Biography
Prior to her breakout performance, McDonnell made her feature debut in John Sayles' acclaimed "Matewan" (1987), and followed "Dances" with a long and impressive stint in features, where McDonnell often played complex and fiercely independent women. She appeared as an unhappy wife in "Grand Canyon" (1991) and a self-absorbed actress who rediscovers herself after a tragic accident in "Passion Fish" (1992). McDonnell alternated easily between …
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Career Milestones
| Began teaching drama at Vassar College summer theater (later continued at New York Stage and Film Company) | ||
| Grew up in Ithaca, NY | ||
1978 | Made stage debut in Sam Shepard's Pulitzer Prize-winning "Buried Child" | |
1981 | First gained attention for her stage work in Emily Mann's "Still Life" | |
1982 | Made TV-movie debut in small role in "Money on the Side" (ABC) | |
1984 | Co-starred with Elliott Gould on CBS sitcom "E/R" | |
1984 | Landed a small role in feature film "Garbo Talks" | |
1986 | Made her Broadway debut in the ensemble of Emily Mann's "Execution of Justice" | |
1987 | Cast in first major film role in "Matewan," directed by John Sayles | |
1990 | Delivered breakthrough performance as 'Stands With A Fist,' a European-American raised by Sioux Indians in Kevin Costner's epic drama "Dances with Wolves"; received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress | |
1990 | Took over the title role in Wendy Wasserstein's Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway play "The Heidi Chronicles" | |
1991 | Played Kevin Kline's wife in Lawrence Kasdan's emsemble drama "Grand Canyon" | |
1991 | Played leading role of Alexandra Bergson in the PBS adaptation of "O, Pioneers!" | |
1992 | Reteamed with John Sayles for "Passion Fish;" garnered a Best Actress Oscar nomination | |
1995 | Returned to series TV in CBS sitcom "High Society" | |
1996 | Played featured role of the First Lady in "Independence Day" | |
1996 | Returned to Broadway opposite Harry Hamlin in a revival of Tennessee Williams' "Summer and Smoke" | |
1998 | Reteamed with Lawrence Kasdan for "Mumford," which also reunited her with Alfre Woodard | |
2001 | Earned an Emmy nomination for her guest-starring role as the mother of Noah Wyle's Dr. John Carter on "ER" (NBC) | |
2002 | Cast in the Hallmark Hall of Fame television feature "The Locket" | |
2003 | Cast as Laura Roslin on the cult hit remake of "Battlestar Galactica" (Sci-Fi Channel) | |
2003 | Featured in the romantic comedy "Nola" | |
2004 | Reprised role of Laura Roslin for the series "Battlestar Galactica" (Sci Fi Channel) | |
2006 | Co-starred with Roger Rees in the independent feature "Crazy Like a Fox" | |
2008 | Joined the cast of "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC) for a multi-episode guest arc | |
2011 | Cast in Wes Craven's horror feature "Scream 4" | |
2011 | Joined the cast of TNT's "The Closer" as LAPD Internal Affairs' Capt. Sharon Raydor | |
2011 | Joined the ensemble cast of the financial drama thriller "Margin Call" | |
2012 | Reprised role of Capt. Raydor on "The Closer" spin-off "Major Crimes" (TNT) | |
Awards
1990 | Academy Award for Actress In a Supporting Role in Dances With Wolves |
1990 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture in Dances With Wolves |
1992 | Academy Award for Actress In a Leading Role in Passion Fish |
1992 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama in Passion Fish |
2002 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress In a Drama Series in ER |
2011 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress In a Drama Series in The Closer |