--- name: "Margo Martindale" canonical: "https://film.one/person/margo-martindale" fi1m_id: "margo-martindale" imdb_id: "nm0553269" tmdb_id: 452 wikidata_id: "Q257317" roles: ["Actor"] born: "18 July 1951" reviewed_on_fi1m: 17 average_fi1m_score: 70 average_as: "actor" average_over: 17 updated: "2026-10-04T23:01:33.430235+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." --- # Margo Martindale ## Identity Margo Martindale - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/margo-martindale - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** margo-martindale - **IMDb ID:** nm0553269 - **TMDB ID:** 452 - **Wikidata ID:** Q257317 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margo_Martindale, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q257317, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0553269/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/452 Actor. Born 18 July 1951 in Jacksonville, Texas, USA. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 18 July 1951, Jacksonville, Texas, USA - **Active:** 1990–present - **Also known as:** مارگو مارتیندال, مارگو مارتیندیل - **Frequently works with:** [Rose Byrne](https://film.one/person/rose-byrne.md) - **Primetime Emmy Awards:** 3 Emmys (3 won) - **Average Fi1m score:** 70, as actor, over 17 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 69 (4), 2000s 79 (2), 2010s 72 (8), 2020s 61 (3) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 70 to 67 across 17 titles - **Score spread:** 4 at 80+, 10 at 60–79, 3 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 1 of 10 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 14, Comedy 6, Crime 4, Sport 3, Adventure 2, Animation 2 - **Screen time:** 23 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $1,610m across 11 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margo_Martindale, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q257317, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0553269/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/452 ## Streaming the US now - **Disney+:** [*Justified*](https://film.one/tv/justified.md) (87), [*Mrs. America*](https://film.one/tv/mrs-america.md) (79), [*American Crime Story*](https://film.one/tv/american-crime-story.md) (78) - **Apple TV:** [*Million Dollar Baby*](https://film.one/film/million-dollar-baby.md) (86), [*Dead Man Walking*](https://film.one/film/dead-man-walking.md) (84), [*Instant Family*](https://film.one/film/instant-family.md) (68) - **Peacock:** [*Cocaine Bear*](https://film.one/film/cocaine-bear.md) (60) - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*August: Osage County*](https://film.one/film/august-osage-county.md) (57) - **Netflix:** [*The Twits*](https://film.one/film/the-twits.md) (45) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Margo Martindale > Margo Martindale makes formidable women funny, frightening and capable of embarrassing themselves. We rate the toughness, but the pleasure is in the warmth and foolishness that stop her authority figures becoming predictable. Ranger Liz has a rifle and a crush in *Cocaine Bear* (2023), and Margo Martindale makes the crush the more embarrassing liability. Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s wildlife inspector Peter is the object of her interest, giving her something to want beyond surviving the next attack. We laughed at Liz’s pursuit of Peter because Martindale allows a woman in authority to make such a fool of herself. The joke depends on her having an ordinary, inconvenient desire, and Ferguson’s embarrassment gives that desire somewhere to go. She is the funniest person in a film that leaves a good cast waiting too long between attacks. Her earlier supporting film work includes Sister Colleen in Tim Robbins’s *Dead Man Walking* (1995), which we warmly recommend for the difficult encounters between Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn. The argument occasionally feels too carefully arranged, but the performances give us reasons to care beyond the debate itself. Her casting took a harder turn with Earline Fitzgerald, the selfish mother in *Million Dollar Baby* (2004). That part helped establish the association with villainous mothers and tougher supporting characters that followed. Her television breakthrough came as Mags Bennett in *Justified* in 2011, with the recurring role of Claudia, a Soviet handler, following in *The Americans* (2013). Claudia draws on her understated menace and the impression of someone thinking ahead of everybody else. Mags supplies the tough maternal authority; Claudia makes calculation feel just as threatening. These roles make a persuasive case for her toughness; they should not become a prescription for every part she plays. The caveat is that Martindale cannot make an underwritten film busy enough on her own. Elizabeth Banks gets good comic work from her in *Cocaine Bear*, but the film still runs slack across its 95 minutes. The part gives her two clear things to play, even when the script struggles to occupy the people around her. Ferguson gives her the right embarrassed partner, and we would gladly see more parts that allow her this degree of foolishness. Try it for Martindale’s comedy, provided the long waits between bear attacks will not spoil the evening. ## Biography Margo Martindale is an American character actress who has appeared in film, television and on stage. She was born on 18 July 1951 in Jacksonville, Texas, and attended Lon Morris College before transferring to the University of Michigan, where she also studied at Harvard during the summer. She made her film debut in *Days of Thunder* (1990) and has since taken supporting roles in films including *Dead Man Walking* (1995), *The Hours* (2002), *Million Dollar Baby* (2004) and *Cocaine Bear* (2023), in which she played Ranger Liz. On television she is known for her Emmy-winning performances as Mags Bennett in *Justified* (2011) and Claudia in *The Americans* (2015 and 2016). Martindale received a Tony Award nomination for her stage role in the 2003 Broadway revival of *Cat on a Hot Tin Roof*. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, themoviedb.org.* ## On Fi1m (17) - *The Twits* (2025), Fi1m 45, as Credenza Twit (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/the-twits.md) - *Cocaine Bear* (2023), Fi1m 60, as Ranger Liz — [page](https://film.one/film/cocaine-bear.md) - *Mrs. America* (2020), Fi1m 79, as Bella Abzug — [page](https://film.one/tv/mrs-america.md) - *Instant Family* (2018), Fi1m 68, as Sandy Wagner — [page](https://film.one/film/instant-family.md) - *Cars 3* (2017), Fi1m 58, as Louise Nash (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/cars-3.md) - *Downsizing* (2017), Fi1m 60, as Woman on Shuttle — [page](https://film.one/film/downsizing.md) - *American Crime Story* (2016), Fi1m 78, as Lucianne Goldberg — [page](https://film.one/tv/american-crime-story.md) - *August: Osage County* (2013), Fi1m 57, as Mattie Fae Aiken — [page](https://film.one/film/august-osage-county.md) - *Masters of Sex* (2013), Fi1m 74, as Miss Horchow — [page](https://film.one/tv/masters-of-sex.md) - *The Americans* (2013), Fi1m 91, as Claudia — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-americans.md) - *Justified* (2010), Fi1m 87, as Mags Bennett — [page](https://film.one/tv/justified.md) - *Million Dollar Baby* (2004), Fi1m 86, as Earline Fitzgerald — [page](https://film.one/film/million-dollar-baby.md) - *The Hours* (2002), Fi1m 72, as Mrs. Latch — [page](https://film.one/film/the-hours.md) - *Practical Magic* (1998), Fi1m 60, as Linda Bennett — [page](https://film.one/film/practical-magic.md) - *Dead Man Walking* (1995), Fi1m 84, as Sister Colleen — [page](https://film.one/film/dead-man-walking.md) - *The Firm* (1993), Fi1m 71, as Nina Huff — [page](https://film.one/film/the-firm.md) - *Days of Thunder* (1990), Fi1m 61, as Donna — [page](https://film.one/film/days-of-thunder.md) ## Complete filmography (124) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *The Long Haul* (2026), Actor - *The Twits* (2025), as Credenza Twit (voice) — Fi1m 45, [page](https://film.one/film/the-twits.md) - *The Sticky* (2024), series, as Ruth Landry - *Doctor Odyssey* (2024), series, as Mother of the Bride - *The Chicken Sisters* (2024), series, as Narrator - *Mrs. Davis* (2023), series, as Mother Superior - *Cocaine Bear* (2023), as Ranger Liz — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/cocaine-bear.md) - *Poker Face* (2023), series, as Dr. Hamm — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/poker-face.md) - *The Watcher* (2022), series, as Mo - *Family Squares* (2022), as Diane - *Your Honor* (2020), series, as Elizabeth Guthrie - *Uncle Frank* (2020), as Mammaw - *Mrs. America* (2020), series, as Bella Abzug — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/tv/mrs-america.md) - *Lazy Susan* (2020), as Mary - *The Kitchen* (2019), as Helen O'Carroll - *Blow the Man Down* (2019), as Enid Nora Devlin - *The Act* (2019), series, as Emma Blanchard - *Instant Family* (2018), as Sandy Wagner — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/instant-family.md) - *Downsizing* (2017), as Woman on Shuttle — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/downsizing.md) - *DuckTales* (2017), series, as Ma Beagle (voice) - *Cars 3* (2017), as Louise Nash (voice) — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/cars-3.md) - *Wilson* (2017), as Alta - *Table 19* (2017), as Freda Eckberg - *The Good Fight* (2017), series, as Ruth Eastman - *My Entire High School Sinking Into the Sea* (2016), as Mrs. Brinson (voice) - *The Hollars* (2016), as Sally Hollar - *BrainDead* (2016), series, as Dr. Joanne Alaimo - *Mother's Day* (2016), as Flo - *The Boss* (2016), as Sister Aluminata - *American Crime Story* (2016), series, as Lucianne Goldberg — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/american-crime-story.md) - *Sophie and the Rising Sun* (2016), as Anne Morrison - *Sneaky Pete* (2015), series, as Audrey Bernhardt - *BoJack Horseman* (2014), series, as Character Actress Margo Martindale (voice) — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/tv/bojack-horseman.md) - *Heaven Is for Real* (2014), as Nancy Rawling - *Bluebird* (2014), as Crystal - *August: Osage County* (2013), as Mattie Fae Aiken — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/film/august-osage-county.md) - *The Millers* (2013), series, as Carol Miller - *Masters of Sex* (2013), series, as Miss Horchow — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/masters-of-sex.md) - *Beautiful Creatures* (2013), as Delphine Duchannes - *The Americans* (2013), series, as Claudia — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-americans.md) - *Smash* (2012), series, as Miriam Abramson - *A Gifted Man* (2011), series, as Rita Perkins-Hall - *Person of Interest* (2011), series, as Barbara Russell — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/person-of-interest.md) - *New Girl* (2011), series, as Bonnie — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/new-girl.md) - *Suits* (2011), series, as Nell Sawyer - *Scalene* (2011), as Janice Trimble - *Win Win* (2011), as Eleanor - *Harry's Law* (2011), series, as Gina Powell - *Main Street* (2010), as Myrtle Parker - *Secretariat* (2010), as Miss Ham - *Forged* (2010), as Dianne - *Justified* (2010), series, as Mags Bennett — Fi1m 87, [page](https://film.one/tv/justified.md) - *Mercy* (2009), series, Actor - *The Good Wife* (2009), series, as Ruth Eastman — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-good-wife.md) - *La Soga* (2009), as Flannigan - *Orphan* (2009), as Dr. Browning - *Hung* (2009), series, as Molly - *Hannah Montana: The Movie* (2009), as Ruby - *Management* (2009), as Trish - *The Winning Season* (2009), as Donna - *Stop-Loss* (2008), as Senator's Secretary (voice) - *Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story* (2007), as Ma Cox - *The Savages* (2007), as Roz - *Superheroes* (2007), as Ben's Mother - *Feast of Love* (2007), as Mrs. Maggarolian - *Rails & Ties* (2007), as Judy Neasy - *The Death and Life of Bobby Z* (2007), as Macy - *Mo* (2007), as Pam - *The Riches* (2007), series, as Nina Burns - *Rocket Science* (2007), as Coach Lumbly - *Dexter* (2006), series, as Camilla — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/dexter.md) - *Wedding Daze* (2006), as Betsy - *Paris Je T'aime* (2006), as Carol (14ème arrondissement) - *Out There* (2006), as Jen - *14e Arrondissement* (2006), as Carol - *Silver Bells* (2005), as Mrs. Quinn - *Medium* (2005), series, as Catherine - *Million Dollar Baby* (2004), as Earline Fitzgerald — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/million-dollar-baby.md) - *Plainsong* (2004), as Mrs. Beckman - *Iron Jawed Angels* (2004), as Harriot Blatch - *The Best Thief in the World* (2004), as Miss Mason - *The Human Stain* (2003), as Psychologist - *An Unexpected Love* (2003), as Maggie - *It's All About Love* (2003), as Betsy - *The Hours* (2002), as Mrs. Latch — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/the-hours.md) - *The Laramie Project* (2002), as Trish Steger - *What Girls Learn* (2001), as Lainey - *A Girl Thing* (2001), series, as May - *100 Centre Street* (2001), series, as Michelle Grande - *Proof of Life* (2000), as Ivy - *Ed* (2000), series, as Amanda Myers - *28 Days* (2000), as Betty - *Earthly Possessions* (1999), as Libby - *Ride with the Devil* (1999), as Wilma Brown - *Snoops* (1999), series, as Hannah Larson - *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Rita Gabler - *In Dreams* (1999), as Nurse Floyd - *Practical Magic* (1998), as Linda Bennett — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/practical-magic.md) - *Twilight* (1998), as Gloria Lamar - *Critical Care* (1997), as Constance 'Connie' Potter - *Eye of God* (1997), as Dorothy - *...First Do No Harm* (1997), as Marjean - *Ghosts of Mississippi* (1996), as Clara Mayfield - *Marvin's Room* (1996), as Charlotte Samit - *Dead Man Walking* (1995), as Sister Colleen — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/dead-man-walking.md) - *Sabrina* (1995), as Nurse - *Nobody's Fool* (1994), as Birdy - *New York Undercover* (1994), series, as Nurse Warner - *The Firm* (1993), as Nina Huff — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/film/the-firm.md) - *Homicide: Life on the Street* (1993), series, as Verna Henderson — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/tv/homicide-life-on-the-street.md) - *Lorenzo's Oil* (1992), as Wendy Gimble - *Emma and Elvis* (1992), as Jenny - *Golden Years* (1991), as Thelma - *Golden Years* (1991), series, as Thelma - *The Rocketeer* (1991), as Millie - *Law & Order* (1990), series, as Ms. Best — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md) - *Days of Thunder* (1990), as Donna — Fi1m 61, [page](https://film.one/film/days-of-thunder.md) - *Lonesome Dove* (1989), series, as Buffalo Heiffer - *The Child Saver* (1988), as Alma - *Once Again* (1987), as Debbie Lupino - *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Mrs. Beckman, Mrs. Quinn - *Just Picture It*, Actor - *The Age of Innocence*, series, as Mrs. Manson-Mingott - *Sonny Lovejoy*, as Gigi ## Gallery - ![Margo Martindale as Bella Abzug in Mrs. America (2020)](https://film.one/media/title/9223/still-c3657b91fd80.jpg) Margo Martindale as Bella Abzug in *Mrs. America* (2020) — Image via TMDB - ![Margo Martindale](https://film.one/media/person/21679/gallery-57a3933b628f.jpg) Margo Martindale — Montclair Film Festival, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Margo_Martindale_MFF_2016.jpg/1280px-Margo_Martindale_MFF_2016.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Margo Martindale at the Montclair Film Festival 2016.](https://film.one/media/person/21679/gallery-7d3222eb98e6.jpg) Margo Martindale at the Montclair Film Festival 2016. — Montclair Film, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/Margo_Martindale_%2826507106610%29.jpg/1280px-Margo_Martindale_%2826507106610%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Margo Martindale at the Montclair Film Festival 2016.](https://film.one/media/person/21679/gallery-77b8e073963b.jpg) Margo Martindale at the Montclair Film Festival 2016. — Montclair Film, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/Margo_Martindale_%2826712643211%29.jpg/1280px-Margo_Martindale_%2826712643211%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Margo Martindale at the Montclair Film Festival 2016.](https://film.one/media/person/21679/gallery-b0960b459f3e.jpg) Margo Martindale at the Montclair Film Festival 2016. — Montclair Film, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b0/Margo_Martindale_%2826174436084%29.jpg/1280px-Margo_Martindale_%2826174436084%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Margo Martindale](https://film.one/media/person/21679/gallery-39ecc6f74618.jpg) Margo Martindale — Image via TMDB - ![Margo Martindale at the Montclair Film Festival 2016.](https://film.one/media/person/21679/gallery-154d87b632d5.jpg) Margo Martindale at the Montclair Film Festival 2016. — Montclair Film, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/15/Margo_Martindale_%2826779954915%29.jpg/1280px-Margo_Martindale_%2826779954915%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) ## Awards ### Primetime Emmy Awards — 3 won - 2016: Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series (won), for *The Americans* - 2015: Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series (won), for *The Americans* - 2011: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (won), for *Justified* ### Other awards — 0 won, 1 nominated - Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play 2004: Tony Award for Best Featured 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/margo-martindale