
Biography
Frances Louise McDormand (born Cynthia Ann Smith; June 23, 1957) is an American film, stage and television actress. McDormand began her career on stage and made her screen debut in the 1984 film Blood Simple, having since appeared in several theatrical and television roles. McDormand has been recognized for her performances in 'Mississippi Burning' (1988), 'Short Cuts' (1993), 'Fargo' (1996), 'Wonder Boys' (2000), 'Almost Famous' (2000), 'North Country' (2005), 'Moonrise Kingdom' (2012), 'Hail, Caesar!' (2016), 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri' (2017), 'Nomadland' (2020) and 'The Tragedy of Macbeth' (2021). Throughout her career, she has been nominated for eight Golden Globes, five Academy Awards, four BAFTA Awards, and three Emmy Awards. She is one of the few performers to achieve the "Triple Crown of Acting", winning an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Tony Award. She won her first Academy Award for Best Actress in 1997 for her role as Marge Gunderson in 'Fargo'. She also won Best Supporting Actress from the Broadcast Film Critics Association, the Florida Film Critics Circle, and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association for her performance in 'Wonder Boys' (2000). McDormand returned to the stage in the David Lindsay-Abaire play Good People on Broadway from February 8, 2011 to April 24, 2011. In 2017, McDormand starred in 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri' which earned her a second Academy Award for Best Actress. McDormand has been married to filmmaker Joel Coen since 1984, they reside in New York City along with their adopted son Pedro.
Awards & recognition
- Academy Award — Best Picture · 2021
- Academy Award — Best Actress · 2021
- BAFTA Award — Best Actress in a Leading Role · 2021
- Academy Award — Best Actress · 2018
- BAFTA Award — Best Actress in a Leading Role · 2018
Show all 21 awards →
- Golden Globe Award — Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama · 2018
- Primetime Emmy Award — Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie · 2015
- Tony Award — Best Actress in a Play · 2011
- Academy Award — Best Actress · 1997
- Actor Awards · 1997
- Film Independent Spirit Awards · 1997
- Golden Globe Award — Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture · 1993
- Drama Desk Award — Outstanding Actress in a Play
- Academy Award — Best Picture · 2023 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Actress · 2021 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Actress · 2018 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Supporting Actress · 2006 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Supporting Actress · 2001 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Actress · 1997 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Supporting Actress · 1989 · nominated
- Tony Award — Best Actress in a Play · 1988 · nominated
Filmography50+ titles

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Good Omens

The Simpsons

Fargo

Isle of Dogs

Moonrise Kingdom

Primal Fear

Mississippi Burning

Olive Kitteridge

Hill Street Blues

The Man Who Wasn't There

Almost Famous

Barton Fink

Miller's Crossing

Blood Simple

Nomadland

North Country

Raising Arizona

Hunter

The French Dispatch

This Must Be the Place

Lone Star

Hidden Agenda

The Tragedy of Macbeth

Women Talking

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

Wonder Boys

The Good Dinosaur

Burn After Reading

The Good Old Boys

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted

The Botany of Desire

Something's Gotta Give

The Grey Zone

Wolfs

Beyond Rangoon

Darkman

The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin

Promised Land

Paradise Road

Vengeance: The Story of Tony Cimo

Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Madeline

Every Secret Thing

Great Performances

Laurel Canyon

Hail, Caesar!

City by the Sea

Chattahoochee

The Butcher's Wife