Frances McDormand

I want to be revered. I want to be an elder; I want to be an elderess. ”

I've made a professional reputation playing working-class, middle-class, American women. There's a real sense of stoicism and pragmatism and strength and lyricism of a woman like that. ”

I'm not really that interested in going back to playing small supporting roles. ”

It's like some weird excuse for high school kids to vomit. It's not good. It's stupid. I'm sure that's not what St. Patrick's Day is supposed to be about, but who knows. ”

If, when I leave this earth, I'm remembered for 'Fargo,' so be it. But I think old Marge Gunderson is gonna get a run for her money with Olive Kittredge. ”

No actor has complete freedom. ”

We don't need a lot of initiatives for women in film; what we need is money. ”

It could be partly my taste. It's just my belief that there are female characters that will benefit from not being vulnerable. ”

I was completely naive about the business of being an actor. My family didn't go to the theater or to the movies. We watched television like every 1960s small-town American family, and I certainly never thought about being on TV. I thought I was going to be a classical actor in the grand tradition. ”

I portray female characters, so I have the opportunity to change the way people look at them. Even if I wasn't consciously doing that, it would happen anyway just because of how I present as a woman, or as a person. I present in a way that's not stereotypical, even if I'm playing a stereotypical role. ”