Frances Fisher began by apprenticing at the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia. She spent 14 years based in New York City, playing leads in over 30 productions of plays by such noted writers as John Arden, Noel Coward, Emily Mann, Joe Orton, Sam Shepard, William Shakespeare, Jean Claude Van Italie, Eudora Welty and Tennessee Williams. She won a Drama Desk Award - Best Ensemble for the American Premier of Caryl Churchill's "Three More Sleepless Nights", played in the American premier of Judith Thompson's "The Crackwalker" and originated roles in Elia Kazan's "The Chain" and Arthur Miller's last play, "Finishing the Picture". Besides working with Kazan and Miller, some of Ms. Fisher's more interesting theater experiences were creating roles from two great works of literature: George Orwell's "1984" and Victor Hugo's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame". Ms. Fisher is looking forward to getting back on the boards at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles in the beginning of 2006 with Anton Chekhov's "The Cherry Orchard". She studied with Stella Adler and became a lifetime member of the Actors Studio by actually "walking up the stairs" and auditioning for legendary acting teacher Lee Strasberg.



Her father worked in oil refinery construction, so she moved regularly. She was born in England and moved about every year until she was in 7th grade, when the family settled in Orange, Texas. Has blondish-red hair and light blue eyes. Was the original choice for the role of Jill Taylor on "Home Improvement" (1991) but was replaced at the last minute by Patricia Richardson. A lack of chemistry between Tim Allen and Fisher was named the reason for the switch. Her goddaughter is 'Jasmine Joshua'. Has been an active board member of the Screen Actors Guild. Is one of only two actors to appear in two Academy Award winning Best Pictures from the 1990s. She appeared in Unforgiven (1992) and Titanic (1997). The other actor is Ralph Fiennes, who appeared in Schindler's List (1993) and The English Patient (1996).