Four-time Academy Award winnerFrances McDormandwas told in drama school that she was “not naturally talented.” Fortunately, she didn’t let such sharp criticism dissuade her. As she explained on an episode of theTeam Deakinspodcast, she was introduced toWilliam Shakespearein English class. In a performance after school for some of the parents, she read Lady Macbeth’s sleepwalking scene and fell in love with acting. “I was a very shy, kind of geeky child, and it was the first time I felt the power of being on stage,” adding, “It was literally the hook that went into my craw and I haven’t gotten it out since.”
For 38 years, she’s steadily worked on both stage and screen. In 1988, she was nominated for a Tony Award for her performance as Stella Kowalski inA Streetcar Named DesirealongsideBlythe DannerandAidan Quinn, and in 2011, she won a Tony for her performance inDavid Lindsay-Abaire’s playGood People. The first film set she ever stepped foot on wasJoelandEthan Coen’s 1984 filmBlood Simple. Nearly four decades later, with 3 Oscars under her belt, it seems like she’s gotten the hang of it. Soon, she’ll be appearing inThe Tragedy of Macbethas - you guessed it - Lady Macbeth, bringing her acting journey full circle.
Let’s take a look at 5 essential Frances McDormand performances to see beforeThe Tragedy of Macbeth.
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Elaine Miller,Almost Famous
Set in the 1970s,Cameron Crowe’s semi-autobiographical music dramedyAlmost Famoustells the coming-of-age story of William Miller (Patrick Fugit), a 15-year-old music journalist who seizes the opportunity to write a piece forRolling Stonemagazine. On his quest, he befriends famous music critic Lester Bangs (Philip Seymour Hoffman), diehard music fan Penny Lane (Kate Hudson), and Russell Hammond (Billy Crudup), the lead member of the fictional band Stillwater that William accompanies on tour.
Frances McDormand plays Elaine Miller, William’s kind hearted and overly protective mother who fears that getting caught up in the rock star lifestyle would corrupt her son’s innocence. Although she is consumed with worry, Elaine doesn’t stop William from pursuing his dream career as a music journalist. In fact, she’s the one that drives him to his various gigs. McDormand doesn’t fall prey to the worrying mother trope. Instead, she layers in humor and wit, and encourages her son’s individuality, breathing fresh air into the mother-son relationship.
Linda Litzke,Burn After Reading
The 2008 movieBurn After Readingis a delightfully droll crime comedy about a series of miscommunications. Written, directed, and produced by the Coen brothers, this film tells the story of Osbourne Cox (John Malkovich) who, because of his alcohol problem, is faced with a demotion from his current job in the CIA. (Rather than accepting the demotion, he screams and quits.) In an attempt to stay relevant, he begins writing a memoir. His wife Katie Cox (Tilda Swinton) is having an affair with Harry Pfarrer (George Clooney) and decides to get a divorce. In the midst of copying Osbourne’s financial records, she accidentally includes a draft of his memoir. The CD containing the sensitive information is left at a gym, and two employees Linda Litzke (McDormand) and Chad Feldheimer (Brad Pitt) mistake it for highly confidential government information.
This role was quite the departure for McDormand, whose characters are most often carrying the weight of incredible trauma.This was her chance to show off her comedic timing (which isexcellent, by the way) and get lost in a character that doesn’t necessarily have a lot on the line. (Sure, there’s the whole potentially top-secret government thing, but, it’snothingcompared to her other roles.) In another completely uncharacteristic twist, McDormand’s Linda isveryvain and determined to have several cosmetic surgeries. McDormand rarely plays a character that cares about or fixates on appearances, so the fact that this was her main concern for the entire movie was an unexpected and welcome storyline.
Marge Gunderson,Fargo
Oh ya, you bet everyone knows the classic 1996 dark comedy crime filmFargo. Written, directed, and produced by the Coen Brothers,it tells the storyof bumbling car salesman Jerry Lundegaard (William H. Macy), who is knee-deep in financial trouble and desperate to escape it. In an attempt to climb out of his debt and smooth over his seedy exploits, he hires two criminals, Carl Showalter (Steve Buscemi) and Gaear Grimsrud (Peter Stormare), to kidnap Jerry’s wife, Jean (Kristin Rudrüd) in the hopes of securing a lucrative ransom from his father-in-law. Things don’t go exactly as planned when Brainerd police chief Marge Gunderson (McDormand) stumbles onto the criminals responsible for disrupting the small town.
Surprisingly, McDormand doesn’t appear inFargountil about thirty minutes into the film, after plenty of blood is shed and the aforementioned kidnapping takes place. Despite her character’s late arrival in an already short movie, McDormand manages to immediately grab the audience’s attention when she stops to investigate a roadside murder. Even though the subject matter is gruesome, this is one of McDormand’s more light-hearted characters. She nails the North Dakota accent and is able to weave together a stern, no-nonsense attitude with the stereotypically upbeat and inquisitive charm of a midwesterner. (This scenebetween Marge and Jerry in the car dealership perfectly captures her range in this role.) Not only did McDormand take home the Oscar for Best Actress, but the Coen brothers win for Best Original Screenplay. Darn tootin’, they did!
Mildred,Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Playwright and screenwriter extraordinaireMartin McDonagh’s 2017 filmThree Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missourifollows Mildred Hayes (McDormand), a grieving, frustrated mother who rents the advertising space on three billboards to call out the lack of progress by the police department in the investigation of her daughter’s rape and murder. Her brutally honest messages directed at Chief Willoughby (Woody Harrelson) and his officers, which include the racist and abusive Jason Dixon (Sam Rockwell), unsettle the residents of Ebbing and spark a conversation about a horrific crime that has been left unsolved.
McDormand is no stranger to playing strong and blunt characters, making her the perfect fit for the role of Mildred Hayes. In fact, McDonagh wrote the part specifically for McDormand after seeing her impressive career and background in theatre. Nothing can get in the way of Mildred’s dogged conviction.In a conversationabout the complex character, McDormand makes the important distinction that this isn’t a story about revenge, but a story about the “larger goal” of attaining justice.She also explainsthat she based her performance onJohn Wayneafter reading a biography on the legendary actor and realizing that Mildred was indeed a cowboy, a role she’s always wanted to play. The film was nominated for Best Picture, and McDormand took home another Oscar for Best Actress.
Fern,Nomadland
The 2020 filmNomadlandis a heart wrenching tale about loss, reflection, and the power of community. Written and directed byChloé Zhaoand based on the non-fictionNew York TimesbestsellerNomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First CenturybyJessica Bruder, this film follows the life of Fern (McDormand), a recently unemployed woman in her sixties who grapples with both the loss of her husband and the economic repercussions of the Great Recession from 2007 to 2009. Having lost her long-time job at the US Gypsum plant in the small town of Empire, Nevada, Fern decides to leave her life behind and travel the American West in a van as a nomad.
Along the way, Fern meets and learns from experienced nomads (some of whom are real-life nomads) at different camp sites, and forms bonds with the unique people living the same type of life.
The film’s direction coupled with McDormand’s unflinching and raw performance makes you feel as though you are watching a documentary. McDormand handles life-altering circumstances with composure and tenacity, proving that no matter the severity of her situation, she can and will make it to the other side. At one moment in the film, she explains, “I’m not homeless. I’m just houseless.” Rather than wallow in the incredibly unfair hand that she was dealt, she sees each obstacle as an opportunity to grow and considers herself lucky to be able to explore the country. A look inside themaking of the filmshows exactly how much McDormand immersed herself in nomad culture. (The character of Fern was largely based on McDormand as well.) In addition to winning the prestigious Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival,Nomadlandperformed extremely well at the Oscars, winning Best Picture, Best Director for Zhao, and Best Actress for McDormand.
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