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Margo Martindale

Margo Martindale

Actor · Born July 18, 1951 (75) · Jacksonville, Texas, USA

3 Primetime Emmys · Screen Actors Guild Award nominee · 1 other major award body

Margo Martindale (born July 18, 1951) is an American film, stage, and television actress. In 2011, she won an Emmy Award for her role as Mags Bennett on Justified. She has played supporting roles in several films, including The Hours, Million Dollar Baby as Hilary Swank's character's mother, The Firm, Lorenzo's Oil, Marvin's Room, The Savages, and Paris, je t'aime. She was also nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in 2004. Margo Martindale was born July 18, 1951, in Jacksonville, Texas, to parents William Everett and Margaret (Pruitt) Martindale. In addition to owning and operating a lumber company in Jacksonville, her father was known as a champion dog handler in Texas and throughout the southern United States. Margo was the youngest of three children and only daughter. Her oldest brother is professional golfer and golf course designer Billy Martindale. Middle child, brother Bobby Tim, died in 2004. Margo Martindale participated in golf, cheerleading and drama while in school and was crowned "Football Sweetheart" as well as "Miss Jacksonville High School 1969."  Following graduation from Jacksonville High School in 1969, Martindale attended Lon Morris College, then transferred to the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. While at Michigan, she also did summer study at Harvard University, appearing onstage with future movie and TV stars Jonathan Frakes and Christopher Reeve. Description above from the Wikipedia article Margo Martindale, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 18, 1951 (75)
From
Jacksonville, Texas, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
102 on MovieCove · 126 credits in all
TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Up 7% in 30 days

What are Margo Martindale's films like?

Across their 52 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

What they feel like to watch

their average across 44 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category

A split, not a type: Light 19 · Serious 6 · Dark 19

Grounded 34 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 3

A split, not a type: Gentle 13 · Charged 14 · Intense 17

Steady 19 · Shifting 20 · Whiplash 5

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 22 · Some laughs 17 · Funny 5

A split, not a type: Slow burn 27 · Even-paced 13 · Relentless 4

A split, not a type: Casual 22 · Engaged 19 · Full focus 3

A split, not a type: Easy watch 13 · Affecting 15 · Heavy 16

Resolved 33 · Open-ended 7 · Ambiguous 4

Roles they play

17 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 5 of 17 analyzed roles.

Ally
5 of 17
Mentor
3 of 17
Herald
2 of 17
Hero
2 of 17
Shapeshifter
2 of 17
Threshold guardian
2 of 17
Shadow
1 of 17
Show the 17 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
30
Melancholic
20
Warm
13
Hopeful
16
Contemplative
14
Other
53

How their films end · 8 with a twist

  • Happy13
  • Bittersweet28
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous8
  • Cyclical1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Margo Martindale's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 80 of their 102 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (22).

Subscription and free streaming for Margo Martindale's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

126 credits, 102 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • The Long Haul (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Actor

  • The Twits(2025)

    as Credenza Twit (voice)

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films
  • The Sticky(2024)

    Show 6 episodes · as Ruth Landry

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows
  • Doctor Odyssey(2024)

    Show 1 episode · as Mother of the Bride

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all shows
  • The Chicken Sisters(2024)

    Show 16 episodes · as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all shows
  • Mrs. Davis(2023)

    Show 3 episodes · as Mother Superior

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows
  • Cocaine Bear(2023)

    as Ranger Liz

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films
  • Poker Face(2023)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Hamm

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows
  • The Watcher(2022)

    Show 7 episodes · as Mo

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all shows
  • Family Squares(2022)

    as Diane

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films
  • Your Honor(2020)

    Show 9 episodes · as Elizabeth Guthrie

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows
  • Uncle Frank(2020)

    as Mammaw

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films
  • Mrs. America(2020)

    Show 9 episodes · as Bella Abzug

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows
  • Lazy Susan(2020)

    as Mary

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films
  • The Kitchen(2019)

    as Helen O'Carroll

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films
  • Blow the Man Down(2019)

    as Enid Nora Devlin

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films
  • The Act(2019)

    Show 1 episode · as Emma Blanchard

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows
  • Instant Family(2018)

    as Sandy Wagner

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films
  • Downsizing(2017)

    as Woman on Shuttle

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films
  • DuckTales(2017)

    Show 8 episodes · as Ma Beagle (voice)

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows
  • Cars 3(2017)

    as Louise Nash (voice)

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films
  • Wilson(2017)

    as Alta

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films
  • Table 19(2017)

    as Freda Eckberg

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films
  • The Good Fight(2017)

    Show 4 episodes · as Ruth Eastman

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows
  • My Entire High School Sinking Into the Sea(2016)

    as Mrs. Brinson (voice)

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films
  • The Hollars(2016)

    as Sally Hollar

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films
  • BrainDead(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Joanne Alaimo

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows
  • Mother's Day(2016)

    as Flo

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films
  • The Boss(2016)

    as Sister Aluminata

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films
  • American Crime Story(2016)

    Show 10 episodes · as Lucianne Goldberg

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows
  • Sophie and the Rising Sun(2016)

    as Anne Morrison

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films
  • Sneaky Pete(2015)

    Show 30 episodes · as Audrey Bernhardt

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows
  • BoJack Horseman(2014)

    Show 8 episodes · as Character Actress Margo Martindale (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows
  • Heaven Is for Real(2014)

    as Nancy Rawling

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films
  • Bluebird(2013)

    as Crystal

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films
  • August: Osage County(2013)

    as Mattie Fae Aiken

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films
  • The Millers(2013)

    Show 34 episodes · as Carol Miller

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows
  • Masters of Sex(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Miss Horchow

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows
  • Beautiful Creatures(2013)

    as Delphine Duchannes

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films
  • The Americans(2013)

    Show 34 episodes · as Claudia

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows
  • Smash(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Miriam Abramson

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows
  • A Gifted Man(2011)

    Show 16 episodes · as Rita Perkins-Hall

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows
  • Person of Interest(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Barbara Russell

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows
  • New Girl(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Bonnie

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows
  • Suits(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Nell Sawyer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows
  • Scalene(2011)

    as Janice Trimble

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films
  • Win Win(2011)

    as Eleanor

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films
  • Harry's Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Gina Powell

  • Main Street(2010)

    as Myrtle Parker

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films
  • Secretariat(2010)

    as Miss Ham

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films
  • Forged (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Dianne

  • Justified(2010)

    Show 10 episodes · as Mags Bennett

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows
  • Mercy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 8 episodes · Actor

  • The Good Wife(2009)

    Show 13 episodes · as Ruth Eastman

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows
  • La soga(2009)

    as Flannigan

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films
  • Orphan(2009)

    as Dr. Browning

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films
  • Hung(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Molly

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows
  • Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films
  • Management(2008)

    as Trish

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films
  • The Winning Season(2009)

    as Donna

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films
  • Stop-Loss(2008)

    as Senator's Secretary (voice)

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films
  • Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films
  • The Savages(2007)

    as Roz

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films
  • Superheroes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Ben's Mother

  • Feast of Love(2007)

    as Mrs. Maggarolian

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films
  • Rails & Ties(2007)

    as Judy Neasy

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films
  • Bobby Z(2007)

    as Macy

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films
  • Mo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Pam

  • The Riches(2007)

    Show 20 episodes · as Nina Burns

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows
  • Rocket Science(2007)

    as Coach Lumbly

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films
  • Dexter(2006)

    Show 5 episodes · as Camilla

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows
  • Rachael Ray (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Wedding Daze(2006)

    as Betsy

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films
  • Paris, Je T'aime(2006)

    as Carol (14ème arrondissement)

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films
  • Out There (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Jen

  • 14e Arrondissement (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Carol

  • Silver Bells(2005)

    as Mrs. Quinn

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films
  • Medium(2005)

    Show 3 episodes · as Catherine

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows
  • Million Dollar Baby(2004)

    as Earline Fitzgerald

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
  • Plainsong(2004)

    as Mrs. Beckman

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films
  • Iron Jawed Angels(2004)

    as Harriot Blatch

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films
  • The Best Thief in the World(2004)

    as Miss Mason

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films
  • The Human Stain(2003)

    as Psychologist

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films
  • An Unexpected Love(2003)

    as Maggie

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films
  • It's All About Love(2003)

    as Betsy

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films
  • The Hours(2002)

    as Mrs. Latch

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films
  • The Laramie Project(2002)

    as Trish Steger

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films
  • What Girls Learn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Lainey

  • A Girl Thing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 4 episodes · as May

  • 100 Centre Street (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 6 episodes · as Michelle Grande

  • Proof of Life(2000)

    as Ivy

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films
  • Ed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Amanda Myers

  • 28 Days(2000)

    as Betty

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films
  • Earthly Possessions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Libby

  • Ride with the Devil(1999)

    as Wilma Brown

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films
  • Snoops (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Hannah Larson

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Rita Gabler

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows
  • In Dreams(1999)

    as Nurse Floyd

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films
  • Practical Magic(1998)

    as Linda Bennett

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films
  • Twilight(1998)

    as Gloria Lamar

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films
  • Critical Care(1997)

    as Constance 'Connie' Potter

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films
  • Eye of God(1997)

    as Dorothy

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films
  • ...First Do No Harm(1997)

    as Marjean

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films
  • Ghosts of Mississippi(1996)

    as Clara Mayfield

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films
  • Marvin's Room(1996)

    as Charlotte Samit

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films
  • Ruby Jean and Joe(1996)

    as Frankie

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films
  • Dead Man Walking(1995)

    as Sister Colleen

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films
  • Sabrina(1995)

    as Nurse

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films
  • Nobody's Fool(1994)

    as Birdy

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films
  • New York Undercover(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Nurse Warner

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows
  • The Firm(1993)

    as Nina Huff

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films
  • Homicide: Life on the Street(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Verna Henderson

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows
  • Lorenzo's Oil(1992)

    as Wendy Gimble

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films
  • Emma and Elvis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Jenny

  • Golden Years (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Thelma

  • Golden Years (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Thelma

  • The Rocketeer(1991)

    as Millie

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films
  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Ms. Best

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows
  • Days of Thunder(1990)

    as Donna

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films
  • Lonesome Dove(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Buffalo Heiffer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows
  • The Child Saver (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Alma

  • Once Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Debbie Lupino

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Beckman · as Mrs. Quinn

  • Just Picture It (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Sonny Lovejoy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Gigi

  • The Age of Innocence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show as Mrs. Manson-Mingott

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 125 titles, 122 of them dated from 1951 to 2026; peak year 2008.

Film career

MilestoneAward winNomination
19512026

Peak 2008 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 7 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

Show 1 more milestone

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting125 of 125: 125 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score67th

By decade

1950s1 · acting1980s3 · acting1990s25 · acting2000s41 · acting2010s38 · acting2020s14 · acting

Billing

usually 9th · top billed in 2% of 57 roles
909500051015

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

3 Primetime Emmys from 10 major nominations, 2011–2021.

WinNomination
  1. 2021
    • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie Made for Television
  2. 2020
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie
  3. 2019
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
  4. 2018
    • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
  5. 2016
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
  6. 2015
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
  7. 2014
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
  8. 2013
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Show 1 earlier year
  1. 2011
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Margo Martindale's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 58th percentile, the median of all 68; across their 44 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 54th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 44

Approval · how many liked their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 44

Reach · how many have seen their films

84thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 44

Midcredits score across 102 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up44
  • 50th to 74th27
  • 25th to 49th23
  • Below 25th8

Shape of the crowd

50 of their 102 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved17
  • Cult Classic4
  • Crowd Pleaser50
  • Broadly Agreed13
  • Mixed18

Reviewers score the acting 75/100 in their films, across 43 reviewed titles; fans 83, detractors 51. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Margo Martindale's work okay for kids?

Across up to 27 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore and profanity run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore17 titles26–88 · median 56 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity27 titles16–59 · median 35 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity21 titles20–83 · median 64 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs19 titles12–77 · median 42 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense20 titles13–82 · median 43 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Margo Martindale work with?

People who share at least 2 of Margo Martindale's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Lois Smith shares the most, 4.

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles