Oscar History Part 3: Best Actress

Best Actress does not appear to be as highly valued as Best Actor. Best Actress winners are in Best Picture nominees far less often and seldom does the Picture winner actually get an Actress nomination (and almost never wins). In fact there was a 31 year stretch (from 1943 to 1974) where the Best Picture didn’t win Best Actress (and only had 5 nominations- 2 for All About Eve, From Here to Eternity, The Apartment, The Sound of Music). During the same period the Best Picture winners won 15 Best Actors and had 25 nominations.

Best Actress is the most likely acting award to be the film’s sole nomination (about one a year) and 12 of those have won (another high percentage), though half of those wins were in the first 10 years of the Academy Awards.

Only 5 films have managed to get two nominations for Best Actress (All About Eve, Suddenly Last Summer, The Turning Point, Terms of Endearment, Thelma and Louise) and only Terms managed to win (Shirley MacLaine over Debra Winger).

Katharine Hepburn, with four wins, has more Best Actress Oscars than any other actress.  Twelve women have won two Best Actress Oscars; they are Luise Rainer, Bette Davis, Olivia de Havilland, Vivien Leigh, Ingrid Bergman, Elizabeth Taylor, Glenda Jackson, Jane Fonda, Sally Field, Jodie Foster, Hilary Swank, and Meryl Streep.

With two Best Actress Oscars and one for Best Supporting Actress, Ingrid Bergman and Meryl Streep are the only actresses, after Katharine Hepburn, to have won three competitive acting Oscars.

There has been only one tie in the history of this category.  This occurred in 1968 when Katharine Hepburn (The Lion in Winter) and Barbra Streisand (Funny Girl) were both given the award.  Each received exactly the same number of votes.

Deborah Kerr is the most snubbed, with six Best Actress nominations but no wins.  Criminal.

The most embarrassing Best Actress Oscar win in my mind was given to Judy Holliday for Born Yesterday in 1950 over three of the greatest performances ever put on film (Gloria Swanson in Sunset Boulevard and Bette Davis and Anne Baxter in All About Eve).

(blue won Best Picture, red was nominated for Best Picture and orange received no other nominations)

(because Academy rules limit an actress to one nomination in a category in any given year, I do as well, but if they gave another performance that made my top 5, I note that as “also for”)

1927-28 AA: Janet Gaynor in Sunrise / Seventh Heaven / Street Angel

• Gloria Swanson in Sadie Thompson
• Louise Dresser in A Ship Comes In

me: Janet Gaynor in Sunrise (also for Seventh Heaven and Street Angel)

• Maria Falconetti in The Passion of Joan of Arc
• Gloria Swanson in Sadie Thompson
• Greta Garbo in Flesh and the Devil

1928-29 AA: Mary Pickford in Coquette

• Bessie Love in Broadway Melody
• Ruth Cattherton in Madame X
• Betty Compson in The Barker
• Jeanne Eagles in The Letter

me: Lillian Gish in The Wind

• Greta Garbo in The Kiss
• Mary Pickford in Coquette
• Louise Brooks in Pandora’s Box

1929-30 AA: Norma Shearer in The Divorcee

• Greta Garbo in Anna Christie / Romance (nominated for both)
• Nancy Carroll in The Devil’s Holiday
• Ruth Chatterton in Sarah and Son
• Norma Shearer in Their Own Desire (separate nomination)
• Gloria Swanson in The Trespasser

me: Greta Garbo in Anna Christie

• Norma Shearer in The Divorcee (also for Their Own Desire)
• Mary Duncan in City Girl

1930-31 AA: Marie Dressler in Min and Bill

• Irene Dunne in Cimarron
• Marlene Dietrich in Morocco
• Ann Harding in Holiday
• Norma Shearer in A Free Soul

me: Norma Shearer in A Free Soul

• Marlene Dietrich in The Blue Angel (also for Morocco)
• Marie Dressler in Min and Bill

1931-32 AA: Helen Hayes in The Sin of Madelon Claudet

• Lynn Fontanne in The Guardsman
• Marie Dressler in Emma

me: Marlene Dietrich in The Shanghai Express

• Joan Crawford in Grand Hotel
• Helen Hayes in The Sin of Madelon Claudet (also for Arrowsmith)

1932-33 AA: Katharine Hepburn in Morning Glory

• Diana Wynyard in Cavalcade
• May Robson in Lady for a Day

me: Katharine Hepburn in Little Women (also for Morning Glory)

• Mae West in She Done Him Wrong
• May Robson in Lady for a Day
• Greta Garbo in Queen Christina

1934 AA: Claudette Colbert in It Happened One Night

• Grace Moore in One Night of Love
• Norma Shearer in The Barretts of Wimpole Street

me: Claudette Colbert in It Happened One Night

• Bette Davis in Of Human Bondage
• Myrna Loy in The Thin Man
• Marlene Dietrich in The Scarlet Empress
• Ginger Rogers in The Gay Divorcee

1935 AA: Bette Davis in Dangerous

• Katharine Hepburn in Alice Adams
• Merle Oberon in The Dark Angel
• Elisabeth Bergner in Escape Me Never
• Claudette Colbert in Private Worlds
• Miriam Hopkins in Becky Sharp

me: Ginger Rogers in Top Hat

• Katharine Hepburn in Alice Adams
• Bette Davis in Dangerous 
• Merle Oberon in The Dark Angel
• Greta Garbo in Anna Karenina

1936 AA: Luise Rainer in The Great Ziegfeld

• Carole Lombard in My Man Godfrey
• Norma Shearer in Romeo and Juliet
• Irene Dunne in Theodora Goes Wild
• Gladys George in Valiant is the Word for Carrie

me: Bette Davis in The Petrified Forest

• Luise Rainer in The Great Ziegfeld
• Carole Lombard in My Man Godfrey
• Norma Shearer in Romeo and Juliet
• Jean Arthur in Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

1937 AA: Luise Rainer in The Good Earth

• Irene Dunne in The Awful Truth
• Janet Gaynor in A Star is Born
• Barbara Stanwyck in Stella Dallas
• Greta Garbo in Camille

me: Janet Gaynor in A Star is Born

• Irene Dunne in The Awful Truth
• Luise Rainer in The Good Earth
• Katharine Hepburn in Stage Door
• Greta Garbo in Camille

1938 AA: Bette Davis in Jezebel

• Wendy Hiller in Pygmalion
• Norma Shearer in Marie Antoinette
• Fay Bainter in White Banners
• Margaret Sullavan in Three Comrades

me: Wendy Hiller in Pygmalion

• Katharine Hepburn in Bringing Up Baby
• Bette Davis in Jezebel
• Norma Shearer in Marie Antoinette
• Jean Arthur in You Can’t Take It With You

1939 AA: Vivien Leigh in Gone with the Wind

• Bette Davis in Dark Victory
• Irene Dunne in Love Affair
• Greta Garbo in Ninotchka
• Greer Garson in Goodbye, Mr. Chips

me: Vivien Leigh in Gone with the Wind

• Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz
• Bette Davis in Dark Victory
• Greta Garbo in Ninotchka
• Merle Oberon in Wuthering Heights

1940 AA: Ginger Rogers in Kitty Foyle

• Joan Fontaine in Rebecca
• Bette Davis in The Letter
• Katharine Hepburn in The Philadelphia Story
• Martha Scott in Our Town

me: Katharine Hepburn in The Philadelphia Story

• Rosalind Russell in His Girl Friday
• Joan Fontaine in Rebecca
• Bette Davis in The Letter
• Ginger Rogers in Kitty Foyle

1941 AA: Joan Fontaine in Suspicion

• Bette Davis in The Little Foxes
• Greer Garson in Blossoms in the Dust
• Olivia de Havilland in Hold Back the Dawn
• Barbara Stanwyck in Ball of Fire

me: Barbara Stanwyck in The Lady Eve (also for Ball of Fire)

• Joan Fontaine in Suspicion
• Bette Davis in The Little Foxes
• Carole Lombard in Mr. and Mrs. Smith
• Vivien Leigh in That Hamilton Woman

1942 AA: Greer Garson in Mrs. Miniver

• Teresa Wright in The Pride of the Yankees
• Bette Davis in Now, Voyager
• Katharine Hepburn in Woman of the Year
• Rosalind Russell in My Sister Eileen

me: Greer Garson in Mrs. Miniver

• Carole Lombard in To Be or Not to Be
• Bette Davis in Now, Voyager
• Katharine Hepburn in Woman of the Year
• Veronica Lake in Sullivan’s Travels

1943 AA: Jennifer Jones in The Song of Bernadette

• Jean Arthur in The More the Merrier
• Ingrid Bergman in For Whom the Bell Tolls
• Greer Garson in Madame Curie
• Joan Fontaine in The Constant Nymph

me: Ingrid Bergman in For Whom the Bell Tolls (also for Casablanca)

• Teresa Wright in Shadow of a Doubt
• Jennifer Jones in The Song of Bernadette
• Bette Davis in Watch on the Rhine
• Jean Arthur in The More the Merrier

1944 AA: Ingrid Bergman in Gaslight

• Claudette Colbert in Since You Went Away
• Barbara Stanwyck in Double Indemnity
• Bette Davis in Mr. Skeffington
• Greer Garson in Mrs. Parkington

me: Ingrid Bergman in Gaslight

• Barbara Stanwyck in Double Indemnity
• Gene Tierney in Laura
• Judy Garland in Meet Me in St. Louis
• Bette Davis in Mr. Skeffington

1945 AA: Joan Crawford in Mildred Pierce

• Ingrid Bergman in The Bells of St. Mary’s
• Greer Garson in The Valley of Decision
• Jennifer Jones in Love Letters
• Gene Tierney in Leave Her to Heaven

me: Joan Crawford in Mildred Pierce

• Lauren Bacall in To Have and Have Not
• Ingrid Bergman in Spellbound (also for The Bells of St. Mary’s)
• Gene Tierney in Leave Her to Heaven
• Bette Davis in The Corn is Green

1946 AA: Olivia de Havilland in To Each His Own

• Jane Wyman in The Yearling
• Celia Johnson in Brief Encounter
• Jennifer Jones in Duel in the Sun
• Rosalind Russell in Sister Kenny

me: Celia Johnson in Brief Encounter

• Lauren Bacall in The Big Sleep
• Ingrid Bergman in Notorious 
• Anna Magnani in Rome Open City
• Olivia de Havilland in To Each His Own

1947 AA: Loretta Young in The Farmer’s Daughter

• Dorothy McGuire in Gentleman’s Agreement
• Susan Hayward in Smash Up – The Story of a Woman
• Rosalind Russell in Mourning Becomes Electra
• Joan Crawford in Possessed

me: Deborah Kerr in Black Narcissus

• Celia Johnson in This Happy Breed 
• Kim Hunter in Stairway to Heaven
• Dorothy McGuire in Gentleman’s Agreement
• Loretta Young in The Farmer’s Daughter

1948 AA: Jane Wyman in Johnny Belinda

• Olivia de Havilland in The Snake Pit
• Ingrid Bergman in Joan of Arc
• Irene Dunne in I Remember Mama
• Barbara Stanwyck in Sorry, Wrong Number

me: Jane Wyman in Johnny Belinda

• Olivia de Havilland in The Snake Pit
• Moira Shearer in The Red Shoes
• Ingrid Bergman in Joan of Arc
• Joan Fontaine in Letter From an Unknown Woman

1949 AA: Olivia de Havilland in The Heiress

• Jeanne Crain in Pinky
• Susan Hayward in My Foolish Heart
• Loretta Young in Come to the Stable
• Deborah Kerr in Edward My Son

me: Olivia de Havilland in The Heiress

• Sheila Sim in A Canterbury Tale
• Susan Hayward in My Foolish Heart
• Jeanne Crain in A Letter to Three Wives
• Ann Sothern in A Letter to Three Wives

1950 AA: Judy Holliday in Born Yesterday

• Anne Baxter in All About Eve
• Bette Davis in All About Eve
• Gloria Swanson in Sunset Boulevard
• Eleanor Parker in Caged

me: the same, except Swanson wins



1951 AA: Vivien Leigh in A Streetcar Named Desire

• Shelley Winters in A Place in the Sun
• Katharine Hepburn in The African Queen
• Eleanor Parker in Detective Story
• Jane Wyman in The Blue Veil

me: Vivien Leigh in A Streetcar Named Desire

• Katharine Hepburn in The African Queen
• Shelley Winters in A Place in the Sun
• Eleanor Parker in Detective Story
• Leslie Caron in An American in Paris

1952 AA: Shirley Booth in Come Back, Little Sheba

• Joan Crawford in Sudden Fear
• Susan Hayward in With a Song in My Heart
• Bette Davis in The Star
• Julie Harris in The Member of the Wedding

me: Anita Bjork in Miss Julie

• Shirley Booth in Come Back, Little Sheba
• Lana Turner in The Bad and the Beautiful
• Simone Signoret in Casque d’Or
• Julie Harris in The Member of the Wedding

1953 AA: Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday

• Deborah Kerr in From Here to Eternity
• Leslie Caron in Lili
• Ava Gardner in Mogambo
• Maggie McNamara in The Moon is Blue

me: Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday

• Deborah Kerr in From Here to Eternity
• Maggie McNamara in The Moon is Blue
• Jean Simmons in The Actress
• Leslie Caron in Lili

1954 AA: Grace Kelly in The Country Girl

• Dorothy Dandridge in Carmen Jones
• Judy Garland in A Star is Born
• Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina
• Jane Wyman in Magnificent Obsession

me: Judy Garland in A Star is Born

• Grace Kelly in The Country Girl (also for Rear Window)
• Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina
• Brenda de Banzie in Hobson’s Choice
• Dorothy Dandridge in Carmen Jones

1955 AA: Anna Magnani in The Rose Tattoo

• Jennifer Jones in Love is a Many-Splendored Thing
• Susan Hayward in I’ll Cry Tomorrow
• Katharine Hepburn in Summertime
• Eleanor Parker in Interrupted Melody

me: Grace Kelly in To Catch a Thief

• Katharine Hepburn in Summertime
• Anna Magnani in The Rose Tattoo
• Shirley MacLaine in The Trouble with Harry
• Deborah Kerr in The End of the Affair

1956 AA: Ingrid Bergman in Anastasia

• Deborah Kerr in The King and I
• Carroll Baker in Baby Doll
• Katharine Hepburn in The Rainmaker
• Nancy Kelly in The Bad Seed

me: Ingrid Bergman in Anastasia

• Giulietta Masina in La Strada
• Harriet Andersson in Sawdust and Tinsel
• Deborah Kerr in The King and I
• Carroll Baker in Baby Doll

1957 AA: Joanne Woodward in The Three Faces of Eve

• Lana Turner in Peyton Place
• Deborah Kerr in Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison
• Anna Magnani in Wild is the Wind
• Elizabeth Taylor in Raintree Country

me: Giulietta Masina in Nights of Cabiria

• Eva Dahlbeck in Smiles of a Summer Night
• Marlene Dietrich in Witness for the Prosecution
• Joanne Woodward in The Three Faces of Eve 
• Anna Magnani in Wild is the Wind

1958 AA: Susan Hayward in I Want to Live!

• Deborah Kerr in Separate Tables
• Rosalind Russell in Auntie Mame
• Elizabeth Taylor in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
• Shirley MacLaine in Some Came Running

me: Elizabeth Taylor in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

• Kim Novak in Vertigo
• Deborah Kerr in Separate Tables
• Shirley MacLaine in Some Came Running
• Rosalind Russell in Auntie Mame

1959 AA: Simone Signoret in Room at the Top

• Audrey Hepburn in The Nun’s Story
• Doris Day in Pillow Talk
• Katharine Hepburn in Suddenly, Last Summer
• Elizabeth Taylor in Suddenly, Last Summer

me: Ingrid Thulin in Wild Strawberries (also for The Magician)

• Simone Signoret in Room at the Top
• Katharine Hepburn in Suddenly, Last Summer
• Marilyn Monroe in Some Like It Hot
• Audrey Hepburn in The Nun’s Story

1960 AA: Elizabeth Taylor in Butterfield 8

• Shirley MacLaine in The Apartment
• Deborah Kerr in The Sundowners
• Greer Garson in Sunrise at Campobello
• Melina Mercouri in Never on Sunday

me: Shirley MacLaine in The Apartment

• Deborah Kerr in The Sundowners
• Tatyana Samojlova in The Cranes are Flying
• Joanne Woodward in The Fugitive Kind
• Elizabeth Taylor in Butterfield 8

1961 AA: Sophia Loren in Two Women

• Piper Laurie in The Hustler
• Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s
• Geraldine Page in Summer and Smoke
• Natalie Wood in Splendor in the Grass

me: Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s

• Sophia Loren in Two Women
• Natalie Wood in Splendor in the Grass
• Shirley MacLaine in The Children’s Hour
• Piper Laurie in The Hustler

1962 AA: Anne Bancroft in The Miracle Worker

• Bette Davis in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
• Geraldine Page in Sweet Bird of Youth
• Lee Remick in Days of Wine and Roses
• Katharine Hepburn in Long Day’s Journey Into Night

me: Harriet Andersson in Through a Glass Darkly

• Lee Remick in Days of Wine and Roses
• Katharine Hepburn in Long Day’s Journey Into Night
• Anne Bancroft in The Miracle Worker
• Geraldine Page in Sweet Bird of Youth

1963 AA: Patricia Neal in Hud

• Shirley MacLaine in Irma La Douce
• Rachel Roberts in This Sporting Life
• Natalie Wood in Love with the Proper Stranger
• Leslie Caron in The L-Shaped Room

me: Patricia Neal in HuHudHHud

• Ingrid Thulin in Winter Light
• Natalie Wood in Love with the Proper Stranger
• Jolanta Umecka in Knife in the Water
• Leslie Caron in The L-Shaped Room

1964 AA: Julie Andrews in Mary Poppins

• Debbie Reynolds in The Unsinkable Molly Brown
• Anne Bancroft in The Pumpkin Eater
• Sophia Loren in Marriage Italian Style
• Kim Stanley in Seance on a Wet Afternoon

me: Julie Andrews in Mary Poppins (also for The Americanization of Emily)

• Anne Bancroft in The Pumpkin Eater
• Ingrid Thulin in The Silence
• Deborah Kerr in The Night of the Iguana (also for The Chalk Garden)
• Ava Gardner in The Night of the Iguana

1965 AA: Julie Christie in Darling

• Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music
• Samantha Eggar in The Collector
• Elizabeth Hartman in A Patch of Blue
• Simone Signoret in Ship of Fools

me: Julie Christie in Darling

• Catherine Deneuve in Repulsion
• Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music
• Samantha Eggar in The Collector
• Elizabeth Hartman in A Patch of Blue

1966 AA: Elizabeth Taylor in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf

• Anouk Aimee in A Man and a Woman
• Ida Kaminska in The Shop on Main Street
• Lynn Redgrave in Georgy Girl
• Vanessa Redgrave in Morgan!

me: the same


1967 AA: Katharine Hepburn in Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner

• Anne Bancroft in The Graduate
• Faye Dunaway in Bonnie and Clyde
• Dame Edith Evans in The Whisperers
• Audrey Hepburn in Wait Until Dark

me: Anne Bancroft in The Graduate

• Faye Dunaway in Bonnie and Clyde
• Liv Ullmann in Persona
• Dame Edith Evans in The Whisperers
• Audrey Hepburn in Wait Until Dark

1968 AA: Katharine Hepburn in The Lion in Winter

• Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl (also won)
• Joanne Woodward in Rachel, Rachel
• Patricia Neal in The Subject Was Roses
• Vanessa Redgrave in Isadora

me: Katharine Hepburn in The Lion in Winter

• Mia Farrow in Rosemary’s Baby
• Catherine Deneuve in Belle de Jour
• Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl
• Joanne Woodward in Rachel, Rachel

1969 AA: Maggie Smith in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie

• Genevieve Bujold in Anne of the Thousand Days
• Jane Fonda in They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?
• Liza Minnelli in The Sterile Cuckoo
• Jean Simmons in The Happy Ending

me: Jane Fonda in They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?

• Maggie Smith in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
• Natalie Wood in Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice
• Liza Minnelli in The Sterile Cuckoo
• Genevieve Bujold in Anne of the Thousand Days

1970 AA: Glenda Jackson in Women in Love

• Ali MacGraw in Love Story
• Jane Alexander in The Great White Hope
• Sarah Miles in Ryan’s Daughter
• Carrie Snodgress in Diary of a Mad Housewife

me: Glenda Jackson in Women in Love

• Liv Ullmann in The Passion of Anna
• Sarah Miles in Ryan’s Daughter
• Jane Alexander in The Great White Hope
• Catherine Deneuve in Mississippi Mermaid

1971 AA: Jane Fonda in Klute

• Janet Suzman in Nicholas and Alexandra
• Glenda Jackson in Sunday, Bloody Sunday
• Vanessa Redgrave in Mary, Queen of Scots
• Julie Christie in McCabe and Mrs. Miller

me: Glenda Jackson in Sunday, Bloody Sunday

• Julie Christie in McCabe and Mrs. Miller
• Ruth Gordon in Harold and Maude
• Jane Fonda in Klute
• Vanessa Redgrave in Mary, Queen of Scots

1972 AA: Liza Minnelli in Cabaret

• Cicely Tyson in Sounder
• Liv Ullmann in The Emigrants
• Diana Ross in Lady Sings the Blues
• Maggie Smith in Travels with My Aunt

me: Liza Minnelli in Cabaret

• Liv Ullmann in The Emigrants
• Claire Bloom in Limelight
• Diana Ross in Lady Sings the Blues
• Maggie Smith in Travels With My Aunt

1973 AA: Glenda Jackson in A Touch of Class

• Ellen Burstyn in The Exorcist
• Marsha Mason in Cinderella Liberty
• Barbra Streisand in The Way We Were
• Joanne Woodward in Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams

me: Liv Ullmann in Cries and Whispers

• Ingrid Thulin in Cries and Whispers
• Ellen Burstyn in The Exorcist
• Joanne Woodward in Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams
• Barbra Streisand in The Way We Were

1974 AA: Ellen Burtsyn in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore

• Faye Dunaway in Chinatown
• Valerie Perrine in Lenny
• Gena Rowlands in A Woman Under the Influence
• Diahann Carroll in Claudine

me: Liv Ullmann in Scenes from a Marriage

• Faye Dunaway in Chinatown
• Ellen Burtsyn in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore
• Sissy Spacek in Badlands
• Gena Rowlands in A Woman Under the Influence

1975 AA: Louise Fletcher in One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest

• Ann-Margret in Tommy
• Isabelle Adjani in The Story of Adele H
• Glenda Jackson in Hedda
• Carol Kane in Hester Street

me: Louise Fletcher in One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest

• Isabelle Adjani in The Story of Adele H
• Carol Kane in Hester Street
• Diane Keaton in Love and Death
• Glenda Jackson in Hedda

1976 AA: Faye Dunaway in Network

• Talia Shire in Rocky
• Marie-Christine Barrault in Cousin, Cousine
• Sissy Spacek in Carrie
• Liv Ullmann in Face to Face

me: Faye Dunaway in Network

• Sissy Spacek in Carrie
• Liv Ullmann in Face to Face
• Marie-Christine Barrault in Cousin, Cousine
• Shelley Winters in Next Stop, Greenwich Village

1977 AA: Diane Keaton in Annie Hall

• Anne Bancroft in The Turning Point
• Jane Fonda in Julia
• Shirley MacLaine in The Turning Point
• Marsha Mason in The Goodbye Girl

me: Diane Keaton in Annie Hall (also for Looking for Mr. Goodbar)

• Shelley Duvall in Three Women
• Marsha Mason in The Goodbye Girl
• Jane Fonda in Julia
• Anne Bancroft in The Turning Point

1978 AA: Jane Fonda in Coming Home

• Jill Clayburgh in An Unmarried Woman
• Ingrid Bergman in Autumn Sonata
• Ellen Burstyn in Same Time, Next Year
• Geraldine Page in Interiors

me: Ingrid Bergman in Autumn Sonata

• Jane Fonda in Coming Home
• Geraldine Page in Interiors
• Liv Ullmann in Autumn Sonata
• Jill Clayburgh in An Unmarried Woman

1979 AA: Sally Field in Norma Rae

• Jill Clayburgh in Starting Over
• Jane Fonda in The China Syndrome
• Bette Midler in The Rose
• Marsha Mason in Chapter Two

me: Bette Midler in The Rose

• Jane Fonda in The China Syndrome
• Sigourney Weaver in Alien
• Sally Field in Norma Rae
• Diane Keaton in Manhattan

1980 AA: Sissy Spacek in Coal Miner’s Daughter

• Mary Tyler Moore in Ordinary People
• Ellen Burstyn in Resurrection
• Goldie Hawn in Private Benjamin
• Gena Rowlands in Gloria

me: Mary Tyler Moore in Ordinary People

• Judy Davis in My Brilliant Career
• Sissy Spacek in Coal Miner’s Daughter
• Catherine Deneuve in The Last Metro
• Gena Rowlands in Gloria

1981 AA: Katharine Hepburn in On Golden Pond

• Diane Keaton in Reds
• Susan Sarandon in Atlantic City
• Marsha Mason in Only When I Laugh
• Meryl Streep in The French Lieutenant’s Woman

me: Meryl Streep in The French Lieutenant’s Woman

• Kathleen Turner in Body Heat
• Diane Keaton in Reds  
• Susan Sarandon in Atlantic City
• Katharine Hepburn in On Golden Pond

1982 AA: Meryl Streep in Sophie’s Choice

• Sissy Spacek in Missing
• Julie Andrews in Victor/Victoria
• Jessica Lange in Frances
• Debra Winger in An Officer and a Gentleman

me: the same


1983 AA: Shirley MacLaine in Terms of Endearment

• Debra Winger in Terms of Endearment
• Meryl Streep in Silkwood
• Julie Walters in Educating Rita
• Jane Alexander in Testament

me: the same


1984 AA: Sally Field in Places in the Heart

• Judy Davis in A Passage to India
• Vanessa Redgrave in The Bostonians
• Sissy Spacek in The River
• Jessica Lange in Country

me: Judy Davis in A Passage to India

• Jessica Lange in Country
• Mia Farrow in Broadway Danny Rose
• Vanessa Redgrave in The Bostonians
• Sissy Spacek in The River

1985 AA: Geraldine Page in The Trip to Bountiful

• Meryl Streep in Out of Africa
• Whoopi Goldberg in The Color Purple
• Anne Bancroft in Agnes of God
• Jessica Lange in Sweet Dreams

me: Geraldine Page in The Trip to Bountiful

• Frances McDormand in Blood Simple
• Whoopi Goldberg in The Color Purple
• Cher in Mask
• Meryl Streep in Out of Africa

1986 AA: Marlee Matlin in Children of a Lesser God

• Sissy Spacek in Crimes of the Heart
• Kathleen Turner in Peggy Sue Got Married
• Sigourney Weaver in Aliens
• Jane Fonda in The Morning After

me: Marlee Matlin in Children of a Lesser God

• Sigourney Weaver in Aliens
• Melanie Griffith in Something Wild
• Giuleta Masina in Ginger and Fred
• Kathleen Turner in Peggy Sue Got Married

1987 AA: Cher in Moonstruck

• Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction
• Holly Hunter in Broadcast News
• Meryl Streep in Ironweed
• Sally Kirkland in Anna

me: Holly Hunter in Broadcast News

• Cher in Moonstruck
• Anjelica Huston in The Dead
• Vanessa Redgrave in Prick Up Your Ears
• Joanne Woodward in The Glass Menagerie

1988 AA: Jodie Foster in The Accused

• Glenn Close in Dangerous Liaisons
• Melanie Griffith in Working Girl
• Sigourney Weaver in Gorillas in the Mist
• Meryl Streep in A Cry in the Dark

me: Glenn Close in Dangerous Liaisons

• Christine Lahti in Running on Empty
• Carmen Maura in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
• Sigourney Weaver in Gorillas in the Mist
• Jodie Foster in The Accused

1989 AA: Jessica Tandy in Driving Miss Daisy

• Isabelle Adjani in Camille Claudel
• Pauline Collins in Shirley Valentine
• Michelle Pfeiffer in The Fabulous Baker Boys
• Jessica Lange in Music Box

me: Andie MacDowell in sex, lies, and videotape

• Michelle Pfeiffer in The Fabulous Baker Boys
• Winona Ryder in Heathers
• Isabelle Adjani in Camille Claudel
• Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally . . .

1990 AA: Kathy Bates in Misery

• Anjelica Huston in The Grifters
• Meryl Streep in Postcards from the Edge
• Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman
• Joanne Woodward in Mr. and Mrs. Bridge

me: Kathy Bates in Misery

• Anjelica Huston in The Grifters
• Mia Farrow in Alice
• Joanne Woodward in Mr. and Mrs. Bridge
• Uma Thurman in Henry & June

1991 AA: Jodie Foster in Silence of the Lambs

• Laura Dern in Rambling Rose
• Geena Davis in Thelma and Louise
• Susan Sarandon in Thelma and Louise
• Bette Midler in For the Boys

me: Jodie Foster in Silence of the Lambs

• Irene Jacob in The Double Life of Veronique
• Laura Dern in Rambling Rose
• Geena Davis in Thelma and Louise
• Susan Sarandon in Thelma and Louise

1992 AA: Emma Thompson in Howards End

• Catherine Deneuve in Indochine
• Mary McDonnell in Passion Fish
• Susan Sarandon in Lorenzo’s Oil
• Michelle Pfeiffer in Love Field

me: Emma Thompson in Howards End

• Gong Li in Raise the Red Lantern
• Catherine Deneuve in Indochine
• Helena Bonham-Carter in Howards End
• Miranda Richardson in Enchanted April

1993 AA: Holly Hunter in The Piano

• Emma Thompson in The Remains of the Day
• Angela Bassett in What’s Love Got to Do With It
• Debra Winger in Shadowlands
• Stockard Channing in Six Degrees of Separation

me: Holly Hunter in The Piano

• Juliette Binoche in Three Colors: Blue
• Michelle Pfeiffer in The Age of Innocence
• Emma Thompson in The Remains of the Day (also for Much Ado About Nothing)
• Angela Bassett in What’s Love Got to Do With It

1994 AA: Jessica Lange in Blue Sky

• Miranda Richardson in Tom & Viv
• Winona Ryder in Little Women
• Jodie Foster in Nell
• Susan Sarandon in The Client

me: Sigourney Weaver in Death and the Maiden

• Irene Jacob in Three Colors: Red
• Natalie Portman in Leon: The Professional
• Jennifer Jason Leigh in Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle
• Winona Ryder in Little Women

1995 AA: Susan Sarandon in Dead Man Walking

• Emma Thompson in Sense and Sensibility
• Elizabeth Shue in Leaving Las Vegas
• Sharon Stone in Casino
• Meryl Streep in The Bridges of Madison Country

me: Susan Sarandon in Dead Man Walking

• Emma Thompson in Sense and Sensibility
• Elizabeth Shue in Leaving Las Vegas
• Nicole Kidman in To Die For
• Julie Delpy in Before Sunrise

1996 AA: Frances McDormand in Fargo

• Kristin Scott-Thomas in The English Patient
• Brenda Blythyn in Secrets and Lies
• Diane Keaton in Marvin’s Room
• Emily Watson in Breaking the Waves

me: Frances McDormand in Fargo

• Emily Watson in Breaking the Waves
• Laura Dern in Citizen Ruth
• Gwyneth Paltrow in Emma
• Kristin Scott-Thomas in The English Patient

1997 AA: Helen Hunt in As Good as It Gets

• Kate Winslet in Titanic
• Helena Bonham-Carter in The Wings of the Dove
• Judi Dench in Mrs. Brown
• Julie Christie in Afterglow

me: Joan Allen in The Ice Storm

• Pam Grier in Jackie Brown
• Judi Dench in Mrs. Brown
• Helen Hunt in As Good as It Gets
• Helena Bonham-Carter in The Wings of the Dove

1998 AA: Gwyneth Paltrow in Shakespeare in Love

• Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth
• Fernenda Montenegro in Central Station
• Emily Watson in Hilary and Jackie
• Meryl Streep in One True Thing

me: Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth

• Gwyneth Paltrow in Shakespeare in Love
• Christina Ricci in The Opposite of Sex
• Jennifer Lopez in Out of Sight
• Emma Thompson in Primary Colors

1999 AA: Hillary Swank in Boys Don’t Cry

• Annette Bening in American Beauty
• Julianne Moore in The End of the Affair
• Meryl Streep in Music of the Heart
• Janet McTeer in Tumbleweeds

me: Annette Bening in American Beauty

• Reese Witherspoon in Election
• Hillary Swank in Boys Don’t Cry
• Julianne Moore in The End of the Affair
• Sigourney Weaver in A Map of the World

2000 AA: Julia Roberts in Erin Brockovich

• Juliette Binoche in Chocolat
• Joan Allen in The Contender
• Laura Linney in You Can Count on Me
• Ellen Burstyn in Requiem for a Dream

me: Ellen Burstyn in Requiem for a Dream

• Laura Linney in You Can Count on Me
• Bjork in Dancer in the Dark
• Michelle Yeoh in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
• Joan Allen in The Contender

2001 AA: Halle Berry in Monster’s Ball

• Nicole Kidman in Moulin Rouge!
• Sissy Spacek in In the Bedroom
• Judi Dench in Iris
• Renee Zelwegger in Bridget Jones’ Diary

me: Sissy Spacek in In the Bedroom

• Naomi Watts in Mulholland Drive
• Audrey Tautou in Amelie
• Nicole Kidman in The Others (also for Moulin Rouge)
• Halle Berry in Monster’s Ball

2002 AA: Nicole Kidman in The Hours

• Renee Zelwegger in Chicago
• Salma Hayek in Frida
• Julianne Moore in Far From Heaven
• Diane Lane in Unfaithful

me: Julianne Moore in Far From Heaven

• Maggie Gyllenhaal in Secretary
• Nicole Kidman in The Hours
• Meryl Streep in The Hours
• Salma Hayek in Frida

2003 AA: Charlize Theron in Monster

• Samantha Morton in In America
• Naomi Watts in 21 Grams
• Keisha Castle-Hughes in Whale Rider
• Diane Keaton in Something’s Gotta Give

me: Naomi Watts in 21 Grams

• Charlize Theron in Monster
• Scarlett Johanssen in Lost in Translation
• Keisha Castle-Hughes in Whale Rider
• Samantha Morton in In America

2004 AA: Hillary Swank in Million Dollar Baby

• Imelda Staunton in Vera Drake
• Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
• Annette Bening in Being Julia
• Catalina Sandino Moreno in Maria Full of Grace

me: Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

• Catalina Sandino Moreno in Maria Full of Grace
• Imelda Staunton in Vera Drake
• Julia Roberts in Closer
• Hillary Swank in Million Dollar Baby

2005 AA: Reese Witherspoon in Walk the Line

• Judi Dench in Mrs. Henderson Presents
• Felicity Huffman in Transamerica
• Keira Knightley in Pride and Prejudice
• Charlize Theron in North Country

me: Felicity Huffman in Transamerica

• Q'Orianka Kilcher in The New World
• Keira Knightley in Pride and Prejudice
• Joan Allen in The Upside of Anger
• Zhang Ziyi in Memoirs of a Geisha

2006 AA: Helen Mirren in The Queen

• Judi Dench in Notes on a Scandal
• Kate Winslet in Little Children
• Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada
• Penelope Cruz in Volver

me: Helen Mirren in The Queen

• Kate Winslet in Little Children
• Judi Dench in Notes on a Scandal
• Maggie Gyllenhaal in Sherrybaby
• Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada

2007 AA: Marion Cotilliard in La Vie en Rose

• Ellen Page in Juno
• Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth: The Golden Age
• Julie Christie in Away from Her
• Laura Linney in The Savages

me: Laura Linney in The Savages

• Julie Christie in Away From Her
• Keri Russell in Waitress
• Ellen Page in Juno
• Angelina Jolie in A Mighty Heart

2008 AA: Kate Winslet in The Reader

• Angelina Jolie in Changeling
• Melissa Leo in Frozen River
• Meryl Streep in Doubt
• Anne Hathaway in Rachel Getting Married

me: Kate Winslet in The Reader (also for Revolutionary Road)

• Anne Hathaway in Rachel Getting Married
• Meryl Streep in Doubt
• Michelle Williams in Wendy and Lucy
• Melissa Leo in Frozen River

2009 AA: Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side

• Carey Mulligan in An Education
• Gabourey Sidibe in Precious
• Helen Mirren in The Last Station
• Meryl Streep in Julie & Julia

me: Gabourey Sidibe in Precious

• Abbie Cornish in Bright Star
• Carey Mulligan in An Education
• Penelope Cruz in Broken Embraces
• Saoirse Ronan in The Lovely Bones

2010 AA: Natalie Portman in Black Swan

• Annette Bening in The Kids Are All Right
• Jennifer Lawrence in Winter’s Bone
• Nicole Kidman in Rabbit Hole
• Michelle Williams in Blue Valentine

me: Michelle Williams in Blue Valentine

• Tilda Swinton in I Am Love
• Natalie Portman in Black Swan
• Nicole Kidman in Rabbit Hole
• Jennifer Lawrence in Winter’s Bone

2011 AA: Meryl Streep in The Iron Lady

• Viola Davis in The Help
• Glenn Close in Albert Nobbs
• Rooney Mara in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
• Michelle Williams in My Week with Marilyn

me: Tilda Swinton in We Need to Talk About Kevin

• Rooney Mara in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
• Anna Paquin in Margaret
• Kirsten Dunst in Melancholia
• Charlize Theron in Young Adult

2012 AA: ?

• Jessica Chastain in Zero Dark Thirty
• Jennifer Lawrence in Silver Linings Playbook
• Emmanuelle Riva in Amour
• Quvenzhane Wallis in Beasts of the Southern Wild
• Naomi Watts in The Impossible 

me: ?