---
name: "Frances McDormand"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/frances-mcdormand"
fi1m_id: "frances-mcdormand"
imdb_id: "nm0000531"
tmdb_id: 3910
wikidata_id: "Q204299"
roles: ["Actor","Producer"]
born: "23 June 1957"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 25
average_fi1m_score: 77
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 23
updated: "2026-10-05T12:30:56.857781+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Frances McDormand

## Identity

Frances McDormand

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/frances-mcdormand
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** frances-mcdormand
- **IMDb ID:** nm0000531
- **TMDB ID:** 3910
- **Wikidata ID:** Q204299
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frances_McDormand, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q204299, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000531/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/3910

Actor and producer. Born 23 June 1957 in Gibson City, Illinois, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor, Producer
- **Born:** 23 June 1957, Gibson City, Illinois, USA
- **Active:** 1987–present
- **Also known as:** Frances Louise McDormand, Cynthia Ann Smith
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 25: 23 acting, 2 other
- **Frequently works with:** [Joel Coen](https://film.one/person/joel-coen.md), [Ethan Coen](https://film.one/person/ethan-coen.md), [Edward Norton](https://film.one/person/edward-norton.md), [George Clooney](https://film.one/person/george-clooney.md), [Ian Bryce](https://film.one/person/ian-bryce.md), [Jeremy Dawson](https://film.one/person/jeremy-dawson.md), [Scott Rudin](https://film.one/person/scott-rudin.md), [Tilda Swinton](https://film.one/person/tilda-swinton.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 4 Oscars (4 won · 4 nominated)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 77, as actor, over 23 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 81 (3), 1990s 83 (6), 2000s 78 (5), 2010s 72 (7), 2020s 77 (4)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 77 to 73 across 22 titles
- **Score spread:** 12 at 80+, 10 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 8 of 22 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 17, Comedy 11, Crime 6, Adventure 3, Animation 3, Mystery 3
- **Screen time:** 41 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $3,112m across 21 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frances_McDormand, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q204299, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000531/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/3910

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*Olive Kitteridge*](https://film.one/tv/olive-kitteridge.md) (84), [*Isle of Dogs*](https://film.one/film/isle-of-dogs.md) (78), [*Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri*](https://film.one/film/three-billboards-outside-ebbing-missouri.md) (74), [*Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted*](https://film.one/film/madagascar-3-europes-most-wanted.md) (71)
- **Disney+:** [*Fargo*](https://film.one/film/fargo.md) (91), [*Something's Gotta Give*](https://film.one/film/somethings-gotta-give.md) (72)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Lone Star*](https://film.one/film/lone-star.md) (86), [*Women Talking*](https://film.one/film/women-talking.md) (76)
- **Apple TV:** [*The Tragedy of Macbeth*](https://film.one/film/the-tragedy-of-macbeth.md) (80), [*Mississippi Burning*](https://film.one/film/mississippi-burning.md) (72)
- **Netflix:** [*Nomadland*](https://film.one/film/nomadland.md) (83)
- **Hulu:** [*Almost Famous*](https://film.one/film/almost-famous.md) (82)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Frances McDormand

> Frances McDormand makes a cheerful voice carry intelligence, authority and a good deal of humour. We value her directness and lack of vanity; in *Fargo*, they make decency as interesting to watch as criminal stupidity.

When Marge Gunderson speaks in *Fargo* (1996), Frances McDormand lets her sound cheerful without making her sound foolish. The distinction matters in a crime film where violence and comedy sit so close together. Her pregnant police chief is competent and kind, and neither quality is treated as an impediment to being funny. We felt ourselves relax whenever she spoke, because her straightforward delivery offered some reassurance amid the criminal disorder.

Joel and Ethan Coen get something valuable from her here: a character whose speech is amusing but whose judgement deserves respect. McDormand leaves room for laughter without letting us forget the violence, a harder task than simply playing the sensible person among fools. The reservation is that the directors sometimes enjoy the other characters’ oddness before giving them much dignity. She largely avoids that trap, but the film occasionally seems a little too pleased with its own jokes.

Her film work began as Abby in the Coens’ *Blood Simple* (1984), and *Fargo* brought her wide recognition as a lead. Supporting parts continued to matter, including Elaine Miller, the overbearing mother in *Almost Famous* (2000). That part makes good use of her intelligence and wit without requiring her to be agreeable. The later return to leading roles runs through *Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri* (2017) and *Nomadland* (2020), which she also produced. There is no need to treat the supporting work as time spent waiting for the proper job.

Her place in the ensemble of Sarah Polley’s *Women Talking* (2022), as Scarface Janz, continues that willingness to work without occupying the centre. The film’s strength is its women arguing in a hayloft, though Luc Montpellier’s drained colour makes the images less rewarding than the conversation. It would be too much to credit McDormand alone for what works there. The performance that explains our enthusiasm remains *Fargo*: start there, especially if crime films are not usually the evening’s choice.

## Biography

Frances McDormand is an American actress and producer. She was born on 23 June 1957 in Gibson City, Illinois, and studied theatre at Bethany College and Yale University.

McDormand began her career on stage and made her screen debut in *Blood Simple* (1984). She is known for her roles in *Fargo* (1996), *Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri* (2017) and *Nomadland* (2020), and appeared as Scarface Janz in *Women Talking* (2022), which she also produced.

She has won four Academy Awards and is one of the few performers to achieve the Triple Crown of Acting, with an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award and a Tony Award.

*Sources: imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org.*

## On Fi1m (25)

### Performed in (23) — the average rests on these

- *Women Talking* (2022), Fi1m 76, as Scarface Janz — [page](https://film.one/film/women-talking.md)
- *Nomadland* (2021), Fi1m 83, as Fern — [page](https://film.one/film/nomadland.md)
- *The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun* (2021), Fi1m 68, as Lucinda Krementz — [page](https://film.one/film/the-french-dispatch-of-the-liberty-kansas-evening-sun.md)
- *The Tragedy of Macbeth* (2021), Fi1m 80, as Lady Macbeth — [page](https://film.one/film/the-tragedy-of-macbeth.md)
- *Isle of Dogs* (2018), Fi1m 78, as Interpreter Nelson (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/isle-of-dogs.md)
- *Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri* (2017), Fi1m 74, as Mildred — [page](https://film.one/film/three-billboards-outside-ebbing-missouri.md)
- *Hail, Caesar!* (2016), Fi1m 72, as C. C. Calhoun — [page](https://film.one/film/hail-caesar.md)
- *Olive Kitteridge* (2014), Fi1m 84, as Olive Kitteridge — [page](https://film.one/tv/olive-kitteridge.md)
- *Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted* (2012), Fi1m 71, as Chantel DuBois (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/madagascar-3-europes-most-wanted.md)
- *Moonrise Kingdom* (2012), Fi1m 82, as Mrs. Bishop — [page](https://film.one/film/moonrise-kingdom.md)
- *Transformers: Dark of the Moon* (2011), Fi1m 46, as Mearing — [page](https://film.one/film/transformers-dark-of-the-moon.md)
- *Burn After Reading* (2008), Fi1m 72, as Linda Litzke — [page](https://film.one/film/burn-after-reading.md)
- *Something's Gotta Give* (2003), Fi1m 72, as Zoe — [page](https://film.one/film/somethings-gotta-give.md)
- *The Man Who Wasn't There* (2001), Fi1m 81, as Doris Crane — [page](https://film.one/film/the-man-who-wasnt-there.md)
- *Almost Famous* (2000), Fi1m 82, as Elaine Miller — [page](https://film.one/film/almost-famous.md)
- *Wonder Boys* (2000), Fi1m 82, as Sara Gaskell — [page](https://film.one/film/wonder-boys.md)
- *Fargo* (1996), Fi1m 91, as Marge Gunderson — [page](https://film.one/film/fargo.md)
- *Lone Star* (1996), Fi1m 86, as Bunny — [page](https://film.one/film/lone-star.md)
- *Primal Fear* (1996), Fi1m 71, as Molly — [page](https://film.one/film/primal-fear.md)
- *Short Cuts* (1993), Fi1m 84, as Betty Weathers — [page](https://film.one/film/short-cuts.md)
- *The Simpsons* (1989), Fi1m 88, as Melanie Upfoot (voice) — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-simpsons.md)
- *Mississippi Burning* (1988), Fi1m 72, as Mrs. Pell — [page](https://film.one/film/mississippi-burning.md)
- *Raising Arizona* (1987), Fi1m 84, as Dot — [page](https://film.one/film/raising-arizona.md)

### Also credited (2) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *Barton Fink* (1991), Fi1m 83, as Stage Actress (voice) (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/barton-fink.md)
- *Miller's Crossing* (1990), Fi1m 82, as Mayor's Secretary (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/millers-crossing.md)

## Complete filmography (71)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Armani and the Birth of Italian Fashion* (2026), Actor
- *The Bend in the River* (2025), Executive Producer
- *Wolfs* (2024), as Pam (voice)
- *Women Talking* (2022), as Scarface Janz · Producer — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/women-talking.md)
- *The Tragedy of Macbeth* (2021), as Lady Macbeth · Producer — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/the-tragedy-of-macbeth.md)
- *The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun* (2021), as Lucinda Krementz — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/the-french-dispatch-of-the-liberty-kansas-evening-sun.md)
- *Nomadland* (2021), as Fern · Producer — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/nomadland.md)
- *The Oedipus Project* (2020), as Jocosta
- *Good Omens* (2019), series, as God (voice)
- *Isle of Dogs* (2018), as Interpreter Nelson (voice) — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/isle-of-dogs.md)
- *Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri* (2017), as Mildred — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/three-billboards-outside-ebbing-missouri.md)
- *Hail, Caesar!* (2016), as C. C. Calhoun — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/hail-caesar.md)
- *The Good Dinosaur* (2015), as Momma (voice)
- *Habitat Eart* (2015), as Narrator
- *Olive Kitteridge* (2014), series, as Olive Kitteridge · Executive Producer — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/olive-kitteridge.md)
- *Every Secret Thing* (2014), Producer
- *Promised Land* (2012), as Sue Thomason
- *Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted* (2012), as Chantel DuBois (voice) — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/film/madagascar-3-europes-most-wanted.md)
- *Moonrise Kingdom* (2012), as Mrs. Bishop — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/moonrise-kingdom.md)
- *This Must Be the Place* (2011), as Jane
- *Transformers: Dark of the Moon* (2011), as Mearing — Fi1m 46, [page](https://film.one/film/transformers-dark-of-the-moon.md)
- *The Botany of Desire* (2009), as Narrator (voice)
- *Burn After Reading* (2008), as Linda Litzke — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/burn-after-reading.md)
- *Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day* (2008), as Guinevere Pettigrew
- *Friends with Money* (2006), as Jane
- *Æon Flux* (2005), as Handler
- *North Country* (2005), as Glory
- *Something's Gotta Give* (2003), as Zoe — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/somethings-gotta-give.md)
- *Laurel Canyon* (2003), as Jane
- *City by the Sea* (2002), as Michelle
- *Upheaval* (2002), as Anne
- *The Man Who Wasn't There* (2001), as Doris Crane — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/the-man-who-wasnt-there.md)
- *The Grey Zone* (2001), Thanks
- *State of Grace* (2001), series, as Adult Hannah (voice)
- *Edwurd Fudwupper Fibbed Big* (2000), as The Adult Fannie (voice)
- *Almost Famous* (2000), as Elaine Miller — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/almost-famous.md)
- *Wonder Boys* (2000), as Sara Gaskell — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/wonder-boys.md)
- *Talk of Angels* (1998), as Conlon
- *Madeline* (1998), as Miss Clavel
- *Johnny Skidmarks* (1998), as Alice
- *Paradise Road* (1997), as Dr. Verstak
- *Hidden in America* (1996), as Gus
- *Palookaville* (1996), as June
- *Lone Star* (1996), as Bunny — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/lone-star.md)
- *Primal Fear* (1996), as Molly — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/film/primal-fear.md)
- *Fargo* (1996), as Marge Gunderson — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/fargo.md)
- *Bleeding Hearts* (1995), as Woman on TV (archive footage)
- *Beyond Rangoon* (1995), as Andy Bowman
- *Talking With* (1995), as Caro (segment "Handler")
- *The Good Old Boys* (1995), as Eve Calloway
- *Short Cuts* (1993), as Betty Weathers — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/short-cuts.md)
- *Crazy in Love* (1992), as Clare
- *Passed Away* (1992), as Nora Scanlan
- *The Butcher's Wife* (1991), as Grace
- *Barton Fink* (1991), as Stage Actress (voice) (uncredited) — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/barton-fink.md)
- *Hidden Agenda* (1990), as Ingrid Jessner
- *Miller's Crossing* (1990), as Mayor's Secretary (uncredited) — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/millers-crossing.md)
- *Darkman* (1990), as Julie Hastings
- *Chattahoochee* (1990), as Mae Foley
- *The Simpsons* (1989), series, as Melanie Upfoot (voice) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-simpsons.md)
- *Mississippi Burning* (1988), as Mrs. Pell — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/mississippi-burning.md)
- *Leg Work* (1987), series, as Willie Pipal
- *Raising Arizona* (1987), as Dot — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/raising-arizona.md)
- *Vengeance: The Story of Tony Cimo* (1986), as Brigette
- *The Twilight Zone* (1985), series, as (segment "Need to Know")
- *Crimewave* (1985), as Nun
- *Scandal Sheet* (1985), Actor
- *Blood Simple* (1985), as Abby
- *Hunter* (1984), series, as Nina Sloan
- *Hill Street Blues* (1981), series, Actor — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/hill-street-blues.md)
- *Jack of Spades*, as Producer

## Gallery

- ![Frances McDormand at 21st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2015)](https://film.one/media/person/21800/gallery-9ad51d8def70.jpg) Frances McDormand at 21st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2015) — Red Carpet Report on Mingle Media TV, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Frances_McDormand_2015.jpg/1280px-Frances_McDormand_2015.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Frances McDormand](https://film.one/media/person/21800/gallery-f984da17c374.jpg) Frances McDormand — Red Carpet Report on Mingle Media TV, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ed/Frances_McDormand_2015_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Frances_McDormand_2015_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Frances McDormand at 21st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2015)](https://film.one/media/person/21800/gallery-fae08669dde2.jpg) Frances McDormand at 21st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2015) — Red Carpet Report on Mingle Media TV, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Frances_McDormand_2015_%28cropped_2%29.jpg/1280px-Frances_McDormand_2015_%28cropped_2%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Academy Award-winning actor Frances McDormand interviews the Kitchen Sisters in the Coolidge Auditorium during a special "Live! At the Library" presentation, Se (2022)](https://film.one/media/person/21800/gallery-a8cf49a58fc5.jpg) Academy Award-winning actor Frances McDormand interviews the Kitchen Sisters in the Coolidge Auditorium during a special "Live! At the Library" presentation, Se (2022) — Library of Congress Life, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/Frances_McDormand_20220915.jpg/1280px-Frances_McDormand_20220915.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Frances McDormand](https://film.one/media/person/21800/gallery-5a03d2f3b1fa.jpg) Frances McDormand — Image via TMDB
- ![Frances McDormand](https://film.one/media/person/21800/gallery-f20ef31d5b0c.jpg) Frances McDormand — Image via TMDB
- ![Frances McDormand](https://film.one/media/person/21800/gallery-cb2d51b7bfc2.jpg) Frances McDormand — Image via TMDB
- ![Frances McDormand](https://film.one/media/person/21800/gallery-8148f5b04692.jpg) Frances McDormand — Image via TMDB
- ![Frances McDormand](https://film.one/media/person/21800/gallery-af31c336274a.jpg) Frances McDormand — Image via TMDB
- ![Frances McDormand](https://film.one/media/person/21800/gallery-727cf2d540a8.jpg) Frances McDormand — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 4 won, 4 nominated

- 2023: Best Picture (nominated), for *Women Talking*
- 2021: Best Actress (won), for *Nomadland*
- 2021: Best Picture (won), for *Nomadland*
- 2018: Best Actress (won), for *Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri*
- 2006: Best Supporting Actress (nominated), for *North Country*
- 2001: Best Supporting Actress (nominated), for *Almost Famous*
- 1997: Best Actress (won), for *Fargo*
- 1989: Best Supporting Actress (nominated), for *Mississippi Burning*

### BAFTA Film Awards — 2 won

- 2021: Best Actress in a Leading Role (won), for *Nomadland*
- 2018: Best Actress in a Leading Role (won), for *Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri*

### Golden Globes — 2 won

- 2018: Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama (won)
- 1993: Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture (won), for *Short Cuts*

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 1 won

- 2015: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie (won), for *Olive Kitteridge*

### SAG Awards — 1 won

- 1997: Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role (won)

### Other awards — 2 won, 1 nominated

- Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play 2011: Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play (won)
- Film Independent Spirit Awards 1997: Film Independent Spirit Awards (won)
- Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play 1988: Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play (nominated)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/frances-mcdormand