Frances McDormand has won the best actress Oscar for Nomadland at the 93rd Academy Awards, which are taking place in Los Angeles.
McDormand plays one of a group of retirees struggling to make ends meet, alongside a cast largely made up of non-professional actors. Written and directed by Chloé Zhao, the film was inspired by Jessica Bruder’s non-fiction book Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century.
This is McDormand’s third best actress Oscar: she took the prize for Fargo in 1997 and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri in 2o18. Only Katharine Hepburn, with four, has won more best actress Oscars.
McDormand was considered a strong favourite for the award having won best actress at the Baftas, but still had to defeat a strong field, including Viola Davis for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and Carey Mulligan in Promising Young Woman.
“We should add a karaoke bar,” said McDormand in her speech, delivered shortly after coming off stage to help accept Nomadland’s best picture win. “I have no words. My voice is in my sword. We know the sword is our work and I like work. Thank you for knowing that and thanks for this.”
• This article was amended on 28 April 2021 to remove the incorrect statement that McDormand won a Golden Globe for her performance in Nomadland.
