Cast & creator
Frances McDormand
Best known for The Simpsons, Great Performances, Tony Awards
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.
Also known as: Frances Louise McDormand, Cynthia Ann Smith
81
film credits
12
television credits
85
1953–2026 · acting roles
6.7
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (93)
Showing 93 of 93 credits
The Simpsons
Melanie Upfoot (voice)
1989
Great Performances
Self
1971
Tony Awards
Self - Winner
1956
Hill Street Blues
1981
The Twilight Zone
(segment "Need to Know")
1985
Hunter
Nina Sloan
1984
Good Omens
God (voice)
2019
The Oscars
Self
1953
The Good Dinosaur
Momma (voice)
2015
Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted
Chantel DuBois (voice)
2012
Isle of Dogs
Interpreter Nelson (voice)
2018
Primal Fear
Molly
1996
Fargo
Marge Gunderson
1996
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Mildred
2017
Almost Famous
Elaine Miller
2000
Nomadland
Fern
2021Nomadland
Producer
2021
The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun
Lucinda Krementz
2021
State of Grace
Adult Hannah (voice)
2001
Wolfs
Pam (voice)
2024
Hail, Caesar!
C. C. Calhoun
2016
Olive Kitteridge
Olive Kitteridge
2014Olive Kitteridge
Executive Producer
2014
Moonrise Kingdom
Mrs. Bishop
2012
Something's Gotta Give
Zoe
2003
The Tragedy of Macbeth
Lady Macbeth
2021The Tragedy of Macbeth
Producer
2021
Burn After Reading
Linda Litzke
2008
Women Talking
Scarface Janz
2022Women Talking
Producer
2022
Raising Arizona
Dot
1987
Æon Flux
Handler
2005
Mississippi Burning
Mrs. Pell
1988
North Country
Glory
2005
Blood Simple
Abby
1985
Miller's Crossing
Mayor's Secretary (uncredited)
1990
Friends with Money
Jane
2006
Leg Work
Willie Pipal
1987
The Man Who Wasn't There
Doris Crane
2001
Wonder Boys
Sara Gaskell
2000
Promised Land
Sue Thomason
2012
Barton Fink
Stage Actress (voice) (uncredited)
1991
The Grey Zone
Thanks
2001
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Mearing
2011
Darkman
Julie Hastings
1990
The Butcher's Wife
Grace
1991
Short Cuts
Betty Weathers
1993
City by the Sea
Michelle
2002
This Must Be the Place
Jane
2011
Every Secret Thing
Producer
2014
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
Guinevere Pettigrew
2008
Lone Star
Bunny
1996
Laurel Canyon
Jane
2003
Beyond Rangoon
Andy Bowman
1995
The Origins of Ebbing
Self
2018
Passed Away
Nora Scanlan
1992
Paradise Road
Dr. Verstak
1997
The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin
Self (voice)
2017
Hidden Agenda
Ingrid Jessner
1990
Crimewave
Nun
1985
Madeline
Miss Clavel
1998
Vengeance: The Story of Tony Cimo
Brigette
1986
Johnny Skidmarks
Alice
1998
Exploring the Set of 'Moonrise Kingdom'
Self / Mrs. Bishop
2015
Armani and the Birth of Italian Fashion
2026
Talk of Angels
Conlon
1998
The Good Old Boys
Eve Calloway
1995
Searching for Debra Winger
Self
2002
Palookaville
June
1996
Crazy in Love
Clare
1992
Minnesota Nice
Self
2003
Moonrise Kingdom Extras - Eleven iPhone Videos by Edward Norton.
Self
2015
Hidden in America
Gus
1996
She's The Best Thing in It
Self
2015
Bleeding Hearts
Woman on TV (archive footage)
1995
The Oedipus Project
Jocosta
2020
Sesame Street: Kid's Guide to Life: Big Bird Gets Lost
Herself
2003
Edwurd Fudwupper Fibbed Big
The Adult Fannie (voice)
2000
Luck, Trust & Ketchup: Robert Altman in Carver Country
Self
1993Making "The Man Who Wasn't There"
Self
2002
Chattahoochee
Mae Foley
1990
The Botany of Desire
Narrator (voice)
2009Jack of Spades
Jack of Spades
Producer
DC Insiders Run Amuck
Self
2008
The Making of 'Hidden Agenda'
Self
1990
Crafting the Tragedy of Macbeth
Self
2022
The Bend in the River
Executive Producer
2025
Talking With
Caro (segment "Handler")
1995
Scandal Sheet
1985Finding the Burn
Self / Linda Litzke (archive footage)
2008
Upheaval
Anne
2002
Habitat Eart
Narrator
2015