is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as Margene Heffman  in the drama series Big Love  (2006–2011), Snow White  in the fantasy series Once Upon a Time   (2011–present), and Judy Hopps  in the Disney   <span style="color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;">animated film <span style="color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;">  <span style="color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;">Zootopia <span style="color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;">. She also appeared in various films including <span style="color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;">Mona Lisa Smile <span style="color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;">, <span style="color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;">Something Borrowed <span style="color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;">, <span style="color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;">Walk the Line <span style="color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;">, <span style="color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;">Killing Kennedy <span style="color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;">, and <span style="color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;">He's Just Not That into You <span style="color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;">.

Early Life
<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:inherit;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> Goodwin was born in Memphis, Tennessee. Her mother, Linda (née Kantor), is a former educator and "stay-at-home mom" who later worked for FedEx and Apple. Her father, Tim Goodwin, formerly owned and operated a recording studio. Goodwin changed her name from "Jennifer" to "Ginnifer" to distinguish her name, and to assist in pronunciation of her name in her  regional dialect. Her younger sister, Melissa Goodwin, is a stop motion animator on shows such as  Robot Chicken, on which Ginnifer has also appeared as voice talent.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:inherit;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;"> Her father is Christian with Welsh ancestry, and her mother is Jewish. Goodwin was raised attending synagogue on Saturdays and Unitarian church on Sundays. She was both baptized and had a bat mitzvah service. In her youth, Goodwin was affiliated with the  North American Federation of Temple Youth, and was active in  BBYO  at the Jewish Community Center in Memphis. She went to school at  St. Mary's Episcopal School  in Memphis, Tennessee. She then graduated from  Lausanne Collegiate School  in 1996, then attended  Hanover College  (majoring in Theater) for one year before moving on to earn 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 studied in  England  at Stratford Upon-Avon’s  Shakespeare Institute, in conjunction with the  Royal Shakespeare Company. The following year she earned an "Acting Shakespeare Certificate" at  London ’s  Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. <sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="line-height:1;font-size:11.2px;white-space:nowrap;">