Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Blood Simple | Abby | |
| 1985 | Crimewave | A nun | |
| 1985 | Hill Street Blues | Connie Chapman | six episodes |
| 1985 | Scandal Sheet | TV | |
| 1985 | Hunter | Nina Sloan | Episode: "The Garbage Man" |
| 1986 | Spenser: For Hire | Mary | Episode: "A Day's Wages" |
| 1986 | Vengeance: The Story of Tony Cimo | Brigette | |
| 1986 | Twilight Zone, TheThe Twilight Zone | Amanda Strickland | (segment "Need to Know") |
| 1987 | Raising Arizona | Dot | |
| 1987 | Leg Work | Willie Pipal | seven episodes |
| 1988 | Mississippi Burning | Mrs. Pell | Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress |
| 1989 | Chattahoochee | Mae Foley | |
| 1990 | Miller's Crossing | Mayor's secretary | uncredited |
| 1990 | Darkman | Julie Hastings | |
| 1990 | Hidden Agenda | Ingrid Jessner | |
| 1991 | Butcher's Wife, TheThe Butcher's Wife | Grace | |
| 1991 | Barton Fink | Stage Actress (voice) | uncredited |
| 1992 | Passed Away | Nora Scanlan | |
| 1992 | Sôsei kishi Gaiâsu | Pool Girl | (voice: English version) |
| 1992 | Crazy in Love | Clare | TV |
| 1993 | Short Cuts | Betty Weathers | Golden Globe Special Ensemble Cast Award Volpi Cup |
| 1994 | Bleeding Hearts | Woman on TV | |
| 1995 | Palookaville | June | |
| 1995 | Good Old Boys, TheThe Good Old Boys | Eve Calloway | TV |
| 1995 | Beyond Rangoon | Andy Bowma | |
| 1996 | Primal Fear | Dr. Molly Arrington | |
| 1996 | Plain Pleasures | ||
| 1996 | Fargo | Marge Gunderson | Academy Award for Best Actress American Comedy Award for Funniest Actress in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress Chlotrudis Award for Best Actress Empire Award for Best Actress Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress London Film Critics' Circle Award for Actress of the Year National Board of Review Award for Best Actress San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress Satellite Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role Southeastern Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Actress |
| 1996 | Lone Star | Bunny | Lone Star Film & Television Award for Best Supporting Actress |
| 1996 | Hidden in America | Gus | Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress – Miniseries or a Movie |
| 1997 | Paradise Road | Dr. Verstak | |
| 1998 | Madeline | Miss Clavel | |
| 1998 | Talk of Angels | Conlon | |
| 1998 | Johnny Skidmarks | Alice | |
| 2000 | Wonder Boys | Dean Sara Gaskell | Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated—Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated—Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress |
| 2000 | Almost Famous | Elaine Miller | Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Supporting Actress – Drama/Romance Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress Southeastern Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated—American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture Nominated—Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated—Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated—Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role |
| 2001 | Man Who Wasn't There, TheThe Man Who Wasn't There | Doris Crane | Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress |
| 2001 | State of Grace | Narrator, Adult Hannah (voice) | unknown episodes |
| 2001 | Upheaval | Anne | Short film |
| 2002 | City by the Sea | Michelle | |
| 2002 | Laurel Canyon | Jane | Gijón International Film Festival Award for Best Actress Nominated—Chlotrudis Award for Best Actress Nominated—Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female |
| 2003 | Something's Gotta Give | Zoe Barry | |
| 2004 | Last Night | Marit Such | Short film |
| 2005 | AEon FluxÆon Flux | The Handler | |
| 2005 | Precinct Hollywood | Narrator (voice) | TV |
| 2005 | North Country | Glory Dodge | Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role Nominated—Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role |
| 2006 | Friends with Money | Jane | Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female |
| 2006 | Simpsons, TheThe Simpsons | Melanie Upfoot | Episode: "Girls Just Want to Have Sums" |
| 2008 | Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day | Guinevere Pettigrew | |
| 2008 | Burn After Reading | Linda Litzke | Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Nominated—St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress |
| 2011 | Transformers: Dark of the Moon | Charlotte Mearing | |
| 2011 | This Must Be the Place | Jane | |
| 2012 | Moonrise Kingdom | Mrs. Bishop | |
| 2012 | Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted | Capitaine Chantal Dubois | Voice |
| 2012 | Promised Land | Sue Thomason |
Read more about this topic: Frances McDormand