Frances Louise McDormand wasn't always known by her now-famous actress name. She was actually born Cynthia Ann Smith on June 23, 1957. After graduating from Bethany College in West Virginia with a Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre in 1979, McDormand went on to study at Yale School of Drama. She earned her Master of Fine Arts degree in 1982 (just a few years before our previous headshot superstar, Chris Noth in 1985). And like Noth, Frances McDormand's commitment to higher education in the field of acting paid off well.
She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1988's "Mississippi Burning". And in 1996, she was nominated for, and won, the Academy Award for Best Actress after playing the role of police chief Marge Gunderson in the movie "Fargo". In more recent projects, she co-stars along with George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and John Malkovich in the 2008 film "Burn After Reading". And in 2011, she starred alongside John Malkovich again in "Transformers: Dark of the Moon".
Wondering where to go in 2020 for an amazing deal, to beat the crowds, or for a truly once-in-a-lifetime travel experience? These destinations are on travel addicts’ radar for rightfully hyped 2020 events, new offerings, and recent developments that make them a must-visit right now.
On top of the majestic scenery its long been known for, Montana is a newly trendy nature getaway celebrated for its expanding luxury hotel scene, culinary offerings, and shop-local boutiques, according to an American Express study detailing where cardholders are traveling in 2020. But Montana is also about to get more accessible than ever before thanks to emerging flight routes sure to stir up competition. Launching two brand-new seasonal routes to Big Sky country, American Airlines will fly from New York’s LaGuardia Airport to Bozeman and Kalispell, Montana, beginning mid-year and continuing through Labor Day. Take advantage of the new direct route before the secret gets out, and so that they’ll continue next year.
One of the cities featured in Booking.com’s travel trends for 2020, Urugay’s capital Montevideo is a stable and LGBT-friendly destination to visit in South America—a continent that’s seen dips in tourism of late thanks to political instability in travel destinations like Brazil, Chile, and Argentina. Travelers identified the city as a trending travel destination for anyone seeking an immersive, one-stop escape; according to the study, “over half (54 percent) of global travelers say they want to go on one long trip to a place that has all of their favorite activities and sights close together.” Montevideo’s offerings include beaches, nightlife, markets, theaters, culinary prowess, and festive Gay Pride Day celebrations in September.
Europe’s intensely overtouristed spots (Venice, Barcelona, Santorini) have new Eastern European hotspots to thank for stealing away some of the spotlight: Romania is making a name for itself as one of the top five most trending Airbnb booking destinations for 2020. The nation that’s home to Transylvania, Dracula’s castle, and well-preserved medieval towns nestled among rolling hills has seen a 298 percent annual increase in Airbnb bookings.