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Frances McDormand, actor
Actor

Frances McDormand: Movies, Awards & Box Office

films
46
on screen
1985–2022
box office
$1.58B
award wins
13
average score
76
Born
June 23, 1957 (age 69)
Birthplace
Gibson City, Illinois, U.S.
Full name
Cynthia Ann Smith
Citizenship
U.S.
Occupations
Actress, producer
Years active
1982-present
Spouses
Joel Coen
Children
1
Known for

The Best Frances McDormand Movies

The highest-rated films Frances McDormand is credited on, by the Movie Echo Score that blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017) scores highest, at 90. The full ranking adds the biggest box office hits and the most awarded films.

Full ranking
Career at a glance

Frances McDormand's Career in Numbers

Frances McDormand's films in numbers — as an actor, not counting appearances as themselves: when they were made, the genres Frances McDormand works in most and the milestones along the way. The filmography runs from Scandal Sheet (1985) to Women Talking (2022), and the 1990s were the busiest decade.

Frances McDormand Movies by Decade

  1. 1980s 3
  2. 1990s 14
  3. 2000s 12
  4. 2010s 8
  5. 2020s 4

The 1990s were Frances McDormand's busiest decade, with 14 films.

Frances McDormand Movies by Genre

  • Drama 21
  • Comedy 5
  • Adventure 3
  • Documentary 3
  • Action 2
  • Tv movie 2
  • Sci-Fi 1
  • Family 1
  • Crime 1
  • Thriller 1

Drama is the genre Frances McDormand has worked in most, with 21 films, ahead of comedy (5).

Frances McDormand Career Milestones

First film
Scandal Sheet 1985
Biggest box office hit
The Good Dinosaur $332M worldwide
Best-rated film
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri Movie Echo Score 90
Newest film
Women Talking 2022
46 credits

Frances McDormand Filmography: Every Movie

Every film Frances McDormand is credited on, newest first, with the role, the box office and the Movie Echo Score. Rated films average a score of 76. Re-order the list to see the best-rated films or the biggest hits first.

Frances McDormand Movies as an Actor

41
  1. 2022 Women Talking (2022) movie poster Women Talking as Scarface Janz · Drama Movie Echo Score: 50
  2. 2021 The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021) movie poster The Tragedy of Macbeth as Lady Macbeth · Drama Movie Echo Score: 77
  3. 2021 The French Dispatch (2021) movie poster The French Dispatch as Lucinda Krementz · Drama Movie Echo Score: 71
  4. 2020 Nomadland (2020) movie poster Nomadland as Fern · Drama Movie Echo Score: 80
  5. 2018 Isle of Dogs (2018) movie poster Isle of Dogs as Interpreter Nelson · Adventure Movie Echo Score: 86
  6. 2017 Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017) movie poster Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri as Mildred · Drama Movie Echo Score: 90
  7. 2016 Hail, Caesar! (2016) movie poster Hail, Caesar! Drama
  8. 2015 The Good Dinosaur (2015) movie poster The Good Dinosaur Adventure
  9. 2014 Olive Kitteridge (2014) movie poster Olive Kitteridge as Olive Kitteridge · Drama
  10. 2012 Promised Land (2012) movie poster Promised Land Drama
  11. 2012 This Must Be the Place (2012) movie poster This Must Be the Place Drama
  12. 2012 Moonrise Kingdom (2012) movie poster Moonrise Kingdom Drama
  13. 2009 The Botany of Desire (2009) movie poster The Botany of Desire as Narrator (voice) · Documentary
  14. 2008 Burn After Reading (2008) movie poster Burn After Reading Drama
  15. 2008 Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (2008) movie poster Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day Comedy
  16. 2006 Friends with Money (2006) movie poster Friends with Money Drama
  17. 2005 Æon Flux (2005) movie poster Æon Flux Action
  18. 2005 North Country (2005) movie poster North Country Drama
  19. 2003 Something's Gotta Give (2003) movie poster Something's Gotta Give Comedy
  20. 2003 Laurel Canyon (2003) movie poster Laurel Canyon Drama
  21. 2002 City by the Sea (2002) movie poster City by the Sea Drama
  22. 2001 The Man Who Wasn't There (2001) movie poster The Man Who Wasn't There Drama
  23. 2001 Scottsboro: An American Tragedy (2001) movie poster Scottsboro: An American Tragedy Documentary
  24. 2000 Edwurd Fudwupper Fibbed Big (2000) movie poster Edwurd Fudwupper Fibbed Big as The Adult Fannie (voice) · Sci-Fi
  25. 1998 Madeline (1998) movie poster Madeline as Miss Clavel · Family
  26. 1998 Johnny Skidmarks (1998) movie poster Johnny Skidmarks as Alice · Crime
  27. 1997 Paradise Road (1997) movie poster Paradise Road Drama
  28. 1996 Hidden in America (1996) movie poster Hidden in America as Gus · Tv movie
  29. 1996 Fargo (1996) movie poster Fargo Drama
  30. 1995 Palookaville (1995) movie poster Palookaville as June · Comedy
  31. 1995 Beyond Rangoon (1995) movie poster Beyond Rangoon as Andy Bowman · Thriller
  32. 1995 The Good Old Boys (1995) movie poster The Good Old Boys as Eve Calloway · Adventure
  33. 1995 American Cinema (1995) movie poster American Cinema as Narrator · Documentary
  34. 1992 Crazy in Love (1992) movie poster Crazy in Love as Clare · Comedy
  35. 1992 Passed Away (1992) movie poster Passed Away as Nora Scanlan · Comedy
  36. 1991 The Butcher’s Wife (1991) movie poster The Butcher’s Wife as Grace · Romance
  37. 1990 Hidden Agenda (1990) movie poster Hidden Agenda as Ingrid Jessner · Drama
  38. 1990 Darkman (1990) movie poster Darkman Action
  39. 1986 Vengeance: The Story of Tony Cimo (1986) movie poster Vengeance: The Story of Tony Cimo as Brigette · Drama
  40. 1985 Scandal Sheet (1985) movie poster Scandal Sheet Tv movie
  41. 1985 Blood Simple (1985) movie poster Blood Simple Drama
13 wins · 31 nominations

Frances McDormand: Awards & Nominations

13 wins from 31 nominations across 7 award bodies, from 1989 to 2023. That includes 3 Oscars: Best Actress for Nomadland, Best Actress for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and Best Actress for Fargo. Every ceremony is listed newest first, with the category and the film.

All movie awards
  • Oscars logo Oscars 3 wins from 6 nominations
  • Spirit Awards logo Spirit Awards 3 wins from 5 nominations
  • Actor Awards (SAG) logo Actor Awards (SAG) 2 wins from 6 nominations
  • BAFTA logo BAFTA 2 wins from 5 nominations
  • Critics' Choice logo Critics' Choice 2 wins from 4 nominations
  • Golden Globes logo Golden Globes 1 win from 4 nominations
  • Saturn Awards logo Saturn Awards 1 nomination
Biography

Who Is Frances McDormand?

Frances McDormand was born in Gibson City, Illinois, U.S. in 1957 and is 69 years old. Credited on films since 1985, as an actor. The background, training and the roles that shaped the career.

Frances Louise McDormand, born as Cynthia Ann Smith on June 23, 1957, is a celebrated figure in the American film industry, known for both her work in front of the camera as an actress and behind the scenes as a producer. Her illustrious career, thriving across more than four decades, has been marked by noteworthy roles in small-budget independent films. McDormand boasts an impressive list of accolades, including four Academy Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and one Tony Award, thereby securing her position among the rare performers to accomplish the 'Triple Crown of Acting'. She also managed to bag three BAFTA Awards and two Golden Globe Awards. McDormand's contribution to the industry has significant commercial value, with her films grossing more than $2.2 billion worldwide.

Her marriage to Joel Coen in 1984 gave her the opportunity to appear in multiple triumphant films of the Coen brothers. These films range from 'Blood Simple' (1984), 'Fargo' (1996), 'The Man Who Wasn't There' (2001), to 'Hail, Caesar!' (2016). Remarkably, McDormand won three Best Actress Academy Awards for her performances in 'Fargo', 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri' (2017), and 'Nomadland' (2020). The last movie 'Nomadland', produced by her as well, brought her an Academy Award for Best Picture, making her the first person to win Academy Awards both as a producer and a performer for the same film. She has enjoyed a successful run on television as well, winning Primetime Emmy Awards for the HBO miniseries 'Olive Kitteridge' (2014) in which she both produced and starred.

Works with

Who Frances McDormand Makes Movies With

The actors and directors Frances McDormand shares the most films with. Joel Coen comes first, with 6 films together, followed by Tilda Swinton (6).

FAQ

Frances McDormand: Questions & Answers

How many movies Frances McDormand has made, the biggest hit, the best-rated film, the award record and more, answered from the filmography above.

How many movies has Frances McDormand been in?

Frances McDormand is credited on 46 films, from 1985 to 2022. The filmography on this page lists every one of them, newest first, with the role and the Movie Echo Score.

What is Frances McDormand's highest-grossing movie?

The Good Dinosaur (2015) is Frances McDormand's biggest box office hit, with $332M worldwide, ahead of Something's Gotta Give (2003) ($265M). Across every film with box office figures, Frances McDormand's movies have made $1.58B.

Frances McDormand's biggest hits

What is the best Frances McDormand movie?

By the Movie Echo Score, which blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact, Frances McDormand's best-rated film is Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017) with a score of 90, followed by Isle of Dogs (2018) (86).

Best Frances McDormand movies, ranked

Has Frances McDormand won an Oscar?

Frances McDormand has won 3 Oscars: Best Actress for Nomadland at the 2021 ceremony, Best Actress for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri at the 2018 ceremony and Best Actress for Fargo at the 1997 ceremony. Across every ceremony in the awards database, Frances McDormand has 13 wins from 31 nominations.

How old is Frances McDormand?

Frances McDormand is 69 years old, born on June 23, 1957 in Gibson City, Illinois, U.S..

What is Frances McDormand's newest movie?

The most recent film on Frances McDormand's filmography is Women Talking (2022), in the role of Scarface Janz.

Who does Frances McDormand work with most often?

Frances McDormand shares the most films with Joel Coen (6 films), Tilda Swinton (6 films) and Ethan Coen (6 films).

The Best Frances McDormand Movies, Ranked

Top rated, most awarded and biggest box office hits from 46 credits.

See the ranking

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