Frances McDormand

Frances McDormand (born June 23, 1957) is an award-winning American character actress with film, stage, and television credits.

Related Topics:
June 23 - 1957 - American

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She was born in Chicago, Illinois and was the youngest of three children adopted by Canadian parents Vernon (a Disciples of Christ minister) and Noreen McDormand. She spent much of her youth in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania suburb of Monessen, where she graduated from high school. She attended Bethany College, Bethany, West Virginia, where she earned her B.A. in Theater in 1979.

Related Topics:
Chicago, Illinois - Canadian - Disciples of Christ - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - Monessen - Bethany College - Bethany, West Virginia - 1979

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In 1982 she earned an M.F.A. from the Yale University School of Drama. While attending Yale, McDormand roomed with fellow actress and student Holly Hunter.

Related Topics:
1982 - Yale University - Holly Hunter

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Her acting debut was in 1984, in the first film by Joel and Ethan Coen, Blood Simple. She married Joel the same year, and in 1985, McDormand, the Coen brothers, Holly Hunter, and director Sam Raimi all shared a house in Silver Lake, Los Angeles, California. In 1998, Joel and McDormand adopted a son from Paraguay, Pedro McDormand Coen. McDormand has performed at least minor roles in all of the Coens' films.

Related Topics:
1984 - Joel and Ethan Coen - Blood Simple - Sam Raimi - Silver Lake, Los Angeles, California - 1998 - Paraguay

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McDormand has been nominated for Academy Awards three times. In 1988 she was nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Mississippi Burning; In 1996 she won the award for Best Actress for her police chief performance in Fargo; and in 2000 she was nominated again for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her portrayal of a concerned mother in Almost Famous.

Related Topics:
Academy Awards - 1988 - Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Mississippi Burning - 1996 - Best Actress - Fargo - 2000 - Almost Famous

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Also for Almost Famous, she won the Best Supporting Actress nod from the Broadcast Film Critics Association, the Chicago Film Critics Association, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, San Diego Film Critics Society, Southeastern Film Critics Association, and the Florida Film Critics Circle. For Wonder Boys in 2001 she won Best Supporting Actress from the Broadcast Film Critics Association, the Florida Film Critics Circle, and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association.

Related Topics:
Wonder Boys - 2001

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In addition to her film roles, McDormand played "Connie Chapman" in the fifth season of the television police drama, Hill Street Blues. In 1988, McDormand played Stella Kowalski in a stage production of Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire, for which she was nominated for a Tony Award. Frances McDormand is an associate member of the experimental theater company The Wooster Group.

Related Topics:
Hill Street Blues - Tennessee Williams - A Streetcar Named Desire - Tony Award - Experimental theater - The Wooster Group

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