Effortlessly talented and extremely strong-willed, Frances MacDormand is one of the best working actresses today. Considered a pioneer of facial expressions and women’s acting as a whole, McDormand has conveyed her indomitable acting prowess in a plethora of successful films throughout her triumphant career. McDormand is widely recognized as an incredibly versatile actor, with her quirky character portrayals reminding critics and audiences alike of her impressive acting range. Born in Gibson City, Illinois, the now 64-year-old actress was adopted at the age of one and a half and eventually earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in theater from Bethany College. McDormand later earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Yale School of Drama and made her film debut in Blood simple (1984).
Since then, McDormand has received seven Academy Award nominations, winning it for Best Actress Fargo (1996), Three billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri(2017), ed Nomad country (2020), making her one of the few performers to have achieved the Triple Crown of Acting. McDormand has also received a Tony Award, two Primetime Emmy Awards, four Screen Actors Guild awards, and two Golden Globe Awards. She also received an Academy Award as one of the producers Nomad countryearning her a fourth Academy Award.
With a remarkable resume and cheerfulness, here are some of Frances McDormand’s best films and best performances.
Updated May 2023: If you’re a fan of Frances McDormand, you’ll be pleased to know that this article has been updated with additional content by Adam Ghelerter.
10 North country
North country added an Academy Award nomination to McDormand’s esteemed collection – this time for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. The film focuses on single mother Josey Aimes (Charlize Theron), one of the first women to work in a Minnesota iron mine. The male miners cannot stand women doing the same job and subjecting the woman to sexual harassment, including humiliation through insults, sexually inappropriate language and physical violence.
McDormand plays Josey’s friend Glory, who plays a part in the class action lawsuit. Glory is a fellow coal miner struggling with Lou Gehrig’s disease. Ultimately confined to a wheelchair and unable to speak, McDormand plays a vital role in the case when she writes a letter in support of Josey’s lawsuit. While this film is not as critically acclaimed as others in her filmography, her performance in North country stands out for the tailoring of her character and the exceptional portrayal of McDormand.
9 Wonder boys
Wonder boys is an underrated movie with a star-studded cast including Michael Douglas, Tobey Maguire, Robert Downey Jr. and Frances McDormand. McDormand plays Sara, the chancellor of a liberal arts university in Pennsylvania. Despite her prestige and success, she is rather dissatisfied with life. You could say in the middle of a midlife crisis. The film revolves around Grady (Michael Douglas), a professor and novelist who teaches creative writing at the university. The chairman of Grady’s writing department is Walter, Sara’s husband. Sara and Grady have an affair and things take a complicated turn when she tells him she’s pregnant.
Although her role is not the most prominent in this magnificent ensemble, her playing is fantastic and stands out. Wonder boys is not her most critically acclaimed film, but was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Screenplay, and is a must-see if you’re a fan of McDormand.
8 Burn after reading
Consistent with her acclaimed performances as a dramatic actor, McDormand has achieved known success in indulging in comedy, especially black comedies. Burn after reading surprised critics and audiences alike with its quirky comedic spin on the espionage genre as a whole. McDormand plays Linda Litzke, a head-in-the-clouds gym worker who, along with her colleague Chad (Brad Pitt), stumble upon an ex-CIA agent’s disk that they believe contains classified government information. McDormand absolutely shines in this comedic role as a dim-witted employee with self-centered intentions, resulting in one of the better performances in her versatile career.
7 Mississippi fires
In one of her earlier roles in a major feature film, McDormand received a well-deserved Oscar nomination for her role in Mississippi fires (1988). McDormand plays Mrs. Fell, the wife of a violent sheriff’s deputy involved in a highly profiled race crime in a Mississippi town. The film conveys a series of heavy elements, including the dangers of racial discrimination in communities. McDormand’s impeccable acting is displayed in incredible fashion as her character is forced to choose between an apparent decision of right and wrong, while holding onto her own beliefs and morals. McDormand’s performance is insanely powerful and should not be overlooked.
6 Almost Famous
Cameron Crowe’s autobiographical creation explores the filmmaker’s wild journalistic teens in the rock world of the 1970s. Patrick Fugit stars as the teenager while Frances McDormand plays his overprotective mother. In addition, McDormand’s character strongly forbids the controversy and cultural impact that rock music can have on her impressionable young son. While her presence is incredibly overbearing, her intentions are good at heart, which the actress portrays perfectly. McDormand’s mesmerizing performance in Almost Famous earned her a Best Supporting Actress nomination (along with co-star Kate Hudson) and remains one of her very best.
5 The Tragedy of Macbeth
Directed by her husband, Joel Coen, Frances McDormand received huge acclaim for her recent role as Lady Macbeth in The Tragedy of Macbeth next to Denzel Washington. In a Shakespearean tale of utter horror and despair, McDormand beautifully captures Lady Macbeth’s hard-won determination, with many critics viewing the part as the one she was undoubtedly “born to play.”
Since the film’s limited theatrical release on December 25, 2021, with streaming on Apple TV+ available on January 14, 2022, McDormand’s breathtaking performance has generated a lot of Oscar buzz, with many thinking the veteran actress would receive another Academy Award nomination.
4 Blood easy
The Coen Brothers and McDormand have a prolific career together and that’s where it all started Blood easy. Not alone Blood simple the Coen Brothers’ first film, but it is also McDormand’s first major film. In a small Texas town, McDormand plays the role of Abby, a young woman who cheats on her husband, the owner of a sleazy local bar. The husband tries to cope and confronts her lover man to man but to no avail. He snaps and finally decides to get revenge by hiring a private investigator to take them out.
With constant twists, Blood simple is poignant and has that now so well-known dark humor of Coen Brothers that keeps this neo-noir crime thriller humorous at times but above all exciting. McDormand’s first swing in a major motion picture was a huge hit that propelled her career, making this a must-see performance.
3 Nomad country
Critically acclaimed for its direction and cinematography, Academy Award winner Chloé Zhao’s Nomad country was the talk of the town at the 93rd Academy Awards ceremony. McDormand memorably plays Fern, a former factory worker who sells all of her belongings and buys a van to travel after losing both her job and husband. During her personal journey of discovery, Fern meets several real nomads. McDormand’s Fern is an insanely quirky character with incredible depth as he learns and understands the tender moments life has to offer. The poignant standout performance earned her a third Academy Award for Best Actress.
2 Fargo
Decades after its initial release, Fargo (1996) remains one of the best dark comedies ever made. In addition, the film serves as another collaboration between Frances McDormand and the Coen Brothers. McDormand has a memorable role as Marge Gunderson, a pregnant police officer engaged in a thorough investigation of an unorthodox kidnapping case. The simplistic sweetness and comfort ooze from McDormand’s character, while at the same time implementing a mix of both downright determination and an officer with genuine hilarity. The memorable performance earned McDormand her first Academy Award for Best Actress.
1 Three billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri
Capturing her second Academy Award for Best Actress, Frances McDormand’s hauntingly good performance in Three billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri remains arguably the best in her illustrious career. McDormand plays Mildred Hayes, a mother mourning the recent murder of her young daughter. After several months with no answers and frustration with the lack of urgency within the local police department, Mildred decides to rent three billboards in an attempt to send a message to the police. Martin McDonagh delivers an unforgettable story about a mother on a mission, while adding elements of dark comedy and understandable sympathy.