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Academy Award for Best Actress facts for kids

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Academy Award for Best Actress
Emma Stone at the 39th Mill Valley Film Festival (cropped).jpg
The 2023 recipient: Emma Stone
Presented by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)
Country United States
First awarded 1929
Currently held by Emma Stone, Poor Things (2024)

The Academy Award for Best Actress is an award presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It has been awarded since the 1st Academy Awards to an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role in a film released that year. The award is traditionally presented by the previous year's Best Actor winner.

The Best Actress award has been presented a total of 96 times, to 78 actresses. The first winner was Janet Gaynor for her roles in 7th Heaven, Street Angel, and Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans. The most recent winner is Emma Stone for her portrayal of Bella Baxter in Poor Things (2023), having previously won for La La Land (2016). The record for most wins is four, held by Katharine Hepburn. Frances McDormand has won three times, and thirteen other actresses have won the award twice. Meryl Streep has received the most nominations in the category—seventeen—and has won twice. At the 41st Academy Awards, Barbra Streisand and Katharine Hepburn received the same number of votes and thus tied for Best Actress—the only time this has occurred.

Nominations process

Nominees are currently determined by single transferable vote within the actors branch of AMPAS; winners are selected by a plurality vote from the entire eligible voting members of the Academy.

In the first three years of the awards, actors and actresses were nominated as the best individuals in their categories. At that time, all of their work during the qualifying period (as many as three films, in some cases) was listed after the award. Despite this, at the 3rd Academy Awards, held in 1930, only one film was cited in each winner's award regardless of how many they were eligible to be considered for during that span. The current system, in which an actress is nominated for a specific performance in a single film, was introduced for the 4th Academy Awards. Starting with the 9th Academy Awards, held in 1937, the category was limited to a maximum five nominations per year.

Janet Gaynor was the inaugural winner, for three films: 7th Heaven (1927), Street Angel (1928), & Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927).
Mary Pickford won for Coquette (1929).
Norma Shearer won for The Divorcee (1930).
Marie Dressler won for Min and Bill (1930).
Helen Hayes won for The Sin of Madelon Claudet (1931); first actress to complete the EGOT.
Katharine Hepburn won four times, for: Morning Glory (1933), Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967), The Lion in Winter (1968), & On Golden Pond (1981).
Claudette Colbert won for It Happened One Night (1934).
Bette Davis won twice, for Dangerous (1935) & Jezebel (1938).
Luise Rainer was the first to win twice consecutively, for The Great Ziegfeld (1936) & The Good Earth (1937).
Vivien Leigh won twice, for Gone with the Wind (1939) & A Streetcar Named Desire (1951).
Ginger Rogers won for Kitty Foyle (1940).
Joan Fontaine won for Suspicion (1941).
Greer Garson won for Mrs. Miniver (1942).
Jennifer Jones won for The Song of Bernadette (1943).
Ingrid Bergman won twice, for Gaslight (1944) & Anastasia (1956).
Olivia de Havilland won twice, for To Each His Own (1946) & The Heiress (1949).
Jane Wyman won for Johnny Belinda (1948); first winner to utilize ASL.
Judy Holliday won for Born Yesterday (1950).
Shirley Booth won for Come Back, Little Sheba (1952); won Tony for the same role—first actress to accomplish this.
Audrey Hepburn won for Roman Holiday (1953).
Grace Kelly won for The Country Girl (1954).
Anna Magnani won for The Rose Tattoo (1955).
Joanne Woodward won for The Three Faces of Eve (1957).
Susan Hayward won for I Want to Live! (1958).
Simone Signoret won for Room at the Top (1959).
Elizabeth Taylor won twice, for BUtterfield 8 (1960) & Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966).
Sophia Loren won for Two Women (1960); first for a non-English (Italian) dialogue role.
Anne Bancroft won for The Miracle Worker (1962).
Patricia Neal won for Hud (1963).
Julie Andrews won for Mary Poppins (1964).
Julie Christie won Darling (1965).
Barbra Streisand won for Funny Girl (1968), in a tie with Katharine Hepburn.
Maggie Smith won for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969).
Glenda Jackson won twice, for Women in Love (1970) & A Touch of Class (1973).
Jane Fonda won twice, for Klute (1971) & Coming Home (1978).
Liza Minnelli won for Cabaret (1972).
Ellen Burstyn won for Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974).
Louise Fletcher won for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975).
Faye Dunaway won for Network (1976).
Diane Keaton won for Annie Hall (1977).
Sally Field won twice, for Norma Rae (1979) & Places in the Heart (1984).
Sissy Spacek won for Coal Miner's Daughter (1980).
Meryl Streep won twice, for Sophie's Choice (1982) & The Iron Lady (2011).
Shirley MacLaine won for Terms of Endearment (1983).
Geraldine Page won for The Trip to Bountiful (1985).
Marlee Matlin won for Children of a Lesser God (1986); first deaf, and at age 21, this category's youngest winner.
Cher won for Moonstruck (1987).
Jodie Foster won twice, for The Accused (1988) & The Silence of the Lambs (1991).
Jessica Tandy won for Driving Miss Daisy (1989); this category's oldest winner, at age 80.
Kathy Bates won for Misery (1990).
Emma Thompson won for Howards End (1992).
Holly Hunter won for The Piano (1993).
Jessica Lange won for Blue Sky (1994).
Susan Sarandon won for Dead Man Walking (1995).
Frances McDormand won thrice, for Fargo (1996), Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017), & Nomadland (2020).
Helen Hunt won for As Good as It Gets (1997).
Gwyneth Paltrow won for Shakespeare in Love (1998).
Hilary Swank won twice, for Boys Don't Cry (1999) & Million Dollar Baby (2004).
Julia Roberts won for Erin Brokovich (2000).
Halle Berry won for Monster's Ball (2001); first black winner in this category.
Nicole Kidman won for The Hours (2002).
Charlize Theron won for Monster (2003).
Reese Witherspoon won for Walk the Line (2005).
Helen Mirren won for The Queen (2006).
Marion Cotillard won for La Vie en Rose (2007); first French-language performance winner.
Kate Winslet won for The Reader (2008).
Sandra Bullock won for The Blind Side (2009).
Natalie Portman won for Black Swan (2010).
Jennifer Lawrence won for Silver Linings Playbook (2012).
Cate Blanchett won for Blue Jasmine (2013).
Julianne Moore won for Still Alice (2014).
Brie Larson won for Room (2015).
Emma Stone won twice, for La La Land (2016) & Poor Things (2023).
Olivia Colman won for The Favourite (2018).
Renée Zellweger won for Judy (2019).
Jessica Chastain won for The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2021).
Michelle Yeoh won for Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022); first Southeast Asian winner in this category.

Winners and nominees

In the following table, the years are listed as per Academy convention, and generally correspond to the year of film release in Los Angeles County; the ceremonies are always held the following year. For the first five ceremonies, the eligibility period spanned twelve months, from August 1 to July 31. For the 6th ceremony held in 1934, the eligibility period lasted from August 1, 1932, to December 31, 1933. Since the 7th ceremony held in 1935, the period of eligibility became the full previous calendar year from January 1 to December 31.

Table key
‡ Indicates the winner
† Indicates a posthumous nominee

1920s

Year Actress Role(s) Film Ref.
1927/28
(1st)		 Janet Gaynor Award winner Diane 7th Heaven
Angela Street Angel
The Wife Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans
Louise Dresser Mrs. Pleznik A Ship Comes In
Gloria Swanson Sadie Thompson Sadie Thompson
1928/29
(2nd)
 Mary Pickford Award winner Norma Besant Coquette
Ruth Chatterton Jacqueline Floriot Madame X
Betty Compson Carrie The Barker
Jeanne Eagels † Leslie Crosbie The Letter
Corinne Griffith Emma Hamilton The Divine Lady
Bessie Love Hank Mahoney The Broadway Melody

1930s

Year Actress Role(s) Film Ref.
1929/30
(3rd)		 Norma Shearer Award winner Jerry Bernard Martin The Divorcee
Nancy Carroll Hallie Hobart The Devil's Holiday
Ruth Chatterton Sarah Storm Sarah and Son
Greta Garbo Anna Christie Anna Christie
Madame Rita Cavallini Romance
Norma Shearer Lucia Marlett Their Own Desire
Gloria Swanson Marion Donnell The Trespasser
1930/31
(4th)		 Marie Dressler Award winner Min Divot Min and Bill
Marlene Dietrich Mademoiselle Amy Jolly Morocco
Irene Dunne Sabra Cravat Cimarron
Ann Harding Linda Seton Holiday
Norma Shearer Jan Ashe A Free Soul
1931/32
(5th)		 Helen Hayes Award winner Madelon Claudet The Sin of Madelon Claudet
Marie Dressler Emma Thatcher Smith Emma
Lynn Fontanne The Actress The Guardsman
1932/33
(6th)		 Katharine Hepburn Award winner Eva Lovelace Morning Glory
May Robson Apple Annie Lady for a Day
Diana Wynyard Jane Marryot Cavalcade
1934
(7th)		 Claudette Colbert Award winner Ellie Andrews It Happened One Night
Grace Moore Mary Barrett One Night of Love
Norma Shearer Elizabeth Barrett The Barretts of Wimpole Street
Bette Davis (Write-in) Mildred Rogers Of Human Bondage
1935
(8th)		 Bette Davis Award winner Joyce Heath Dangerous
Elisabeth Bergner Gemma Jones Escape Me Never
Claudette Colbert Jane Everest Private Worlds
Katharine Hepburn Alice Adams Alice Adams
Miriam Hopkins Becky Sharp Becky Sharp
Merle Oberon Kitty Vane The Dark Angel
1936
(9th)		 Luise Rainer Award winner Anna Held The Great Ziegfeld
Irene Dunne Theodora Lynn / Caroline Adams Theodora Goes Wild
Gladys George Carrie Snyder Valiant Is the Word for Carrie
Carole Lombard Irene Bullock My Man Godfrey
Norma Shearer Juliet Capulet Romeo and Juliet
1937
(10th)		 Luise Rainer Award winner O-Lan The Good Earth
Irene Dunne Lucy Warriner The Awful Truth
Greta Garbo Marguerite Gautier Camille
Janet Gaynor Esther Victoria Blodgett / Vicki Lester A Star Is Born
Barbara Stanwyck Stella Martin Dallas Stella Dallas
1938
(11th)		 Bette Davis Award winner Julie Marsden Jezebel
Fay Bainter Hannah Parmalee White Banners
Wendy Hiller Eliza Doolittle Pygmalion
Norma Shearer Marie Antoinette Marie Antoinette
Margaret Sullavan Patricia "Pat" Hollmann Three Comrades
1939
(12th)		 Vivien Leigh Award winner Scarlett O'Hara Gone with the Wind
Bette Davis Judith Traherne Dark Victory
Irene Dunne Terry McKay Love Affair
Greta Garbo Nina Yakushova "Ninotchka" Ivanoff Ninotchka
Greer Garson Katherine Bridges Goodbye, Mr. Chips

1940s

Year Actress Role(s) Film Ref.
1940
(13th)		 Ginger Rogers Award winner Kitty Foyle Kitty Foyle
Bette Davis Leslie Crosbie The Letter
Joan Fontaine The Second Mrs. de Winter Rebecca
Katharine Hepburn Tracy Lord The Philadelphia Story
Martha Scott Emily Webb Our Town
1941
(14th)		 Joan Fontaine Award winner Lina McLaidlaw Aysgarth Suspicion
Bette Davis Regina Giddens The Little Foxes
Olivia de Havilland Emmy Brown Hold Back the Dawn
Greer Garson Edna Gladney Blossoms in the Dust
Barbara Stanwyck Katherine "Sugarpuss" O'Shea Ball of Fire
1942
(15th)		 Greer Garson Award winner Kay Miniver Mrs. Miniver
Bette Davis Charlotte Vale Now, Voyager
Katharine Hepburn Tess Harding Woman of the Year
Rosalind Russell Ruth Sherwood My Sister Eileen
Teresa Wright Eleanor Twitchell Gehrig The Pride of the Yankees
1943
(16th)		 Jennifer Jones Award winner Bernadette Soubirous The Song of Bernadette
Jean Arthur Constance "Connie" Milligan The More the Merrier
Ingrid Bergman María For Whom the Bell Tolls
Joan Fontaine Tessa Sanger The Constant Nymph
Greer Garson Marie Curie Madame Curie
1944
(17th)		 Ingrid Bergman Award winner Paula Alquist Anton Gaslight
Claudette Colbert Anne Hilton Since You Went Away
Bette Davis Fanny Trellis Mr. Skeffington
Greer Garson Susie "Sparrow" Parkington Mrs. Parkington
Barbara Stanwyck Phyllis Dietrichson Double Indemnity
1945
(18th)		 Joan Crawford Award winner Mildred Pierce Beragon Mildred Pierce
Ingrid Bergman Mary Benedict The Bells of St. Mary's
Greer Garson Mary Rafferty The Valley of Decision
Jennifer Jones Singleton / Victoria Morland Love Letters
Gene Tierney Ellen Berent Harland Leave Her to Heaven
1946
(19th)		 Olivia de Havilland Award winner Josephine "Jody" Norris To Each His Own
Celia Johnson Laura Jesson Brief Encounter
Jennifer Jones Pearl Chavez Duel in the Sun
Rosalind Russell Elizabeth Kenny Sister Kenny
Jane Wyman Orry Baxter The Yearling
1947
(20th)		 Loretta Young Award winner Katie Holstrom The Farmer's Daughter
Joan Crawford Louise Howell Possessed
Susan Hayward Angelica Evans Conway Smash-Up, the Story of a Woman
Dorothy McGuire Kathy Lacy Gentleman's Agreement
Rosalind Russell Lavinia Mannon Mourning Becomes Electra
1948
(21st)		 Jane Wyman Award winner Belinda McDonald Johnny Belinda
Ingrid Bergman Joan of Arc Joan of Arc
Olivia de Havilland Virginia Stuart Cunningham The Snake Pit
Irene Dunne Martha Hanson I Remember Mama
Barbara Stanwyck Leona Stevenson Sorry, Wrong Number
1949
(22nd)		 Olivia de Havilland Award winner Catherine Sloper The Heiress
Jeanne Crain Patricia "Pinky" Johnson Pinky
Susan Hayward Eloise Winters My Foolish Heart
Deborah Kerr Evelyn Boult Edward, My Son
Loretta Young Margaret Come to the Stable

1950s

Year Actress Role(s) Film Ref.
1950
(23rd)		 Judy Holliday Award winner Emma "Billie" Dawn Born Yesterday
Anne Baxter Eve Harrington All About Eve
Bette Davis Margo Channing
Eleanor Parker Marie Allen Caged
Gloria Swanson Norma Desmond Sunset Boulevard
1951
(24th)		 Vivien Leigh Award winner Blanche DuBois A Streetcar Named Desire
Katharine Hepburn Rose Sayer The African Queen
Eleanor Parker Mary McLeod Detective Story
Shelley Winters Alice Tripp A Place in the Sun
Jane Wyman Louise Mason The Blue Veil
1952
(25th)		 Shirley Booth Award winner Lola Delaney Come Back, Little Sheba
Joan Crawford Myra Hudson Sudden Fear
Bette Davis Margaret Elliot The Star
Julie Harris Frances "Frankie" Addams The Member of the Wedding
Susan Hayward Jane Froman With a Song in My Heart
1953
(26th)		 Audrey Hepburn Award winner Princess Ann Roman Holiday
Leslie Caron Lili Daurier Lili
Ava Gardner Eloise "Honey Bear" Kelly Mogambo
Deborah Kerr Karen Holmes From Here to Eternity
Maggie McNamara Patty O'Neill The Moon Is Blue
1954
(27th)		 Grace Kelly Award winner Georgie Elgin The Country Girl
Dorothy Dandridge Carmen Jones Carmen Jones
Judy Garland Esther Victoria Blodgett / Vicki Lester A Star Is Born
Audrey Hepburn Sabrina Fairchild Sabrina
Jane Wyman Helen Phillips Magnificent Obsession
1955
(28th)		 Anna Magnani Award winner Serafina Delle Rose The Rose Tattoo
Susan Hayward Lillian Roth I'll Cry Tomorrow
Katharine Hepburn Jane Hudson Summertime
Jennifer Jones Han Suyin Love is a Many-Splendored Thing
Eleanor Parker Marjorie Lawrence Interrupted Melody
1956
(29th)		 Ingrid Bergman Award winner Anna Koreff / Anastasia Anastasia
Carroll Baker Baby Doll Meighan Baby Doll
Katharine Hepburn Lizzie Curry The Rainmaker
Nancy Kelly Christine Penmark The Bad Seed
Deborah Kerr Anna Leonowens The King and I
1957
(30th)		 Joanne Woodward Award winner Eve White / Eve Black / Jane The Three Faces of Eve
Deborah Kerr Angela Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison
Anna Magnani Gioia Wild Is the Wind
Elizabeth Taylor Susanna Drake Raintree County
Lana Turner Constance MacKenzie Peyton Place
1958
(31st)		 Susan Hayward Award winner Barbara Graham I Want to Live!
Deborah Kerr Sibyl Railton-Bell Separate Tables
Shirley MacLaine Ginnie Moorehead Some Came Running
Rosalind Russell Mame Dennis Auntie Mame
Elizabeth Taylor Margaret "Maggie the Cat" Pollitt Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
1959
(32nd)		 Simone Signoret Award winner Alice Aisgill Room at the Top
Doris Day Jan Morrow Pillow Talk
Audrey Hepburn Gabrielle van der Mal The Nun's Story
Katharine Hepburn Violet Venable Suddenly, Last Summer
Elizabeth Taylor Catherine Holly

1960s

Year Actress Role(s) Film Ref.
1960
(33rd)		 Elizabeth Taylor Award winner Gloria Wandrous BUtterfield 8
Greer Garson Eleanor Roosevelt Sunrise at Campobello
Deborah Kerr Ida Carmody The Sundowners
Shirley MacLaine Fran Kubelik The Apartment
Melina Mercouri Ilya Never on Sunday
1961
(34th)		 Sophia Loren Award winner Cesira Two Women
Audrey Hepburn Holly Golightly / Lula Mae Barnes Breakfast at Tiffany's
Piper Laurie Sarah Packard The Hustler
Geraldine Page Alma Winemiller Summer and Smoke
Natalie Wood Wilma Dean "Deanie" Loomis Splendor in the Grass
1962
(35th)		 Anne Bancroft Award winner Annie Sullivan The Miracle Worker
Bette Davis Baby Jane Hudson What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
Katharine Hepburn Mary Cavan Tyrone Long Day's Journey into Night
Geraldine Page Alexandra Del Lago Sweet Bird of Youth
Lee Remick Kirsten Arnesen Clay Days of Wine and Roses
1963
(36th)		 Patricia Neal Award winner Alma Brown Hud
Leslie Caron Jane Fossett The L-Shaped Room
Shirley MacLaine Irma La Douce Irma la Douce
Rachel Roberts Margaret Hammond This Sporting Life
Natalie Wood Angie Rossini Love with the Proper Stranger
1964
(37th)		 Julie Andrews Award winner Mary Poppins Mary Poppins
Anne Bancroft Jo Armitage The Pumpkin Eater
Sophia Loren Filumena Marturano Marriage Italian Style
Debbie Reynolds Molly Brown The Unsinkable Molly Brown
Kim Stanley Myra Savage Séance on a Wet Afternoon
1965
(38th)		 Julie Christie Award winner Diana Scott Darling
Julie Andrews Maria von Trapp The Sound of Music
Samantha Eggar Miranda Grey The Collector
Elizabeth Hartman Selina D'Arcy A Patch of Blue
Simone Signoret La Contessa Ship of Fools
1966
(39th)		 Elizabeth Taylor Award winner Martha Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Anouk Aimée Anne Gauthier A Man and a Woman
Ida Kamińska Rozalie Lautmann The Shop on Main Street
Lynn Redgrave Georgina "Georgy" Parkin Georgy Girl
Vanessa Redgrave Leonie Delt Morgan!
1967
(40th)		 Katharine Hepburn Award winner Christina Drayton Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
Anne Bancroft Mrs. Robinson The Graduate
Faye Dunaway Bonnie Parker Bonnie and Clyde
Edith Evans Maggie Ross The Whisperers
Audrey Hepburn Susy Hendrix Wait Until Dark
1968
(41st)		 Katharine Hepburn Award winner (TIE) Eleanor of Aquitaine The Lion in Winter
Barbra Streisand Award winner (TIE) Fanny Brice Funny Girl
Patricia Neal Nettie Cleary The Subject Was Roses
Vanessa Redgrave Isadora Duncan Isadora
Joanne Woodward Rachel Cameron Rachel, Rachel
1969
(42nd)		 Maggie Smith Award winner Jean Brodie The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
Geneviève Bujold Anne Boleyn Anne of the Thousand Days
Jane Fonda Gloria Beatty They Shoot Horses, Don't They?
Liza Minnelli Mary Ann "Pookie" Adams The Sterile Cuckoo
Jean Simmons Mary Wilson The Happy Ending

1970s

Year Actress Role(s) Film Ref.
1970
(43rd)		 Glenda Jackson Award winner Gudrun Brangwen Women in Love
Jane Alexander Eleanor Backman The Great White Hope
Ali MacGraw Jennifer Cavalleri-Barrett Love Story
Sarah Miles Rosy Ryan Ryan's Daughter
Carrie Snodgress Bettina "Tina" Balser Diary of a Mad Housewife
1971
(44th)		 Jane Fonda Award winner Bree Daniels Klute
Julie Christie Constance Miller McCabe & Mrs. Miller
Glenda Jackson Alex Greville Sunday Bloody Sunday
Vanessa Redgrave Mary, Queen of Scots Mary, Queen of Scots
Janet Suzman Empress Alexandra of Russia Nicholas and Alexandra
1972
(45th)		 Liza Minnelli Award winner Sally Bowles Cabaret
Diana Ross Billie Holiday Lady Sings the Blues
Maggie Smith Augusta Bertram Travels with My Aunt
Cicely Tyson Rebecca Morgan Sounder
Liv Ullmann Kristina Nilsson The Emigrants
1973
(46th)		 Glenda Jackson Award winner Vickie Allessio A Touch of Class
Ellen Burstyn Chris MacNeil The Exorcist
Marsha Mason Maggie Paul Cinderella Liberty
Barbra Streisand Katie Morosky The Way We Were
Joanne Woodward Rita Walden Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams
1974
(47th)		 Ellen Burstyn Award winner Alice Hyatt Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
Diahann Carroll Claudine Price Claudine
Faye Dunaway Evelyn Cross Mulwray Chinatown
Valerie Perrine Harriett Jolliff / Honey Bruce Lenny
Gena Rowlands Mabel Longhetti A Woman ...
1975
(48th)		 Louise Fletcher Award winner Nurse Mildred Ratched One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Isabelle Adjani Adèle Hugo / Adèle Lewly The Story of Adele H.
Ann-Margret Nora Walker Tommy
Glenda Jackson Hedda Gabler Hedda
Carol Kane Gitl Hester Street
1976
(49th)		 Faye Dunaway Award winner Diana Christensen Network
Marie-Christine Barrault Marthe Cousin Cousine
Talia Shire Adrian Pennino Rocky
Sissy Spacek Carrie White Carrie
Liv Ullmann Jenny Isaksson Face to Face
1977
(50th)		 Diane Keaton Award winner Annie Hall Annie Hall
Anne Bancroft Emma Jacklin The Turning Point
Jane Fonda Lillian Hellman Julia
Shirley MacLaine Deedee Rodgers The Turning Point
Marsha Mason Paula McFadden The Goodbye Girl
1978
(51st)		 Jane Fonda Award winner Sally Hyde Coming Home
Ingrid Bergman Charlotte Andergast Autumn Sonata
Ellen Burstyn Doris Same Time, Next Year
Jill Clayburgh Erica Benton An Unmarried Woman
Geraldine Page Eve Interiors
1979
(52nd)		 Sally Field Award winner Norma Rae Webster Norma Rae
Jill Clayburgh Marilyn Holmberg Starting Over
Jane Fonda Kimberly Wells The China Syndrome
Marsha Mason Jennie MacLaine Chapter Two
Bette Midler Mary Rose Foster The Rose

1980s

Year Actress Role(s) Film Ref.
1980
(53rd)		 Sissy Spacek Award winner Loretta Lynn Coal Miner's Daughter
Ellen Burstyn Edna Mae Harper-McCauley Resurrection
Goldie Hawn Judy Benjamin Private Benjamin
Mary Tyler Moore Beth Jarrett Ordinary People
Gena Rowlands Gloria Swenson Gloria
1981
(54th)		 Katharine Hepburn Award winner Ethel Thayer On Golden Pond
Diane Keaton Louise Bryant Reds
Marsha Mason Georgia Hines Only When I Laugh
Susan Sarandon Sally Matthews Atlantic City
Meryl Streep Sara Woodruff and Anna The French Lieutenant's Woman
1982
(55th)		 Meryl Streep Award winner Sophie Zawistowski Sophie's Choice
Julie Andrews Victor Grazinski / Victoria Grant Victor/Victoria
Jessica Lange Frances Farmer Frances
Sissy Spacek Beth Horman Missing
Debra Winger Paula Pokrifki An Officer and a Gentleman
1983
(56th)		 Shirley MacLaine Award winner Aurora Greenway Terms of Endearment
Jane Alexander Carol Wetherly Testament
Meryl Streep Karen Silkwood Silkwood
Julie Walters Susan White / Rita Educating Rita
Debra Winger Emma Greenway Horton Terms of Endearment
1984
(57th)		 Sally Field Award winner Edna Spalding Places in the Heart
Judy Davis Adela Quested A Passage to India
Jessica Lange Jewell Ivy Country
Vanessa Redgrave Olive Chancellor The Bostonians
Sissy Spacek Mae Garvey The River
1985
(58th)		 Geraldine Page Award winner Carrie Watts The Trip to Bountiful
Anne Bancroft Miriam Ruth / Anna Maria Burchetti Agnes of God
Whoopi Goldberg Celie Harris-Johnson The Color Purple
Jessica Lange Patsy Cline Sweet Dreams
Meryl Streep Karen Blixen Out of Africa
1986
(59th)		 Marlee Matlin Award winner Sarah Norman Children of a Lesser God
Jane Fonda Alex Sternbergen / Viveca Van Loren The Morning After
Sissy Spacek Babe Botrelle / Rebecca MaGrath Crimes of the Heart
Kathleen Turner Peggy Sue Kelcher-Bodell Peggy Sue Got Married
Sigourney Weaver Ellen Ripley Aliens
1987
(60th)		 Cher Award winner Loretta Castorini Moonstruck
Glenn Close Alex Forrest Fatal Attraction
Holly Hunter Jane Craig Broadcast News
Sally Kirkland Anna Anna
Meryl Streep Helen Archer Ironweed
1988
(61st)		 Jodie Foster Award winner Sarah Tobias The Accused
Glenn Close Marquise Isabelle de Merteuil Dangerous Liaisons
Melanie Griffith Tess McGill Working Girl
Meryl Streep Lindy Chamberlain A Cry in the Dark
Sigourney Weaver Dian Fossey Gorillas in the Mist
1989
(62nd)		 Jessica Tandy Award winner Daisy Werthan Driving Miss Daisy
Isabelle Adjani Camille Claudel Camille Claudel
Pauline Collins Shirley Valentine-Bradshaw Shirley Valentine
Jessica Lange Ann Talbot Music Box
Michelle Pfeiffer Susie Diamond The Fabulous Baker Boys

1990s

Year Actress Role(s) Film Ref.
1990
(63rd)		 Kathy Bates Award winner Annie Wilkes Misery
Anjelica Huston Lilly Dillon The Grifters
Julia Roberts Vivian Ward Pretty Woman
Meryl Streep Suzanne Vale Postcards from the Edge
Joanne Woodward India Bridge Mr. & Mrs. Bridge
1991
(64th)		 Jodie Foster Award winner Clarice Starling The Silence of the Lambs
Geena Davis Thelma Dickinson Thelma & Louise
Laura Dern Rose Rambling Rose
Bette Midler Dixie Leonard For the Boys
Susan Sarandon Louise Sawyer Thelma & Louise
1992
(65th)		 Emma Thompson Award winner Margaret Schlegel Howards End
Catherine Deneuve Éliane Devries Indochine
Mary McDonnell May-Alice Culhane Passion Fish
Michelle Pfeiffer Louise Irene "Lurene" Hallett Love Field
Susan Sarandon Michaela Murphy Odone Lorenzo's Oil
1993
(66th)		 Holly Hunter Award winner Ada McGrath The Piano
Angela Bassett Anna Mae Bullock / Tina Turner What's Love Got to Do with It
Stockard Channing Louisa "Ouisa" Kittredge Six Degrees of Separation
Emma Thompson Sarah "Sally" Kenton The Remains of the Day
Debra Winger Joy Davidman Shadowlands
1994
(67th)		 Jessica Lange Award winner Carly Marshall Blue Sky
Jodie Foster Nell Kellty Nell
Miranda Richardson Vivienne Haigh-Wood Tom & Viv
Winona Ryder Josephine "Jo" March Little Women
Susan Sarandon Regina "Reggie" Love The Client
1995
(68th)		 Susan Sarandon Award winner Helen Prejean Dead Man Walking
Elisabeth Shue Sera Leaving Las Vegas
Sharon Stone Ginger McKenna Casino
Meryl Streep Francesca Johnson The Bridges of Madison County
Emma Thompson Elinor Dashwood Sense and Sensibility
1996
(69th)		 Frances McDormand Award winner Marge Gunderson Fargo
Brenda Blethyn Cynthia Rose Purley Secrets & Lies
Diane Keaton Bessie Wakefield Marvin's Room
Kristin Scott Thomas Katharine Clifton The English Patient
Emily Watson Bess McNeill Breaking the Waves
1997
(70th)		 Helen Hunt Award winner Carol Connelly As Good as It Gets
Helena Bonham Carter Kate Croy The Wings of the Dove
Julie Christie Phyllis Hart Afterglow
Judi Dench Queen Victoria Mrs Brown
Kate Winslet Rose DeWitt Bukater Titanic
1998
(71st)		 Gwyneth Paltrow Award winner Viola de Lesseps Shakespeare in Love
Cate Blanchett Queen Elizabeth I Elizabeth
Fernanda Montenegro Isadora "Dora" Teixeira Central Station
Meryl Streep Kate Gulden One True Thing
Emily Watson Jacqueline du Pré Hilary and Jackie
1999
(72nd)		 Hilary Swank Award winner Brandon Teena Boys Don't Cry
Annette Bening Carolyn Burnham American Beauty
Janet McTeer Mary Jo Walker Tumbleweeds
Julianne Moore Sarah Miles The End of the Affair
Meryl Streep Roberta Guaspari Music of the Heart

2000s

Year Actress Role(s) Film Ref.
2000
(73rd)		 Julia Roberts Award winner Erin Brockovich Erin Brockovich
Joan Allen Laine Hanson The Contender
Juliette Binoche Vianne Rocher Chocolat
Ellen Burstyn Sara Goldfarb Requiem for a Dream
Laura Linney Samantha "Sammy" Prescott You Can Count on Me
2001
(74th)		 Halle Berry Award winner Leticia Musgrove Monster's Ball
Judi Dench Iris Murdoch Iris
Nicole Kidman Satine Moulin Rouge!
Sissy Spacek Ruth Fowler In the Bedroom
Renée Zellweger Bridget Jones Bridget Jones's Diary
2002
(75th)		 Nicole Kidman Award winner Virginia Woolf The Hours
Salma Hayek Frida Kahlo Frida
Diane Lane Constance "Connie" Sumner Unfaithful
Julianne Moore Cathy Whitaker Far from Heaven
Renée Zellweger Roxie Hart Chicago
2003
(76th)		 Charlize Theron Award winner Aileen Wuornos Monster
Keisha Castle-Hughes Paikea Apirana Whale Rider
Diane Keaton Erica Jane Berry Something's Gotta Give
Samantha Morton Sarah Sullivan In America
Naomi Watts Cristina Williams-Peck 21 Grams
2004
(77th)		 Hilary Swank Award winner Maggie Fitzgerald Million Dollar Baby
Annette Bening Julia Lambert Being Julia
Catalina Sandino Moreno María Álvarez Maria Full of Grace
Imelda Staunton Vera Rose Drake Vera Drake
Kate Winslet Clementine Kruczynski Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
2005
(78th)		 Reese Witherspoon Award winner June Carter Cash Walk the Line
Judi Dench Laura Forster-Henderson Mrs Henderson Presents
Felicity Huffman Sabrina "Bree" Osbourne Transamerica
Keira Knightley Elizabeth Bennet Pride & Prejudice
Charlize Theron Josey Aimes North Country
2006
(79th)		 Helen Mirren Award winner Queen Elizabeth II The Queen
Penélope Cruz Raimunda Volver
Judi Dench Barbara Covett Notes on a Scandal
Meryl Streep Miranda Priestly The Devil Wears Prada
Kate Winslet Sarah Pierce Little Children
2007
(80th)		 Marion Cotillard Award winner Édith Piaf La Vie en Rose
Cate Blanchett Queen Elizabeth I Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Julie Christie Fiona Anderson Away from Her
Laura Linney Wendy Savage The Savages
Elliot Page Juno MacGuff Juno
2008
(81st)		 Kate Winslet Award winner Hanna Schmitz The Reader
Anne Hathaway Kym Buchman Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie Christine Collins Changeling
Melissa Leo Ray Eddy Frozen River
Meryl Streep Sister Aloysius Beauvier Doubt
2009
(82nd)		 Sandra Bullock Award winner Leigh Anne Tuohy The Blind Side
Helen Mirren Countess Sophia Tolstaya The Last Station
Carey Mulligan Jenny Mellor An Education
Gabourey Sidibe Claireece "Precious" Jones Precious
Meryl Streep Julia Child Julie & Julia

2010s

Year Actress Role(s) Film Ref.
2010
(83rd)		 Natalie Portman Award winner Nina Sayers Black Swan
Annette Bening Nicole Allgood The Kids Are All Right
Nicole Kidman Becca Corbett Rabbit Hole
Jennifer Lawrence Ree Dolly Winter's Bone
Michelle Williams Cynthia "Cindy" Heller Blue Valentine
2011
(84th)		 Meryl Streep Award winner Margaret Thatcher The Iron Lady
Glenn Close Albert Nobbs Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis Aibileen Clark The Help
Rooney Mara Lisbeth Salander The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Michelle Williams Marilyn Monroe My Week with Marilyn
2012
(85th)		 Jennifer Lawrence Award winner Tiffany Maxwell Silver Linings Playbook
Jessica Chastain Maya Harris Zero Dark Thirty
Emmanuelle Riva Anne Laurent Amour
Quvenzhané Wallis Hushpuppy Beasts of the Southern Wild
Naomi Watts Maria Bennett The Impossible
2013
(86th)		 Cate Blanchett Award winner Jeanette "Jasmine" Francis Blue Jasmine
Amy Adams Sydney Prosser / Lady Edith Greensly American Hustle
Sandra Bullock Ryan Stone Gravity
Judi Dench Philomena Lee Philomena
Meryl Streep Violet Weston August: Osage County
2014
(87th)		 Julianne Moore Award winner Alice Howland Still Alice
Marion Cotillard Sandra Bya Two Days, One Night
Felicity Jones Jane Wilde Hawking The Theory of Everything
Rosamund Pike Amy Elliott-Dunne Gone Girl
Reese Witherspoon Cheryl Strayed Wild
2015
(88th)		 Brie Larson Award winner Joy "Ma" Newsome Room
Cate Blanchett Carol Aird Carol
Jennifer Lawrence Joy Mangano Joy
Charlotte Rampling Kate Mercer 45 Years
Saoirse Ronan Eilis Lacey Brooklyn
2016
(89th)		 Emma Stone Award winner Mia Dolan La La Land
Isabelle Huppert Michèle Leblanc Elle
Ruth Negga Mildred Loving Loving
Natalie Portman Jacqueline "Jackie" Kennedy Jackie
Meryl Streep Florence Foster Jenkins Florence Foster Jenkins
2017
(90th)		 Frances McDormand Award winner Mildred Hayes Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Sally Hawkins Elisa Esposito The Shape of Water
Margot Robbie Tonya Harding I, Tonya
Saoirse Ronan Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson Lady Bird
Meryl Streep Katharine Graham The Post
2018
(91st)		 Olivia Colman Award winner Queen Anne The Favourite
Yalitza Aparicio Cleodegaria "Cleo" Gutiérrez Roma
Glenn Close Joan Castleman The Wife
Lady Gaga Ally Maine A Star Is Born
Melissa McCarthy Leonore Carol "Lee" Israel Can You Ever Forgive Me?
2019
(92nd)		 Renée Zellweger Award winner Judy Garland Judy
Cynthia Erivo Harriet Tubman Harriet
Scarlett Johansson Nicole Barber Marriage Story
Saoirse Ronan Josephine "Jo" March Little Women
Charlize Theron Megyn Kelly Bombshell

2020s

Year Actress Role(s) Film Ref.
2020/21
(93rd)		 Frances McDormand Award winner Fern Nomadland
Viola Davis Gertrude "Ma" Rainey Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Andra Day Billie Holiday The United States vs. Billie Holiday
Vanessa Kirby Martha Weiss Pieces of a Woman
Carey Mulligan Cassandra "Cassie" Thomas Promising Young Woman
2021
(94th)		 Jessica Chastain Award winner Tammy Faye Bakker The Eyes of Tammy Faye
Olivia Colman Leda Caruso The Lost Daughter
Penélope Cruz Janis Martínez Moreno Parallel Mothers
Nicole Kidman Lucille Ball Being the Ricardos
Kristen Stewart Diana, Princess of Wales Spencer
2022
(95th)		 Michelle Yeoh Award winner Evelyn Quan Wang Everything Everywhere All at Once
Cate Blanchett Lydia Tár Tár
Ana de Armas Norma Jeane / Marilyn Monroe Blonde
Andrea Riseborough Leslie Rowland To Leslie
Michelle Williams Mitzi Fabelman The Fabelmans
2023
(96th)		 Emma Stone Award winner Bella Baxter Poor Things
Annette Bening Diana Nyad Nyad
Lily Gladstone Mollie Burkhart Killers of the Flower Moon
Sandra Hüller Sandra Voyter Anatomy of a Fall
Carey Mulligan Felicia Montealegre Maestro

Multiple wins and nominations

The following individuals received two or more Best Actress awards:

Wins Actress Nominations
4 Katharine Hepburn 12
3 Frances McDormand 3
2 Meryl Streep 17
Bette Davis 10
Ingrid Bergman 6
Jane Fonda
Elizabeth Taylor 5
Olivia de Havilland 4
Glenda Jackson
Jodie Foster 3
Sally Field 2
Vivien Leigh
Luise Rainer
Emma Stone
Hilary Swank

The following individuals received three or more Best Actress nominations:

Nominations Actress
17 Meryl Streep
12 Katharine Hepburn
10 Bette Davis
7 Greer Garson
6 Ingrid Bergman
Jane Fonda
Deborah Kerr
Norma Shearer
Sissy Spacek
5 Anne Bancroft
Cate Blanchett
Ellen Burstyn
Judi Dench
Irene Dunne
Susan Hayward
Audrey Hepburn
Jessica Lange
Shirley MacLaine
Susan Sarandon
Elizabeth Taylor
4 Annette Bening
Glenn Close
Julie Christie
Greta Garbo
Olivia de Havilland
Glenda Jackson
Jennifer Jones
Diane Keaton
Nicole Kidman
Marsha Mason
Geraldine Page
Vanessa Redgrave
Rosalind Russell
Barbara Stanwyck
Kate Winslet
Joanne Woodward
Jane Wyman
3 Julie Andrews
Claudette Colbert
Joan Crawford
Faye Dunaway
Joan Fontaine
Jodie Foster
Jennifer Lawrence
Frances McDormand
Julianne Moore
Carey Mulligan
Eleanor Parker
Saoirse Ronan
Gloria Swanson
Charlize Theron
Emma Thompson
Michelle Williams
Debra Winger
Renée Zellweger

Age superlatives

Record Actor Film Year Age Ref.
Oldest Winner Jessica Tandy Driving Miss Daisy 1990 80
Oldest Nominee Emmanuelle Riva Amour 2013 85
Youngest Winner Marlee Matlin Children of a Lesser God 1987 21
Youngest Nominee Quvenzhané Wallis Beasts of the Southern Wild 2013 9

Films with multiple Leading Actress nominations

Winners are in bold.

Multiple character nominations

The following were nominated for their portrayals of the same fictional or non-fictional character in separate films (including variations of the original).

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Anexo:Óscar a la mejor actriz para niños

  • Academy Award for Best Actor
  • All Academy Award acting nominees
  • BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role
  • César Award for Best Actress
  • Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Actress
  • Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
  • Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical
  • Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead
  • Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
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