Academy Award for Best Actress

Academy Award for Best Actress
Name	Academy Award for Best Actress
Caption	The Academy Award statuette, known as the Oscar
Awarded for	Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Presenter	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)
Country	United States
Year	1929 (for performances in films released during the 1927/1928 film season)
Website	oscars.org

Contents

History
Eligibility and nomination process
Winners and nominees
Multiple wins and nominations
Records and milestones
See also

Academy Award for Best Actress. The award honors an actress who has delivered an outstanding leading performance in a film released during the preceding calendar year. It is one of the four original Academy Award categories for acting, first presented at the 1st Academy Awards ceremony in 1929 for work in the 1927–1928 film season. The winner is selected by the voting membership of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) and is considered one of the most prestigious honors in the American film industry.

History

The inaugural ceremony, held at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, saw Janet Gaynor win for her roles in three films: *Seventh Heaven*, *Street Angel*, and *Sunrise*. For the first three ceremonies, the award could recognize work across multiple films. This changed at the 4th Academy Awards, establishing the precedent of a single performance. The category has reflected the evolution of Hollywood, from the studio system era dominated by stars like Bette Davis and Katharine Hepburn to more diverse contemporary portrayals. The award has been presented at iconic venues including the Dolby Theatre and broadcast on networks like ABC.

Eligibility and nomination process

To be eligible, a performance must be in a feature-length film released in Los Angeles County during the eligibility year and meet the AMPAS rules for theatrical exhibition. The actress must be credited as a lead performer, with determinations often made by the studio's campaign. Nominations are determined by a preferential vote within the Academy's Actors Branch, comprising performers from the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. The entire active Academy membership then votes for the winner via a preferential ballot. Campaigns by studios like MGM and Warner Bros. are a significant part of the awards season.

Winners and nominees

Winners have portrayed a vast range of characters, from historical figures to fictional creations. Early winners like Norma Shearer and Luise Rainer were followed by iconic performances from Vivien Leigh in *Gone with the Wind* and Ingrid Bergman in *Gaslight*. More recent winners include Frances McDormand for *Nomadland* and Michelle Yeoh for *Everything Everywhere All at Once*. The list of nominees often includes performances recognized at other major ceremonies like the Golden Globes and the BAFTAs.

Multiple wins and nominations

Katharine Hepburn holds the record for the most wins, with four, for films including *The Lion in Winter* and *On Golden Pond*. Frances McDormand and Meryl Streep have also won multiple times. Streep holds the record for the most nominations, with a total of seventeen, for roles in films like *Sophie's Choice* and *The Iron Lady*. Other actresses with numerous nominations include Bette Davis (ten) and Greer Garson (seven). These records are often highlighted during the Oscars ceremony.

Records and milestones

The youngest winner is Marlee Matlin, who was 21 for *Children of a Lesser God*, while the oldest is Jessica Tandy for *Driving Miss Daisy* at age 80. Halle Berry remains the only woman of African American descent to win, for *Monster's Ball*. In 2022, Michelle Yeoh became the first Asian winner. The ceremony has seen notable events like the tie between Barbra Streisand and Katharine Hepburn at the 41st Academy Awards. The longest gap between an actress's first and last nomination is held by Judi Dench.