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Frances McDormand Biography

Birth Name:
Frances Louise McDormand
Birth Place:
Illinois, United States
Profession
Actor

Fast Facts

  • First professional acting job was with a theatrical troupe in Trinidad in 1982
  • New York City roommate was friend and fellow Yale grad Holly Hunter
  • Met husband Joel Coen while working on her first film, Blood Simple (1984), which was also filmmaking team Joel and Ethan Coen's debut picture
  • Had a recurring role on Hill Street Blues in 1985
  • Won her first Oscar for her turn as Marge Gunderson in Fargo (1996), a film that also earned her husband Joel Coen an Oscar for directing
  • Showed her domestic side in two very different mom roles, first as an over-protective mom of a budding rock journalist in Almost Famous (2000), and next as a free-spirited rock enthusiast mom in Laurel Canyon (2002)
  • In 2005, she co-starred with Charlize Theron in two films: North Country and Aeon Flux
  • Turned in a more lighthearted performance as a nanny in Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (2008)
  • Appeared on the premiere of the PBS series Gourmet's Adventures with Ruth, where she traveled to the culinary resort Blackberry Farm
  • In 2010, signed on to return to Broadway to headline the world premiere production of the stage play Good People

Awards

  • 2022Oscar-Best Motion Picture of the Year: nominated
  • 2021Independent Spirit Awards-Best Feature: winner
  • 2021Independent Spirit Awards-Best Female Lead: nominated
  • 2021Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
  • 2021Producers Guild Awards-Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures: winner
  • 2020Critics' Choice Awards-Best Actress: nominated
  • 2020Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 2020Oscar-Best Motion Picture of the Year: winner
  • 2020Oscar-Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: winner
  • 2018IFTA Film & Drama Awards-Best International Actress: winner
  • 2018BAFTA Film Awards-Best Leading Actress: nominated
  • 2018Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama: winner
  • 2018Independent Spirit Awards-Best Female Lead: winner
  • 2017Oscar-Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: winner
  • 2017Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: winner
  • 2017Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role: winner
  • 2017Critics' Choice Awards-Best Actress: winner
  • 2015Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2015Critics' Choice Television Awards-Best Actress in a Movie or Limited Series: winner
  • 2015Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie: nominated
  • 2015Emmy-Outstanding Limited Series: nominated
  • 2014Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: winner
  • 2009Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy: nominated
  • 2008Utah Film Critics-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2007Independent Spirit Awards-Best Supporting Female: winner
  • 2006Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2006Critics' Choice Awards-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2006BAFTA Film Awards-Best Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 2005Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 2005Oscar-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 2005Las Vegas Film Critics Association-Best Supporting Actress: winner
  • 2004Independent Spirit Awards-Best Supporting Female: nominated
  • 2001Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2001BAFTA Film Awards-Best Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 2001Critics' Choice Awards-Best Supporting Actress: winner
  • 2000Oscar-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 2000Los Angeles Film Critics Association-Best Supporting Actress: winner
  • 2000Chicago Film Critics Association-Best Supporting Actress: winner
  • 2000Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 2000Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 1997Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy: nominated
  • 1997Independent Spirit Awards-Best Female Lead: winner
  • 1997Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Special: nominated
  • 1997Critics' Choice Awards-Best Actress: winner
  • 1997BAFTA Film Awards-Best Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 1996Oscar-Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: winner
  • 1996Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role: winner
  • 1996National Board of Review-Best Actress: winner
  • 1996Chicago Film Critics Association-Best Actress: winner
  • 1988Oscar-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 1988National Board of Review-Best Supporting Actress: winner

Relationships