Frances McDormand is an unfussy actor who shows us what it means to be human. The seven-time Academy Award nominee and four-time winner is a favorite in independent off-beat films. Her Oscars are for her fearless, performances in Fargo (1996), Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017), and Nomadland (2020), each of them lacking any actors’ vanity. For producing Nomadland she won an Oscar for Best Picture, making her the first person in history to win Academy Awards both as producer and performer for the same film, and the second woman in history to win Best Actress three times. McDormand has had Oscar nominations in five consecutive decades, beginning with Mississippi Burning (1988), a nomination for Best Supporting Actress (she lost to Geena Davis for The Accidental Tourist). There are also two Emmy Awards, a Tony, three BAFTA Awards, two Golden Globes, an Independent Spirit Award, and four Screen Actors Guild Awards, making for a very crowded and heavy awards shelf at the home she shares with her husband, one of the filmmaking Coen Bros, Joel (the cute one).
McDormand is an incredibly versatile actor, specializing in headstrong characters, impressing film fans with her impressive range. She is one of the greatest actors of my generation and I absolutely adore her. Here are just ten of my favorite of her film performances. Sure, I could have chosen a Top 20, but I know you kids have things you should be doing. And just for today, we will ignore her fine work on television, such as the McDormand produced and starring role in the HBO miniseries Olive Kitteridge (2014).
