Frances McDormand

Frances McDormand has established a worldwide cinema audience with roles in a variety of films including her Academy Award-winning portrayal of Marge Gunderson in the acclaimed Coen Brothers’ film, “Fargo.”

Her other films include “Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day,” Nicole Holofcener’s “Friends With Money” (Spirit Award), Niki Caro’s “North Country” (Academy Award, Golden Globe and SAG nominations), the critically acclaimed “Laurel Canyon,” “Something’s Gotta Give,” Cameron Crowe’s “Almost Famous” (for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe, BAFTA Award and Academy Award, and for which she won several Critics Awards,) Curtis Hanson’s “Wonder Boys,” Michael Caton Jones’ “City By the Sea” opposite Robert De Niro, Daisy Von Sherler Mayer’s “Madeline,” Gregory Hoblit’s “Primal Fear,” John Sayles’ “Lone Star,” Alan Taylor’s “Palookaville,” Mick Jackson’s “Chattahoochee” with Gary Oldman, Sam Raimi's “Darkman” opposite Liam Neeson, Ken Loach’s “Hidden Agenda,” Robert Altman’s “Short Cuts” (Venice Film Festival Award for Best Ensemble and Golden Globe Award for Best Ensemble Cast), John Boorman’s “Beyond Rangoon,” Bruce Beresford’s “Paradise Road,” and Alan Parker’s “Mississippi Burning” (Academy Award nomination). With the Coen Brothers, she has made four other films, “Blood Simple,” “Raising Arizona,” “The Man Who Wasn’t There” and “Burn After Reading.”

The actress has starred in the television films “The Good Old Boys” directed by Tommy Lee Jones, “Talking With...” directed by Kathy Bates, “Crazy in Love” directed by Martha Coolidge, and “Hidden in America” opposite Jeff Bridges (for which she received an Emmy nomination.)

McDormand studied at the Yale School of Drama. Stage successes include Caryl Churchill’s “The Country Girl” directed by Mike Nichols, “Far Away” directed by Stephen Daldry at the New York Theatre Workshop, her Tony-nominated performance as ‘Stella’ in “A Streetcar Named Desire,” “The Sisters Rosenzweig” at Lincoln Center, “The Swan” at The Public Theatre, “A Streetcar Named Desire” (this time as ‘Blanche’) at the Gate Theater in Dublin, and Dare Clubb’s “Oedipus” at the Blue Light Theater Company opposite Billy Crudup. Most recently, she appeared in The Wooster Group’s “North Atlantic.” She also spent two years with The Wooster Group work-shopping and then performing “To You, The Birdie!”

Paramount Pictures