American film, stage and television actress Frances Louise
McDormand began her career on stage and made her screen debut in the 1984 film Blood
Simple having since appeared in several theatrical and television roles.

McDormand has been recognized for her performances in Mississippi
Burning, Almost Famous, and North Country and was nominated for four Golden
Globes, four Academy Awards, three BAFTA Awards, and an Emmy award. She won the
Academy Award for Best Actress in 1996 for her role as Marge Gunderson in
Fargo.  She also won Best Supporting
Actress from the Broadcast Film Critics Association, the Florida Film Critics
Circle, and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association for her performance in
Wonder Boys (2000). McDormand returned to the stage in the David Lindsay-Abaire
play Good People on Broadway from February 8, 2011 to April 24, 2011.

McDormand has been married to director Joel Coen since 1984,
they reside in New York City along with their adopted son Pedro.