My Best Actress Winners and Nominees

1. Masami Nagasawa

She was born in Iwata, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan on June 3, 1987. Her father Nagasawa Kazuaki was a professional football player and on Japan's national team who later became a coach for Jubilo Iwata. She won the Toho Cinderella contest in 1999 and joined the entertainment business in 2000 with ...

2020 Mother: Mazâ

Sophia Loren-Life Ahead Tessa Thompson-Sylvie’s Love Anya Taylor Joy-Emma Yeri Han-Minari

2. Renée Zellweger

Actress | Chicago

Renée Kathleen Zellweger was born on April 25, 1969, in Katy, Texas, Her mother, Kjellfrid Irene (Andreassen), is a Norwegian-born former nurse and midwife, of Norwegian, Kven (Finnish), and Swedish descent. Her father, Emil Erich Zellweger, is a Swiss-born engineer. The two married in 1963. Renée ...

2019 Judy

Awkwafina-The Farewell Cynthia Erivo-Harriet Florence Pugh-Fighting With The Family Ana de Armas-Knives Out

3. Thomasin McKenzie

Actress | Leave No Trace

Thomasin McKenzie was born on July 26, 2000 in Wellington, New Zealand as Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie. She is an actress, known for Leave No Trace (2018), Jojo Rabbit (2019) and The King (2019).

2018 Leave No Trace

Katrine Greis Rosenthal-A Fortunate Man Amandla Stenberg-The Hate U Give Constance Wu-Crazy Rich Asians Carey Mulligan-Wildlife

4. Emma Stone

Actress | La La Land

Emily Jean "Emma" Stone was born on November 6, 1988 in Scottsdale, Arizona to Krista Jean Stone (née Yeager), a homemaker & Jeffrey Charles "Jeff" Stone, a contracting company founder and CEO. She is of Swedish, German & British Isles descent. Stone began acting as a child as a member of the ...

2017 Battle of the Sexes

Clair Foy-Breathe Jessica Chastain-Zookeeper's Wife Kate Mara-Meghan Leavey Helena Bonham Carter-55 Steps

5. Lucy Boynton

Actress | Sing Street

Lucy Boynton (born 17 January 1994) is an American-English actress. She made her film debut with a leading role in Miss Potter (2006). Boynton starred in Copperhead (2013), Sing Street (2016), Murder on the Orient Express (2017) and Bohemian Rhapsody (2018).

Boynton was born in New York City and ...

2016 Sing Street

Taraji P. Henson-Hidden Figures Emma Stone-LaLa Land Jennifer Garner-Miracles from Heaven Amy Adams-Arrival

6. Saoirse Ronan

Actress | Hanna

Saoirse Una Ronan was born in The Bronx, New York City, New York, United States, to Irish parents, Monica Ronan (née Brennan) and Paul Ronan, an actor. When Saoirse was three, the family moved back to Dublin, Ireland. Saoirse grew up in Dublin and briefly in Co. Carlow before moving back to Dublin ...

2015 Brooklyn

Abigail Breslin-Maggie Sophie Nélisse-Great Gilly Hopkins Charlize Theron-Mad Max:Fury Road Carey Mulligan-Suffragette

7. Amy Adams

Actress | Arrival

Amy Lou Adams was born in Vicenza, Veneto, Italy, to American parents, Kathryn (Hicken) and Richard Kent Adams, a U.S. serviceman who was stationed at Caserma Ederle in Italy at the time. She was raised in a Mormon family of seven children in Castle Rock, Colorado, and has English, as well as ...

2014 Big Eyes Felicity Jones-Theory of Everything Alice Eve-Before We Go Alicia Vikander-Testament of Youth Marion Cotillard-Two Days, One Night

8. Cate Blanchett

Actress | Carol

Cate Blanchett was born on May 14, 1969 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, to June (Gamble), an Australian teacher and property developer, and Robert DeWitt Blanchett, Jr., an American advertising executive, originally from Texas. She has an older brother and a younger sister. When she was ten ...

2013 Blue Jasmine

Sandra Bullock-Gravity Judi Dench-Philomena Emma Thompson-Saving Mr. Banks Uhm Ji-won-Hope

9. Naomi Watts

Actress | Mulholland Dr.

Naomi Ellen Watts was born on September 28, 1968 in Shoreham, England, to Myfanwy Edwards "Miv" (Roberts), an antiques dealer and costume/set designer, and Peter Watts (Peter Anthony Watts), the road manager to Pink Floyd. Her maternal grandfather was Welsh. Her father died when Naomi was seven and...

2012 The Impossible Jessica Chastain-Zero Dark Thirty Deborah Mailman-The Sapphires Jennifer Lawrence-Hunger Games Emmanuelle Riva-Amour

10. Meryl Streep

Actress | Out of Africa

Considered by many critics to be the greatest living actress, Meryl Streep has been nominated for the Academy Award an astonishing 21 times, and has won it three times. Meryl was born Mary Louise Streep in 1949 in Summit, New Jersey, to Mary Wolf (Wilkinson), a commercial artist, and Harry William ...

2011 The Iron Lady

Viola Davis-Help Mia Wasikowska-Jane Eyre Amber Jaeger-Take Me Home Leila Hatami-A Separation

11. Hailee Steinfeld

Actress | True Grit

Hailee Steinfeld was born on December 11, 1996 in Tarzana, California, to Cheri (Domasin), an interior designer, and Peter Steinfeld, a personal fitness trainer. She has a brother, Griffin. Her uncle is Jake Steinfeld, a fitness trainer, and her great-uncle is actor Larry Domasin. Her father is of ...

2010 True Grit

Emma Stone-Easy A Nicole Kidman-Rabbit Hole Natalie Portman-Black Swan Madeline Carroll-Flipped

12. Nisreen Faour

Actress | Amreeka

Nisreen Faour is a Palestinian actress

Faour was born in Tarshiha, Israel and moved to the United States to study theater and performance when she was 16. She studied theater directing at the University of Haifa. She has performed in a number of award - winning theatrical plays. She also appeared in...

2009 Amreeka

Sandra Bullock-The Blind Side Carey Mulligan-An Education Meryl Streep-Julia & Julia Sandrine Bonnaire-Queen to Play

13. Kate Winslet

Actress | Titanic

Ask Kate Winslet what she likes about any of her characters, and the word "ballsy" is bound to pop up at least once. The British actress has made a point of eschewing straightforward pretty-girl parts in favor of more devilish damsels; as a result, she's built an eclectic resume that runs the gamut...

2008 The Reader

Francis McDormand-Burn After Reading Meryl Streep-Doubt Vera Farmiga-The Boy in Striped Pajamas Kristin Scott Thomas-I've Loved You So Long

14. Elliot Page

Actor | Juno

Elliot Page was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia to Martha Philpotts, a teacher, and Dennis Page, a graphic designer. Page wanted to start acting at an early age and attended the Neptune Theater School. They began their career at the age of 10 on the award-winning television series Pit Pony (1999), for...

2007 Juno

Amy Adams-Enchanted Keira Knightley-Atonement Helena Bonham Carter-Sweeney Todd Keri Russell-August Rush

15. Helen Mirren

Actress | RED

Dame Helen Mirren was born in Queen Charlotte's Hospital in West London. Her mother, Kathleen Alexandrina Eva Matilda (Rogers), was from a working-class English family, and her father, Vasiliy Petrovich Mironov, was a Russian-born civil servant, from Kuryanovo, whose own father was a diplomat. ...

2006 The Queen

Meryl Streep-Devil Wears Prada Jennifer Anniston-The Breakup Kate Winslet-Little Children Julie Walters-Driving Lessons

16. Reese Witherspoon

Producer | Wild

Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon was born on March 22, 1976 in New Orleans, Louisiana & raised in Nashville, Tennessee. She is the second child of Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Reese & John Draper Witherspoon. Her father was a military surgeon specializing in ear, nose and throat. Her mother was a Registered...

2005 Walk the Line

Shauna Macdonald-The Descent Natalie Portman-V for Vendetta Maria Bello-History of Violence Naomi Watts-King Kong

17. Hilary Swank

Actress | Million Dollar Baby

Hilary was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, to Judith Kay (Clough), a secretary, and Stephen Michael Swank, who served in the National Guard and was also a traveling salesman. Her maternal grandmother, Frances Martha Dominguez, was of Mexican descent, and her other roots include German, English, and ...

2004 Million Dollar Baby Bryce Dallas Howard-The Village Jacinda Barrett-Ladder 49 Diane Kruger-National Treasure Kerry Washington-Ray

18. Jamie Lee Curtis

Actress | Halloween

Jamie Lee Curtis was born on November 22, 1958 in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of legendary actors Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis. She got her big break at acting in 1978 when she won the role of Laurie Strode in Halloween (1978). After that, she became famous for roles in movies like Trading...

2003 Freaky Friday

Evan Rachel Wood-Thirteen Cécile de France-High Tension Diane Keaton-Somethings Gotta Give Catherine Zeta Jones-Intolerable Cruelty

19. Nicole Kidman

Actress | Moulin Rouge!

Elegant Nicole Kidman, known as one of Hollywood's top Australian imports, was actually born in Honolulu, Hawaii, while her Australian parents were there on educational visas.

Kidman is the daughter of Janelle Ann (Glenny), a nursing instructor, and Antony David Kidman, a biochemist and clinical ...

2002 The Hours

Keisha Castle-Hughes-Whale Rider Julianne Moore-The Hours Samantha Morton-In America Nia Vardalos-My Big Fat Greek Wedding

20. Anne Hathaway

Actress | Les Misérables

Anne Jacqueline Hathaway was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Kate McCauley Hathaway, an actress, and Gerald T. Hathaway, a lawyer, both originally from Philadelphia. She is of mostly Irish descent, along with English, German, and French. Her first major role came in the short-lived television series ...

2001 Princess Diaries

Reese Witherspoon-Legally Blonde Nastassja Kinski-An American Rhapsody Jacqueline Obradors-Tortilla Soup Renee Zellweger-Bridget Jones's Diary

21. Helen Hunt

Actress | As Good as It Gets

Helen Hunt began studying acting at the age of eight with her father, respected director and acting coach Gordon Hunt. A year later she made her professional debut and afterwards worked steadily in films, theatre and television.

2000 Pay it Forward

Michelle Yeoh-Crouching Tiger Tea Leoni-Family Man Jenna Elfman-Keeping the Faith Juliette Binoche-Chocolat

22. Janet McTeer

Actress | Albert Nobbs

Janet McTeer was born on August 5, 1961 in Newcastle, England, UK to parents Jean and Allan McTeer. She was raised in York from the age of 6. She attended Queen Anne Grammar School for Girls, where there was not much opportunity for drama. She became interested in acting at age 16, when she saw "...

1999 Tumbleweeds Sigourney Weaver-Galaxy Quest Annette Bening-American Beauty Frances O’Connor-Mansfield Park Hilary Swank-Boys Don’t Cry

23. Susan Sarandon

Actress | Thelma & Louise

It was after the 1968 Democratic convention and there was a casting call for a film with several roles for the kind of young people who had disrupted the convention. Two recent graduates of Catholic University in Washington DC, went to the audition in New York for Joe (1970). Chris Sarandon, who ...

1998 Stepmom

Kristin Scott Thomas-Horse Whisperer Meg Ryan-You’ve Got Mail Andie MacDowell-Shadrach Julia Roberts-Stepmom

24. Kate Winslet

Actress | Titanic

Ask Kate Winslet what she likes about any of her characters, and the word "ballsy" is bound to pop up at least once. The British actress has made a point of eschewing straightforward pretty-girl parts in favor of more devilish damsels; as a result, she's built an eclectic resume that runs the gamut...

1997 Titanic

Helen Hunt-As Good as it Gets Jodie Foster-Contact Demi Moore-GI Jane Judi Dench-Mrs. Brown

25. Glenn Close

Actress | Fatal Attraction

Eight time Academy Award-nominated actress Glenn Close was born and raised in Greenwich, Connecticut. She is the daughter of Bettine (Moore) and William Taliaferro Close (William Close), a prominent doctor. Both of her parents were from upper-class northeastern families.

Glenn was a noted Broadway ...

1996 101 Dalmations

Diane Keaton-Marvin's Room Winona Ryder-Crucible Bette Midler-First Wives Club Goldie Hawn-First Wives Club

26. Glenne Headly

Actress | Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

For the past fourteen years, she has said that family has been the most important thing to her and she has set most of her time aside to be a "present" mother to her son. Movies, plays and television are chosen, for the most part, when they occur in town or on a school break. She has taken the ...

1995 Mr Holland's Opus

Emma Thompson-Sense and Sensibility Elisabeth Shue-Leaving Las Vegas Sandra Bullock-While You Were Sleeping Annette Bening-American President

27. Jodie Foster

Actress | The Silence of the Lambs

Jodie Foster started her career at the age of two. For four years she made commercials and finally gave her debut as an actress in the TV series Mayberry R.F.D. (1968). In 1975 Jodie was offered the role of prostitute Iris Steensma in the movie Taxi Driver (1976). This role, for which she received ...

1994 Maverick

Natalie Portman-Leon the Professional Shirley MacLaine-Guarding Tess Winona Ryder-Little Women Sandra Oh-Double Happiness

28. Bette Midler

Soundtrack | The First Wives Club

Multi Grammy Award-winning singer/comedienne/author Bette Midler has also proven herself to be a very capable actress in a string of both dramatic and comedic roles. Midler was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on December 1, 1945. She is the daughter of Ruth (Schindel), a seamstress, and Fred Midler, a ...

1993 Hocus Pocus

Debra Winger-Shadowlands Emma Thompson-Much Ado About Nothing Meg Ryan-Sleepless in Seattle Michelle Pfeiffer-Age of Innocence

29. Michelle Pfeiffer

Actress | What Lies Beneath

Michelle Pfeiffer was born in Santa Ana, California to Dick and Donna Pfeiffer. She has an older brother and two younger sisters - Dedee Pfeiffer, and Lori Pfeiffer, who both dabbled in acting and modeling but decided against making it their lives' work. She graduated from Fountain Valley High ...

1992 Batman Returns

Geena Davis-A League of Their Own Whoopi Goldberg-Sister Act Whitney Houston-The Bodyguard Moira Kelly-Cutting Edge

30. Anjelica Huston

Actress | The Grifters

Anjelica Huston was born on July 8, 1951 to director and actor John Huston and Russian prima ballerina Enrica 'Ricki' Soma. Huston spent most of her childhood overseas, in Ireland and England, and in 1968 first dipped her toe into the world of show business, taking on the lead role of her father's ...

1991 The Addams Family

Jodie Foster-Silence of the Lambs Susan Sarandon-Thelma & Louise Geena Davis-Thelma & Louise Gong Li-Raise the Red Lantern

31. Kathy Bates

Actress | Misery

Multi-talented, multi-award-winning actress Kathleen (Doyle) Bates was born on June 28, 1948, and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. She is the youngest of three girls born to Bertye Kathleen (Talbot), a homemaker, and Langdon Doyle Bates, a mechanical engineer. Her grandfather was author Finis L. Bates...

1990 Misery

Catherine O'Hara-Home Alone Julia Roberts-Pretty Woman Mary Alice-To Sleep With Anger Andie MacDowell-Green Book

32. Amy Madigan

Actress | Field of Dreams

In the 1960s, Amy attended St. Philip Neri grammar school and Aquinas High School, both in Chicago, where she performed in school plays and was known as the school tomboy. In the early 1970s, Amy was featured in Playboy Magazine wearing only jelly, to promote her music band, Jelly. Amy is the ...

1989 Field of Dreams

Jessica Tandy-Driving Miss Daisy Julia Roberts-Steel Magnolias Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio-Abyss Ione Skye-Say Anything

33. Molly Ringwald

Actress | Sixteen Candles

Molly Ringwald was born in Roseville, California, to Adele Edith (Frembd), a chef, and Robert Ringwald, a blind jazz pianist. Her ancestry includes German, English, and Swedish. She released an album at the age of 6 entitled, "I Wanna Be Loved By You, Molly Sings". She is the youngest daughter of ...

1980-1988 The Breakfast Club

Whoopi Goldberg-The Color Purple Debra Winger-Terms of Endearment Katherine Hepburn-On Golden Pond Jane Seymour-Somewhere in Time Jane Alexander-Testament Cher-Moonstruck Sissy Spacek-Coal Miner’s Daughter Lori Singer-Footloose Julie Walters-Educating Rita

34. Liza Minnelli

Soundtrack | Cabaret

Liza Minnelli was born on March 12, 1946, the daughter of Judy Garland and movie director Vincente Minnelli. She was practically raised at MGM studios while her parents worked long hours there and she made her film debut at fourteen months of age in the movie In the Good Old Summertime (1949). Her ...

1970-1979 Cabaret

Tailia Shire-Rocky Ali MacGraw-Love Story Sissy Spacek-Carrie Louise Fletcher-One Flew Over Cuckoo's Nest Ruth Gordon-Harold & Maude Sally Field-Norma Rae Ellen Burstyn-Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore Olivia Newton John-Grease Ingrid Bergman-Autumn Sonata

35. Julie Andrews

Actress | The Sound of Music

Julia Elizabeth Wells was born on October 1, 1935, in England. Her mother, Barbara Ward (Morris), and stepfather, both vaudeville performers, discovered her freakish but undeniably lovely four-octave singing voice and immediately got her a singing career. She performed in music halls throughout her...

1960-1969 Sound of Music

Shirley MacLaine-The Apartment Elizabeth Taylor-Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Anne Bancroft-Miracle Worker Mia Farrow-Rosemary's Baby Jean Simmons-Elmer Gantry Claudia Cardinale-Once Upon a Time in the West Mary Badham-To Kill a Mockingbird Leslie Caron-Fanny Faye Dunaway-Bonnie & Clyde

36. Gloria Swanson

Actress | Sunset Blvd.

Gloria Swanson went to public schools in Chicago; Key West, Florida; and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Her film debut was as an extra in The Fable of Elvira and Farina and the Meal Ticket (1915). From the following year on, she had leading roles in pictures for Keystone, then a year with Triangle, and, in...

1950-1959 Sunset Blvd

Vivien Leigh-A Streetcar Named Desire Audrey Hepburn-Roman Holiday Jan Sterling-Ace in the Hole Katherine Hepburn-The African Queen Susan Hayward-I Want to Live! Maureen O’Hara-Quiet Man Janet Leigh-Touch of Evil Millie Perkins-Diary of Anne Frank Bette Davis-All About Eve

37. Katharine Hepburn

Actress | The Lion in Winter

Katharine Hepburn was born on May 12, 1907 in Hartford, Connecticut to a suffragist and a doctor who both always encouraged her to speak her mind, develop it fully, and exercise her body to its full potential. An athletic tomboy as a child, she was very close to her brother Tom; at 14 she was ...

1940-1949 The Philadelphia Story

Joan Crawford-Mildred Pierce Ingrid Bergman-Casablanca Barbara Stanwyck-Double Indemnity Loretta Young-The Stranger Joan Fontaine-Rebecca Jennifer Jones-Song of Bernadette Rosalind Russell-His Girl Friday Veronica Lake-Sullivan's Travels Valerie Hobson-Great Expectations

38. Vivien Leigh

Actress | A Streetcar Named Desire

If a film were made of the life of Vivien Leigh, it would open in India just before World War I, where a successful British businessman could live like a prince. In the mountains above Calcutta, a little princess is born. Because of the outbreak of World War I, she is six years old the first time ...

1930-1939 Gone with the Wind

Judy Garland-The Wizard of Oz Katharine Hepburn-Bringing up Baby Helen Hayes-A Farewell to Arms Claudette Colbert-It Happened One Night