Mildred Hayes

Living… with her son Robbie in the small town of Ebbing, Missouri. The house is not the same without her daughter, who was raped and murdered seven months ago. There was no matching DNA, so the case is still unsolved.

Profession… salesperson. Mildred works at a local gift shop that sells memorabilia of Ebbing. She works there with her good friend, Denise, who is about the only other person Mildred has time for besides her son.

Relationship Status… single. Mildred divorced her abusive ex-husband, Charlie, years ago. He has since moved on with a nineteen-year-old named Penelope who works at the zoo. It seems that a local man may have a crush on Mildred, but she has her mind on other things besides romance.

Challenge… getting justice for Angela. Mildred is frustrated that seven months have passed since the murder with no progress in the investigation. Mildred criticizes the Ebbing police force of being “too busy going round torturing black folks” to solve crime. One day she has an idea to rent out three billboards in order to call out the Chief of Police of the town, Bill Willoughby. Located near a rarely used road, they read in three separate messages: “Raped While Dying”, “And Still No Arrests?”, and “How Come, Chief Willoughby?” The billboards spark outrage not only at the police station but in the townspeople as well. Mildred must face the backlash, achieve closure, and try to bring the man who hurt her daughter to justice. But it’s taking a toll on the town, including for her son who is reminded of his sister’s violent death every time they drive by.

Personality… fiery, ruthless, and emotional. Mildred has deep pain, and her grief has turned into anger. These emotions, coupled with the guilt she feels for how she got along with Angela, drives Mildred to make decisions that have serious consequences. She never backs down from anyone, and she is not afraid of the people who are going to come for her.