Born in Milford On-Sea, England, Frances Fisher’s itinerant childhood in Columbia, Canada, France, Brazil, Turkey, Italy and in various locations around the United States undoubtedly provided fodder for her thespian career. After graduating from high school in Orange, TX, Fisher cut her teeth acting on Tennessee Williams and Robert Bolt in Orange Community Theater. She also apprenticed at the Barter Theatre in Virginia before moving to New York City, where her career quickly blossomed.
Fisher went on to star in more than 30 theatrical productions both regionally and off-Broadway, including Fool For Love, Desire Under the Elms, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Orpheus Descending and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. During this time she studied with Stella Adler, and is one of the last three students selected by Lee Strasberg to become a member of the renowned Actors’ Studio. Fisher earned a Drama-Logue award for Best Ensemble Cast in the world premiere of Caryl Churchill’s Three More Sleepless Nights.
Fisher began to build her film career with roles in “Tough Guys Don’t Dance,” “Babyfever,” “Patty Hearst” and “Female Perversions.” She then added starring roles opposite Clint Eastwood in the Academy Award®-winning “Unforgiven” and “True Crime” to her burgeoning resume. Fisher next starred in the Warner Brothers offbeat comedy “The Big Tease” and “The Rising Place” for director Tom Rice, which was the Grand Prize winner of the 2001 Malibu Film Festival. The versatile actress is perhaps best known for her memorable performance as Kate Winslet’s mother in “Titanic,” which garnered her a Screen Actors Guild nomination as part of Best Ensemble Cast, while the film went on to receive 11 Academy Awards.
In addition to her thriving movie career, Fisher has had many notable television roles. She starred as Lucille Ball in “Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter,” and as Janet Bouvier in “Jackie O: A Life Story,” both of which were CBS productions. She recurred on the CBS comedy series “Becker” as Ted Danson’s love interest and on “Titus” for FOX. Fisher also co-starred alongside Jennifer Love Hewitt in “The Audrey Hepburn Story” for ABC.
Fisher was most recently seen on the big screen in Universal Pictures “The Kingdom,” opposite Jamie Foxx and directed by Peter Berg, Dan Ireland’s “Jolene” and Paul Haggis’ “In The Valley Of Elah” with Tommy Lee Jones. While on the small screen she has completed recurring roles on “The Shield” and “Eureka.” Next, Fisher can be seen in the Screen Gem’s horror flick, “The Roommate,” opposite Leighton Meester, as well as the indie “Janie Jones.”
