Frances McDormand Already has 3 Oscar Wins

Frances McDormand — 3 wins, 5 nominations at the Oscars

Frances McDormand is one of the most versatile actresses working today. In her 30-year career, the actress has played everything from a pregnant police chief to a foul-mouthed clown in "Fargo". Her performance as Marge in the black comedy has cemented her place as one of Hollywood’s most talented performers. Let’s take a look at Frances McDormand's career and see what awards she has won so far.

1994 - Best Lead Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama

In this western drama, Frances McDormand plays a pregnant sheriff in a frontier town who has to deal with the husband she’s divorcing, a deputy who’s falling in love with her, and the impending birth of her child. McDormand brings a level of poignancy and emotional complexity to this character that is both inspiring and heartbreaking.

2001 - Best Lead Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical

In this dark comedy, Frances McDormand plays Marge Gunderson, a pregnant police chief who investigates a case of fraud and murder in her small Minnesota town. As the film plays out, Marge has to navigate the absurdities of small-town life, protect her pregnant state, and crack the case. McDormand’s performance is not only humorous but also compassionate.

2010 - Best Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

In this crime thriller miniseries, Frances McDormand plays an embittered and estranged wife who reunites with her abusive husband to plan his scheme to murder her lover. McDormand brings a sense of realism and nuance to this complicated character that makes her both relatable and chilling.

2014 - Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture

In this film adaptation of the bestselling novel, Frances McDormand plays a small-town mother who joins a volunteer search party to find a missing girl in the woods. McDormand brings quiet compassion and resolves to this character which not only drives the plot but also helps us understand the social issues at play.

2016 – Honorary Award

Frances McDormand won an honorary award in 2016 for her contributions to the film industry and for raising awareness of issues facing women and marginalized communities. During her speech, McDormand said, “What a privilege it is to be in the great and wondrous and, yes, flawed and imperfect, and yet still the extraordinary and magnificent business of making films.”

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

In 2017, Frances McDormand appeared in her most recent Oscar-winning performance in the film “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.” McDormand plays an angry woman grieving for her murdered daughter who rents out three billboards to call attention to the lack of progress in the case. The film was directed by Martin McDonagh, who also directed McDormand in “In Bruges.” McDormand plays a woman who is angry and grieving, but also loving and vulnerable. She steals every scene she is in, and her performance earned her another Oscar nomination. McDormand is one of the most respected actors in Hollywood, and she continues to show her range as she ages.

Recent roles

Throughout her career, Frances McDormand has played a variety of different characters. From a rock groupie who reunites with her former bandmates to a grieving mother who confronts the police chief in her town, McDormand’s characters all feel realistic and lived in. Her latest film is “What They Had.” In the film, McDormand plays an elderly woman who is dealing with the passing of her husband. Her character is the rock of her family, and her family members turn to her for support after her husband passes away. McDormand’s other recent films include “Wonder,” “Gloria Bell,” and “Disobedience.” “Disobedience” is a film about forbidden desires, and McDormand plays a woman who struggles with her sexuality.

Conclusion

Frances McDormand is one of the best actresses working in film today. Over her 30-year career, McDormand has shown incredible range and depth in her performances. Whether she’s playing a pregnant police chief who has to crack a case or a mother who just wants to find her missing daughter, Frances McDormand portrays every character with honesty and compassion. Her performances are always nuanced and feel incredibly real, and McDormand has won numerous awards for them including 3 Oscars for Best Actress and 5 nominations. She is tied with Meryl Streep and 1 Oscar behind the legend Katherine Hepburn.