Frances McDormand’s performance in the uber-iconic Fargo (1996) earned her an Oscar in the Best Actress category. McDormand, known for her Triple Crown of Acting stature and unmatched legacy, is recognized as one of Hollywood’s most accomplished talents. Her career has spanned four decades, and she has been in some of the most noteworthy projects all through that time. Fargo‘s role in shaping the actress’ professional life is undeniable, and it is a daunting, impossible task to envision any other actress in the role of Marge Gunderson.
However, many fans may not be aware of McDormand’s initial reluctance to move ahead with the Coen Brothers’ classic. In an interview, the Olive Kitteridge star divulged the reasons behind not immediately connecting with the script penned by Joel and Ethan Coen. She reasoned that most Hollywood actors look for other, more memorable roles instead of playing a “normal pregnant cop” in Minnesota.
The actress’ preferred alternatives were somewhat… unconventional.
Frances McDormand Was In A Weird Period While Filming Fargo (1996)
In a 2002 interview with MovieMaker, McDormand was asked about her portrayal of Marge Gunderson in Fargo. Marge, a seven-month-pregnant Minnesota police chief, is shown investigating a triple homicide in the film. When the Coen brothers approached the Oscar-winning actress with the screenplay, she was reluctant to embark on the journey. Before explaining why, the actress informed the interviewer about the strange phase she was going through during the film’s development.
“That was a really weird period for me. If I had been offered a script from someplace else where I was a woman seven months pregnant, I wouldn’t have done it at that time because I had been trying to get pregnant for a few years and nature didn’t come through.”
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The pregnancy element of Marge’s character proved a tricky road to traverse for McDormand, who was trying to get pregnant herself. The actress recalled when she and her husband, Joel Coen, considered adopting a child:
“Joel and I applied for adoption, and we knew that our son was born, but we couldn’t meet him until a month and a half after we finished Fargo. So, in essence, we were not specifically pregnant, but we were expecting.”
In a way, the actress’ experience with adoption and motherhood coincided with the element of Marge’s pregnancy. However, Frances McDormand stated that she was initially not excited about Fargo when the Coen brothers approached her with the role that has since become one of her career-defining performances. Initially, the screenplay prompted a disapproving groan from the celebrity.
Frances McDormand Was More Interested In Playing A Psycho Killer Or A Prostitute
Mentioned even on IMDb‘s Fargo Trivia page, Frances McDormand revealed in the MovieMaker interview that actors are often more interested in playing serial killers or prostitutes over a mundane, pregnant cop. Therefore, when the Coen brothers came to the actress, her reaction, which she detailed in the interview, went something like this:
“If Joel and Ethan ask me to do something, I’m going to do it. I love working with them and I would be there anyway, so I might as well work. But when I read the script, I was like (groans), “Shit, this is it? This is what you’ve chosen to give me?””
McDormand admitted that she struggled to connect with the premise. It wasn’t until she viewed the film with an audience that she realized how grateful she was for the part. Nonetheless, the Women Talking alum was adamant about playing a serial murderer or a prostitute. Following was her statement:
“We all had a blast making that movie, but it wasn’t until I first saw it with an audience that I really got what an offering it was to me as an actor at that time. You know, actors want to play psycho killers and prostitutes, not a normal pregnant cop in Minnesota. But it was so much fun doing it.”
We’re delighted the actress had an enjoyable experience while working on the film. Despite her preference for unconventional roles over a “normal, pregnant cop in Minnesota,” the actress decided to move forward with Fargo. This brought her worldwide acclaim and added a memorable project to her impressive filmography. She also earned an Academy Award! We can be assured that Frances McDormand didn’t regret her decision.
Fargo (1996) is available for streaming on Max.
Source: MovieMaker and IMDb
