FRANCES McDORMAND (Michelle) was awarded an Academy Award for her performance in the acclaimed Coen Brothers film Fargo. She also earned a supporting actress nomination in 1988 for her role in Mississippi Burning and a third Oscar nomination for her performance as Elaine in Cameron Croweís Almost Famous. McDormand will next be seen in the upcoming Laurel Canyon, written and directed by Lisa Cholodenko, opening this fall.

      In addition to Almost Famous, filmgoers have recently seen McDormand in the Coen Brothersí film The Man Who Wasnít There, with Billy Bob Thornton and Curtis Hansonís Wonder Boys, which also stars Michael Douglas and Tobey Maguire. Other projects include such diverse films as Madeline, Primal Fear, Lone Star, Palookaville, Blood Simple, Raising Arizona, Short Cuts and Paradise Road. Her television credits include the Showtime film Hidden in America, for which she earned an Emmy nomination, and Turnerís The Good Old Boys and Crazy in Love.

      McDormandís Broadway stage successes include her Tony-nominated performance in A Street Car Named Desire. She also starred in The Sisters Rosenzweig, The Swan, and Oedipus.