View source for Academy Award for Best Actress

{{short description|Award presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences}}
{{featured list}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox award
| name = Academy Award for Best Actress
| image = Mikey Madison at the 2024 New York Film Festival 2 (cropped 4).jpg
| caption = The [[97th Academy Awards|2025]]<!---This year is in regards to the CEREMONY, not the year of films.---> recipient: [[Mikey Madison]]
| awarded_for = Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
| presenter = [[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] (AMPAS)
| country = [[United States]]
| year = {{start date and age|1929|5|16}} (for films released during the [[1927 in film|1927]]/[[1928 in film|1928]] film season)
| holder_label = Most recent winner
| holder = [[Mikey Madison]], ''[[Anora]]'' ([[97th Academy Awards|2024]])
| most_awards = [[Katharine Hepburn]] (4)
| most_nominations = [[Meryl Streep]] (17)<!---This number is for her nominations in this category only. Her four other nominations are for Best Supporting Actress.--->
| website = {{url|oscars.org}}
}}

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 actor|leading]] role in a film released that year. The award is traditionally presented by the previous year's [[Academy Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] winner. However, in recent years, it has shifted towards being presented by previous years' Best Actress winners instead.

The Best Actress award has been presented 97 times, to 80 different actresses. The first winner was [[Janet Gaynor]] for her roles in ''[[7th Heaven (1927 film)|7th Heaven]]'' (1927), ''[[Street Angel (1928 film)|Street Angel]]'' (1928), and ''[[Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans]]'' (1927), and the most recent winner is [[Mikey Madison]] for her role in ''[[Anora]]'' (2024). The record for [[List of actors with two or more Academy Awards in acting categories|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 [[List of actors with three or more Academy Award nominations in acting categories|most nominations]] in the category—seventeen—and has won twice. At the [[41st Academy Awards]] in 1969, [[Barbra Streisand]] and Katharine Hepburn received the same number of votes and so shared the award, 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 (voting)|plurality vote]] from the entire [[Film industry|eligible voting members]] of the Academy.<ref>{{cite news |title=Rule Six: Special Rules for the Acting Awards |page=8-7 |publisher=AMPAS |url=http://www.oscars.org/sites/default/files/87aa_rules.pdf |url-status=dead |access-date=August 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021054540/http://www.oscars.org/sites/default/files/87aa_rules.pdf |archive-date=October 21, 2014}}</ref>

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.<ref name="Oscar history">{{harvnb|Levy|2003|p=56}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dirks |first=Tim |title=1929–38 Academy Awards Winners and History |work=[[Filmsite]] |publisher=[[Rainbow Media]] |url=http://www.filmsite.org/aa29.html |url-status=live |access-date=August 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829021512/http://www.filmsite.org/aa29.html |archive-date=August 29, 2016}}</ref> The current system, in which an actress is nominated for a specific performance in a single film, was introduced for the [[4th Academy Awards]].<ref name="Oscar history" /> Starting with the [[9th Academy Awards]], held in 1937, the category was limited to a maximum five nominations per year.<ref name="Oscar history" />

{{multiple image
| align             = right
| direction         = vertical
| total_width       = 135
| image1            = Janet Gaynor Argentinean Magazine AD (newly cropped).jpg
| caption1          = [[Janet Gaynor]] was the inaugural winner, for three films: ''[[7th Heaven (1927 film)|7th Heaven]]'' (1927), ''[[Street Angel (1928 film)|Street Angel]]'' (1928), and ''[[Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans]]'' (1927).
| image2            = Mary Pickford cph.3c17995u (cropped).jpg
| caption2          = [[Mary Pickford]] won for ''[[Coquette (film)|Coquette]]'' (1929).
| image3            = Norma Shearer Stars of the Photoplay.jpg
| caption3          = [[Norma Shearer]] won for ''[[The Divorcee]]'' (1930).
| image4            = Marie Dressler - 1930 (cropped).jpg
| caption4          = [[Marie Dressler]] won for ''[[Min and Bill]]'' (1930).
| image5            = Helen Hayes 1948.jpg
| caption5          = [[Helen Hayes]] won for ''[[The Sin of Madelon Claudet]]'' (1931); first actress to [[List of EGOT winners|complete the EGOT]].
| image6            = Katharine Hepburn publicity photograph (cropped).jpg
| caption6          = [[Katharine Hepburn]] won four times, for: ''[[Morning Glory (1933 film)|Morning Glory]]'' (1933), ''[[Guess Who's Coming to Dinner]]'' (1967), ''[[The Lion in Winter (1968 film)|The Lion in Winter]]'' (1968), and ''[[On Golden Pond (1981 film)|On Golden Pond]]'' (1981).
| image7            = Claudette colbert (cropped).jpg
| caption7          = [[Claudette Colbert]] won for ''[[It Happened One Night]]'' (1934).
| image8            = Bette Davis - Publicity still (1939).png
| caption8          = [[Bette Davis]] won twice, for ''[[Dangerous (1935 film)|Dangerous]]'' (1935) and ''[[Jezebel (1938 film)|Jezebel]]'' (1938).
| image9            = Luise Rainer - 1941.jpg
| caption9          = [[Luise Rainer]] was the first [[List of Academy Award records#Most Consecutive Awards in Each Category|to win twice consecutively]], for ''[[The Great Ziegfeld]]'' (1936) and ''[[The Good Earth (film)|The Good Earth]]'' (1937).
| image10           = Vivien Leigh Scarlet.jpg
| caption10         = [[Vivien Leigh]] won twice, for ''[[Gone with the Wind (film)|Gone with the Wind]]'' (1939) and ''[[A Streetcar Named Desire (1951 film)|A Streetcar Named Desire]]'' (1951).
| image11           = Ginger Rogers - Tender Comrade (cropped).jpg
| caption11         = [[Ginger Rogers]] won for ''[[Kitty Foyle (film)|Kitty Foyle]]'' (1940).
| image12           = Joan Fontaine 1942.jpg
| caption12         = [[Joan Fontaine]] won for ''[[Suspicion (1941 film)|Suspicion]]'' (1941).
| image13           = Greer Garson-publicity.JPG
| caption13         = [[Greer Garson]] won for ''[[Mrs. Miniver (film)|Mrs. Miniver]]'' (1942).
| image14           = JENNIFERjonesz (cropped).jpg
| caption14         = [[Jennifer Jones]] won for ''[[The Song of Bernadette (film)|The Song of Bernadette]]'' (1943).
| image15           = Ingrid Bergman, Gaslight 1944.jpg
| caption15         = [[Ingrid Bergman]] won twice, for ''[[Gaslight (1944 film)|Gaslight]]'' (1944) and ''[[Anastasia (1956 film)|Anastasia]]'' (1956).
| image16           = Joan-crawford-photo-u36.webp
| caption16         = [[Joan Crawford]] won for ''[[Mildred Pierce (film)|Mildred Pierce]]'' (1945).
| image17           = Olivia DeHavilland-2 (cropped).JPG
| caption17         = [[Olivia de Havilland]] won twice, for ''[[To Each His Own (1946 film)|To Each His Own]]'' (1946) and ''[[The Heiress]]'' (1949).
| image18           = LORETTAYoung.jpg
| caption18         = [[Loretta Young]] won for ''[[The Farmer's Daughter (1947 film)|The Farmer's Daughter]]'' (1947).
| image19           = JAneWyman (nu*cropped).jpg
| caption19         = [[Jane Wyman]] won for ''[[Johnny Belinda (1948 film)|Johnny Belinda]]'' (1948); first winner to [[Sign language|utilize ASL]].
| image20           = JUDYHolliday (cropped).jpg
| caption20         = [[Judy Holliday]] won for ''[[Born Yesterday (1950 film)|Born Yesterday]]'' (1950).
| image21           = Shirley Booth 1950 (cropped).JPG
| caption21         = [[Shirley Booth]] won for ''[[Come Back, Little Sheba (1952 film)|Come Back, Little Sheba]]'' (1952); [[4th Tony Awards|won Tony]] for the [[Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play|same role]]—first actress to [[List of Academy Award records#Shortest and Longest Academy Award Winning and Nominated Performances|accomplish this]].
| image22           = Audrey Hepburn 1956om (cropped).jpg
| caption22         = [[Audrey Hepburn]] won for ''[[Roman Holiday]]'' (1953).
| image23           = Grace Kelly30419 (cropped).jpg
| caption23         = [[Grace Kelly]] won for ''[[The Country Girl (1954 film)|The Country Girl]]'' (1954).
| image24           = Il bandito (film) (cropped).JPG
| caption24         = [[Anna Magnani]] won for ''[[The Rose Tattoo (film)|The Rose Tattoo]]'' (1955).
| image25           = Joanne Woodward 1971 (cropped).jpg
| caption25         = [[Joanne Woodward]] won for ''[[The Three Faces of Eve]]'' (1957).
| image26           = Susan Hayward - 1940s.jpg
| caption26         = [[Susan Hayward]] won for ''[[I Want to Live!]]'' (1958).
| image27           = Signoret Harcourt 1947 (cropped).jpg
| caption27         = [[Simone Signoret]] won for ''[[Room at the Top (1959 film)|Room at the Top]]'' (1959).
| image28           = Elizabeth Taylor, late 1950s.jpg
| caption28         = [[Elizabeth Taylor]] won twice, for ''[[BUtterfield 8]]'' (1960) and ''[[Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (film)|Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?]]'' (1966).
| image29           = Sophia Loren - 1959.jpg
| alt               = Black-and-white publicity photo of Sophia Loren in 1959.
| caption29         = [[Sophia Loren]] won for ''[[Two Women]]'' (1960);<!---PLEASE NOTE: This is the year of the film's original release, as is consistent with all years in parentheses for films/TV series, etc., across Wikipedia and such.---> first for a [[List of actors nominated for Academy Awards for non-English performances|non-English (Italian) dialogue role]].
| image30           = Anne Bancroft 1952.jpg
| caption30         = [[Anne Bancroft]] won for ''[[The Miracle Worker (1962 film)|The Miracle Worker]]'' (1962).
| image31           = Patricia Neal 1952.JPG
| caption31         = [[Patricia Neal]] won for ''[[Hud (1963 film)|Hud]]'' (1963).
| image32           = Julie Andrews 1970.JPG
| caption32         = [[Julie Andrews]] won for ''[[Mary Poppins (film)|Mary Poppins]]'' (1964).
| image33           = Julie Christie - 1965 (cropped).jpg
| caption33         = [[Julie Christie]] won ''[[Darling (1965 film)|Darling]]'' (1965).
| image34           = Barbra Streisand - 1966.jpg
| caption34         = [[Barbra Streisand]] won for ''[[Funny Girl (film)|Funny Girl]]'' (1968), in a tie with [[Katharine Hepburn]].
| image35           = Maggie Smith - Vintage (trim).jpg
| caption35         = [[Maggie Smith]] won for ''[[The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (film)|The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie]]'' (1969).
| image36           = Glenda Jackson (cropped).JPG
| caption36         = [[Glenda Jackson]] won twice, for ''[[Women in Love (film)|Women in Love]]'' (1970) and ''[[A Touch of Class (film)|A Touch of Class]]'' (1973).
| image37           = Jane Fonda - Sunday - 1963.JPG
| caption37         = [[Jane Fonda]] won twice, for ''[[Klute]]'' (1971) and ''[[Coming Home (1978 film)|Coming Home]]'' (1978).
| image38           = Liza Minnelli Publicity 1973.jpg
| caption38         = [[Liza Minnelli]] won for ''[[Cabaret (1972 film)|Cabaret]]'' (1972).
| image39           = Ellen Burstyn at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival.jpg
| caption39         = [[Ellen Burstyn]] won for ''[[Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore]]'' (1974).
| image40           = LouiseFletcherOscar (cropped) (cropped).jpg
| caption40         = [[Louise Fletcher]] won for ''[[One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (film)|One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest]]'' (1975).
| image41           = Faye Dunaway - Festiwal Gwiazd in Gdańsk.jpg
| caption41         = [[Faye Dunaway]] won for ''[[Network (1976 film)|Network]]'' (1976).
| image42           = Diane Keaton 2012-1 (cropped) (cropped).jpg
| caption42         = [[Diane Keaton]] won for ''[[Annie Hall]]'' (1977).
| image43           = Sally Field (11205) (cropped).jpg
| caption43         = [[Sally Field]] won twice, for ''[[Norma Rae]]'' (1979) and ''[[Places in the Heart]]'' (1984).
| image44           = Sissy Spacek by David Shankbone (cropped).jpg
| caption44         = [[Sissy Spacek]] won for ''[[Coal Miner's Daughter (film)|Coal Miner's Daughter]]'' (1980).
| image45           = Meryl Streep December 2018 (cropped).jpg
| caption45         = [[Meryl Streep]] won twice, for ''[[Sophie's Choice (film)|Sophie's Choice]]'' (1982) and ''[[The Iron Lady (film)|The Iron Lady]]'' (2011).
| image46           = Shirley MacLaine - 1960 (cropped).jpg
| caption46         = [[Shirley MacLaine]] won for ''[[Terms of Endearment]]'' (1983).
| image47           = Geraldine Page 1950s.png
| caption47         = [[Geraldine Page]] won for ''[[The Trip to Bountiful]]'' (1985).
| image48           = MarleeMatlinMay09crop.JPG
| caption48         = [[Marlee Matlin]] won for ''[[Children of a Lesser God (film)|Children of a Lesser God]]'' (1986); [[List_of_Academy_Award_records#Acting_Firsts_by_Ethnicity/Nationality|first deaf]], and at age 21, [[List of oldest and youngest Academy Award winners and nominees#Best Actress in a Leading Role|this category's youngest winner]].
| image49           = Cher - Casablanca (cropped).jpg
| caption49         = [[Cher]] won for ''[[Moonstruck]]'' (1987).
| image50           = Jodie Foster-8667.jpg
| caption50         = [[Jodie Foster]] won twice, for ''[[The Accused (1988 film)|The Accused]]'' (1988) and ''[[The Silence of the Lambs (film)|The Silence of the Lambs]]'' (1991).
| image51           = Jessica Tandy 1959 (cropped).jpg
| caption51         = [[Jessica Tandy]] won for ''[[Driving Miss Daisy]]'' (1989); [[List of oldest and youngest Academy Award winners and nominees#Oldest_winners_3|this category's oldest winner]], at age 80.
| image52           = SDCC 2015 - Kathy Bates (19551149449) (cropped) (cropped).jpg
| caption52         = [[Kathy Bates]] won for ''[[Misery (film)|Misery]]'' (1990).
| image53           = Emma Thompson at 2013 TIFF 1 (cropped) (cropped).jpg
| caption53         = [[Emma Thompson]] won for ''[[Howards End (film)|Howards End]]'' (1992).
| image54           = Holly Hunter by Gage Skidmore.jpg
| caption54         = [[Holly Hunter]] won for ''[[The Piano]]'' (1993).
| image55           = Jessica Lange (Cropped) (cropped).JPG
| caption55         = [[Jessica Lange]] won for ''[[Blue Sky (1994 film)|Blue Sky]]'' (1994).
| image56           = Susan Sarandon 3 by David Shankbone (cropped).jpg
| caption56         = [[Susan Sarandon]] won for ''[[Dead Man Walking (film)|Dead Man Walking]]'' (1995).
| image57           = Frances McDormand 2015 (cropped).jpg
| caption57         = [[Frances McDormand]] won thrice, for ''[[Fargo (1996 film)|Fargo]]'' (1996), ''[[Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri]]'' (2017), and ''[[Nomadland (film)|Nomadland]]'' (2020).
| image58           = Helen Hunt 2.jpg
| caption58         = [[Helen Hunt]] won for ''[[As Good as It Gets]]'' (1997).
| image59           = Gwyneth Paltrow avp Iron Man 3 Paris 2 (cropped).jpg
| caption59         = [[Gwyneth Paltrow]] won for ''[[Shakespeare in Love]]'' (1998).
| image60           = Hilary Swank at 28th Tokyo International Film Festival (cropped).jpg
| caption60         = [[Hilary Swank]] won twice, for ''[[Boys Don't Cry (1999 film)|Boys Don't Cry]]'' (1999) and ''[[Million Dollar Baby]]'' (2004).
| image61           = JuliaRoberts (cropped).jpg
| caption61         = [[Julia Roberts]] won for ''[[Erin Brockovich (film)|Erin Brockovich]]'' (2000).
| image62           = Halle Berry 2004.jpg
| caption62         = [[Halle Berry]] won for ''[[Monster's Ball]]'' (2001); first [[List of black Academy Award winners and nominees#Best Actress in a Leading Role|black winner in this category]].
| image63           = Nicole kidman3cropped.jpg
| caption63         = [[Nicole Kidman]] won for ''[[The Hours (film)|The Hours]]'' (2002).
| image64           = Charlize-theron-IMG 6045x (cropped).jpg
| caption64         = [[Charlize Theron]] won for ''[[Monster (2003 film)|Monster]]'' (2003).
| image65           = Reese Witherspoon 2011 (cropped).jpg
| caption65         = [[Reese Witherspoon]] won for ''[[Walk the Line]]'' (2005).
| image66           = HelenMirrenHWOFJan2013.jpg
| caption66         = [[Helen Mirren]] won for ''[[The Queen (2006 film)|The Queen]]'' (2006).
| image67           = Marion Cotillard at 2019 Cannes.jpg
| caption67         = [[Marion Cotillard]] won for ''[[La Vie en Rose (film)|La Vie en Rose]]'' (2007); first [[List of actors nominated for Academy Awards for non-English performances#Nominees|French-language performance]] winner.
| image68           = Kate Winslet at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival (cropped) (cropped).jpg
| caption68         = [[Kate Winslet]] won for ''[[The Reader (2008 film)|The Reader]]'' (2008).
| image69           = SandraBullockMay09 (cropped).jpg
| caption69         = [[Sandra Bullock]] won for ''[[The Blind Side (film)|The Blind Side]]'' (2009).
| image70           = NataliePortman09crop.jpg
| caption70         = [[Natalie Portman]] won for ''[[Black Swan (film)|Black Swan]]'' (2010).
| image71           = Jennifer Lawrence 83rd Oscars.jpg
| caption71         = [[Jennifer Lawrence]] won for ''[[Silver Linings Playbook]]'' (2012).
| image72           = Cate Blanchett 2011 extra (cropped).jpg
| caption72         = [[Cate Blanchett]] won for ''[[Blue Jasmine]]'' (2013).
| image73           = Julianne Moore (15011443428) (2).jpg
| caption73         = [[Julianne Moore]] won for ''[[Still Alice]]'' (2014).
| image74           = Brie Larson (27993599483) (cropped).jpg
| caption74         = [[Brie Larson]] won for ''[[Room (2015 film)|Room]]'' (2015).
| image75           = Emma Stone at the 2024 New York Film Festival 1 (cropped).jpg
| caption75         = [[Emma Stone]] won twice, for ''[[La La Land]]'' (2016) and ''[[Poor Things (film)|Poor Things]]'' (2023).
| image76           = Olivia Colman at Moet BIFA 2014 (cropped) (cropped).jpg
| caption76         = [[Olivia Colman]] won for ''[[The Favourite]]'' (2018).
| image77           = Renée Zellweger Berlinale 2010 (cropped).jpg
| caption77         = [[Renée Zellweger]] won for ''[[Judy (2019 film)|Judy]]'' (2019).
| image78           = Jessica Chastain TIFF 2015.jpg
| caption78         = [[Jessica Chastain]] won for ''[[The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2021 film)|The Eyes of Tammy Faye]]'' (2021).
| image79           = Michelle Yeoh at EC (2023) 2.jpg
| caption79         = [[Michelle Yeoh]] won for ''[[Everything Everywhere All at Once]]'' (2022); first [[List of Academy Award winners and nominees of Asian descent#Best Actress|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.<ref>{{harvnb|Crouse|2005|p=257}}</ref> For the first five ceremonies, the eligibility period spanned twelve months, from August 1 to July 31.<ref name="Oscar eligibility">{{harvnb|Levy|2003|p=52}}</ref> For the 6th ceremony held in 1934, the eligibility period lasted from August 1, 1932, to December 31, 1933.<ref name="Oscar eligibility" /> Since the 7th ceremony held in 1935, the period of eligibility became the full previous calendar year from January 1 to December 31.<ref name="Oscar eligibility" />

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Table key
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" style="background:#FAEB86;"| ‡
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''Indicates the winner'''
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center"| †
| Indicates [[List of posthumous Academy Award winners and nominees|a posthumous nominee]]
|}

===1920s===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! scope="col" style="width:8%;" | Year
! scope="col" style="width:25%;"| Actress
! scope="col" style="width:30%;"| Role(s)
! scope="col" style="width:70%;"| Film
! scope="col" style="width:2%;" class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1927 in film|1927]]/[[1928 in film|28]]<br><small>[[1st Academy Awards|(1st)]] </small>
| rowspan=3 style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Gaynor|[[Janet Gaynor]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''Diane'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[7th Heaven (1927 film)|7th Heaven]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars1">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1929|title=The 1st Academy Awards (1929) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402003037/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1929|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''Angela'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Street Angel (1928 film)|Street Angel]]'''''
|-
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| {{sort|Wife|'''The Wife'''}}
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans]]'''''
|-
| {{sort|Dresser|[[Louise Dresser]]}}
| {{sort|Pleznik|Mrs. Pleznik}}
| {{sort|Ship|''[[A Ship Comes In]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Swanson|[[Gloria Swanson]]}}
| {{sort|Thompson|Sadie Thompson}}
| ''[[Sadie Thompson (film)|Sadie Thompson]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=6 style="text-align:center"| [[1928 in film|1928]]/[[1929 in film|29]]<br><small>[[2nd Academy Awards|(2nd)]]</small><br /><ref group=note name=twentynine>The 2nd Academy Awards is unique in being the only occasion where there were no official nominees. Subsequent research by AMPAS has resulted in a list of unofficial or de facto nominees, based on records of which films were evaluated by the judges.</ref>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Pickford|[[Mary Pickford]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Besant|Norma Besant}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Coquette (film)|Coquette]]'''''
|rowspan=6|<ref name="Oscars2">{{cite news |url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1930 |title=The 2nd Academy Awards (1930) Nominees and Winners |access-date=August 27, 2013 |publisher=AMPAS |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402002823/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1930 |archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Chatterton|[[Ruth Chatterton]]}}
| {{sort|Floriot|Jacqueline Floriot}}
| ''[[Madame X (1929 film)|Madame X]]''
|-
| {{sort|Compson|[[Betty Compson]]}}
| Carrie
| {{sort|Barker|''[[The Barker]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Eagels|[[Jeanne Eagels]]}} †
| {{sort|Crosbie|[[Ethel Proudlock case|Leslie Crosbie]]}}
| {{sort|Letter|''[[The Letter (1929 film)|The Letter]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Griffith|[[Corinne Griffith]]}}
| {{sort|Hamilton|[[Emma, Lady Hamilton|Emma Hamilton]]}}
| {{sort|Divine|''[[The Divine Lady]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Love|[[Bessie Love]]}}
| {{sort|Mahoney|Hank Mahoney}}
| {{sort|Broadway|''[[The Broadway Melody]]''}}
|}

===1930s===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! scope="col" style="width:8%;" | Year
! scope="col" style="width:25%;"| Actress
! scope="col" style="width:30%;"| Role(s)
! scope="col" style="width:70%;"| Film
! scope="col" style="width:2%;" class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=7 style="text-align:center"| [[1929 in film|1929]]/[[1930 in film|30]]<br><small>[[3rd Academy Awards|(3rd)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Shearer|[[Norma Shearer]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}{{ref label|Shearer|A|1}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Martin|Jerry Bernard Martin}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''{{sort|Divorcee|[[The Divorcee]]}}'''''
|rowspan=7|<ref name="Oscars3">{{cite news |url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1931 |title=The 3rd Academy Awards (1931) Nominees and Winners |access-date=August 27, 2013 |publisher=AMPAS |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160802115930/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1931 |archive-date=August 2, 2016}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Carroll|[[Nancy Carroll]]}}
| {{sort|Hobart|Hallie Hobart}}
| {{sort|Devil's|''[[The Devil's Holiday]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Chatterton|[[Ruth Chatterton]]}}
| {{sort|Storm|Sarah Storm}}
| ''[[Sarah and Son]]''
|-
| rowspan=2 | {{sort|Garbo|[[Greta Garbo]]}}{{ref label|Garbo|A|2}}
| {{sort|Christie|Anna Christie}}
| ''[[Anna Christie (1930 English-language film)|Anna Christie]]''
|-
| {{sort|Cavallini|Madame Rita Cavallini}}
| ''[[Romance (1930 film)|Romance]]''
|-
| {{sort|Shearer|Norma Shearer}}
| {{sort|Marlett|Lucia Marlett}}
|''[[Their Own Desire]]''
|-
| {{sort|Swanson|[[Gloria Swanson]]}}
| {{sort|Donnell|Marion Donnell}}
| {{sort|Trespasser|''[[The Trespasser (1929 film)|The Trespasser]]''}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1930 in film|1930]]/[[1931 in film|31]]<br><small>[[4th Academy Awards|(4th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Dressler|[[Marie Dressler]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Divot|Min Divot}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Min and Bill]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars4">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1932|title=The 4th Academy Awards (1932) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161102114813/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1932|archive-date=November 2, 2016}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Dietrich|[[Marlene Dietrich]]}}
| {{sort|Jolly|Mademoiselle Amy Jolly}}
| ''[[Morocco (film)|Morocco]]''
|-
| {{sort|Dunne|[[Irene Dunne]]}}
| {{sort|Cravat|Sabra Cravat}}
| ''[[Cimarron (1931 film)|Cimarron]]''
|-
| {{sort|Harding|[[Ann Harding]]}}
| {{sort|Seton|Linda Seton}}
| ''[[Holiday (1930 film)|Holiday]]''
|-
| {{sort|Shearer|[[Norma Shearer]]}}
| {{sort|Ashe|Jan Ashe}}
| {{sort|Free|''[[A Free Soul]]''}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=3 style="text-align:center"| [[1931 in film|1931]]/[[1932 in film|32]]<br><small>[[5th Academy Awards|(5th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Hayes|[[Helen Hayes]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Claudet|Madelon Claudet}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Sin|''[[The Sin of Madelon Claudet]]''}}'''
|rowspan=3|<ref name="Oscars5">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1933|title=The 5th Academy Awards (1933) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402003113/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1933|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Dressler|[[Marie Dressler]]}}
| {{sort|Smith|Emma Thatcher Smith}}
| ''[[Emma (1932 film)|Emma]]''
|-
| {{sort|Fontanne|[[Lynn Fontanne]]}}
| {{sort|Actress|The Actress}}
| {{sort|Guardsman|''[[The Guardsman]]''}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=3 style="text-align:center"| [[1932 in film|1932]]/[[1933 in film|33]]<br><small>[[6th Academy Awards|(6th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Hepburn|[[Katharine Hepburn]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Lovelace|Eva Lovelace}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Morning Glory (1933 film)|Morning Glory]]'''''
|rowspan=3|<ref name="Oscars6">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1934|title=The 6th Academy Awards (1934) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201231924/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1934|archive-date=February 1, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Robson|[[May Robson]]}}
| Apple Annie
| ''[[Lady for a Day]]''
|-
| {{sort|Wynyard|[[Diana Wynyard]]}}
| {{sort|Marryot|Jane Marryot}}
| ''[[Cavalcade (1933 film)|Cavalcade]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=4 style="text-align:center"| [[1934 in film|1934]]<br><small>[[7th Academy Awards|(7th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Colbert|[[Claudette Colbert]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Andrews|Ellie Andrews}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[It Happened One Night]]'''''
|rowspan=4|<ref name="Oscars7">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1935|title=The 7th Academy Awards (1935) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160702160154/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1935|archive-date=July 2, 2016}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Davis|[[Bette Davis]]}} <small>(Write-in)</small>{{ref label|Davis|B}}
| {{sort|Rogers|Mildred Rogers}}
| ''[[Of Human Bondage (1934 film)|Of Human Bondage]]''
|-
| {{sort|Moore|[[Grace Moore]]}}
| {{sort|Barrett|Mary Barrett}}
| ''[[One Night of Love]]''
|-
| {{sort|Shearer|[[Norma Shearer]]}}
| {{sort|Barrett|[[Elizabeth Barrett Browning|Elizabeth Barrett]]}}
| {{sort|Barretts|''[[The Barretts of Wimpole Street (1934 film)|The Barretts of Wimpole Street]]''}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=6 style="text-align:center"| [[1935 in film|1935]]<br><small>[[8th Academy Awards|(8th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Davis|[[Bette Davis]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Heath|Joyce Heath}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Dangerous (1935 film)|Dangerous]]'''''
|rowspan=6|<ref name="Oscars8">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1936|title=The 8th Academy Awards (1936) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111071955/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1936|archive-date=November 11, 2014}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Bergner|[[Elisabeth Bergner]]}}
| {{sort|Jones|Gemma Jones}}
| ''[[Escape Me Never (1935 film)|Escape Me Never]]''
|-
| {{sort|Colbert|[[Claudette Colbert]]}}
| {{sort|Everest|Jane Everest}}
| ''[[Private Worlds]]''
|-
| {{sort|Hepburn|[[Katharine Hepburn]]}}
| {{sort|Adams|Alice Adams}}
| ''[[Alice Adams (1935 film)|Alice Adams]]''
|-
| {{sort|Hopkins|[[Miriam Hopkins]]}}
| {{sort|Sharp|[[Becky Sharp (character)|Becky Sharp]]}}
| ''[[Becky Sharp (film)|Becky Sharp]]''
|-
| {{sort|Oberon|[[Merle Oberon]]}}
| {{sort|Vane|Kitty Vane}}
| {{sort|Dark|''[[The Dark Angel (1935 film)|The Dark Angel]]''}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1936 in film|1936]]<br><small>[[9th Academy Awards|(9th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Rainer|[[Luise Rainer]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Held|[[Anna Held]]}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Great|''[[The Great Ziegfeld]]''}}'''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars9">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1937|title=The 9th Academy Awards (1937) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160702160200/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1937|archive-date=July 2, 2016}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Dunne|[[Irene Dunne]]}}
| {{sort|Lynn|Theodora Lynn / Caroline Adams}}
| ''[[Theodora Goes Wild]]''
|-
| {{sort|George|[[Gladys George]]}}
| {{sort|Snyder|Carrie Snyder}}
| ''[[Valiant Is the Word for Carrie]]''
|-
| {{sort|Lombard|[[Carole Lombard]]}}
| {{sort|Bullock|Irene Bullock}}
| ''[[My Man Godfrey]]''
|-
| {{sort|Shearer|[[Norma Shearer]]}}
| {{sort|Capulet|[[Juliet Capulet]]}}
| ''[[Romeo and Juliet (1936 film)|Romeo and Juliet]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1937 in film|1937]]<br><small>[[10th Academy Awards|(10th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Rainer|[[Luise Rainer]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''[[O-Lan]]'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Good|''[[The Good Earth (film)|The Good Earth]]''}}'''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars10">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1938|title=The 10th Academy Awards (1938) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321113206/http://oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1938|archive-date=March 21, 2016}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Dunne|[[Irene Dunne]]}}
| {{sort|Warriner|Lucy Warriner}}
| {{sort|Awful|''[[The Awful Truth]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Garbo|[[Greta Garbo]]}}
| {{sort|Gautier| Marguerite Gautier}}
| ''[[Camille (1936 film)|Camille]]''
|-
| {{sort|Gaynor|[[Janet Gaynor]]}}
| {{sort|Blodgett|Esther Victoria Blodgett / Vicki Lester}}
| {{sort|Star|''[[A Star Is Born (1937 film)|A Star Is Born]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Stanwyck|[[Barbara Stanwyck]]}}
| {{sort|Dallas|Stella Martin Dallas}}
| ''[[Stella Dallas (1937 film)|Stella Dallas]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1938 in film|1938]]<br><small>[[11th Academy Awards|(11th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Davis|[[Bette Davis]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Marsden|Julie Marsden}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Jezebel (1938 film)|Jezebel]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars11">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1939|title=The 11th Academy Awards (1939) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160702160206/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1939|archive-date=July 2, 2016}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Bainter|[[Fay Bainter]]}}
| {{sort|Parmalee|Hannah Parmalee}}
| ''[[White Banners]]''
|-
| {{sort|Hiller|[[Wendy Hiller]]}}
| {{sort|Doolittle|[[Eliza Doolittle]]}}
| ''[[Pygmalion (1938 film)|Pygmalion]]''
|-
| {{sort|Shearer|[[Norma Shearer]]}}
| {{sort|Antoinette|[[Marie Antoinette]]}}
| ''[[Marie Antoinette (1938 film)|Marie Antoinette]]''
|-
| {{sort|Sullavan|[[Margaret Sullavan]]}}
| {{sort|Hollmann|Patricia "Pat" Hollmann}}
| ''[[Three Comrades (1938 film)|Three Comrades]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1939 in film|1939]]<br><small>[[12th Academy Awards|(12th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Leigh|[[Vivien Leigh]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|O'Hara|[[Scarlett O'Hara]]}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Gone with the Wind (film)|Gone with the Wind]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars12">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1940|title=The 12th Academy Awards (1940) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170128185131/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1940|archive-date=January 28, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Davis|[[Bette Davis]]}}
| {{sort|Traherne|Judith Traherne}}
| ''[[Dark Victory]]''
|-
| {{sort|Dunne|[[Irene Dunne]]}}
| {{sort|McKay|Terry McKay}}
| ''[[Love Affair (1939 film)|Love Affair]]''
|-
| {{sort|Garbo|[[Greta Garbo]]}}
| {{sort|Ivanoff|Nina Yakushova "Ninotchka" Ivanoff}}
| ''[[Ninotchka]]''
|-
| {{sort|Garson|[[Greer Garson]]}}
| {{sort|Bridges|Katherine Bridges}}
| ''[[Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939 film)|Goodbye, Mr. Chips]]''
|}

=== 1940s===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! scope="col" style="width:8%;" | Year
! scope="col" style="width:25%;"| Actress
! scope="col" style="width:30%;"| Role(s)
! scope="col" style="width:70%;"| Film
! scope="col" style="width:2%;" class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1940 in film|1940]]<br><small>[[13th Academy Awards|(13th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Rogers|[[Ginger Rogers]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Foyle|Kitty Foyle}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Kitty Foyle (film)|Kitty Foyle]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars13">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1941|title=The 13th Academy Awards (1941) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321220635/http://oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1941|archive-date=March 21, 2016}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Davis|[[Bette Davis]]}}
| {{sort|Crosbie|[[Ethel Proudlock case|Leslie Crosbie]]}}
| {{sort|Letter|''[[The Letter (1940 film)|The Letter]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Fontaine|[[Joan Fontaine]]}}
| {{sort|de Winter|The Second Mrs. de Winter}}
| ''[[Rebecca (1940 film)|Rebecca]]''
|-
| {{sort|Hepburn|[[Katharine Hepburn]]}}
| {{sort|Lord|Tracy Lord}}
| {{sort|Philadelphia|''[[The Philadelphia Story (film)|The Philadelphia Story]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Scott|[[Martha Scott]]}}
| {{sort|Webb|Emily Webb}}
| ''[[Our Town (1940 film)|Our Town]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1941 in film|1941]]<br><small>[[14th Academy Awards|(14th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Fontaine|[[Joan Fontaine]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Aysgarth|Lina McLaidlaw Aysgarth}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Suspicion (1941 film)|Suspicion]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars14">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1942|title=The 14th Academy Awards (1942) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402003256/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1942|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Davis|[[Bette Davis]]}}
| {{sort|Giddens|Regina Giddens}}
| {{sort|Little|''[[The Little Foxes (film)|The Little Foxes]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|de Havilland|[[Olivia de Havilland]]}}
| {{sort|Brown|Emmy Brown}}
| ''[[Hold Back the Dawn]]''
|-
| {{sort|Garson|[[Greer Garson]]}}
| {{sort|Gladney|[[Edna Gladney]]}}
| ''[[Blossoms in the Dust]]''
|-
| {{sort|Stanwyck|[[Barbara Stanwyck]]}}
| {{sort|O'Shea|Katherine "Sugarpuss" O'Shea}}
| ''[[Ball of Fire]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1942 in film|1942]]<br><small>[[15th Academy Awards|(15th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Garson|[[Greer Garson]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Miniver|[[Mrs. Miniver (character)|Kay Miniver]]}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Mrs. Miniver]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars15">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1943|title=The 15th Academy Awards (1943) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706093739/http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/legacy/ceremony/15th-winners.html|archive-date=July 6, 2011}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Davis|[[Bette Davis]]}}
| {{sort|Vale|Charlotte Vale}}
| ''[[Now, Voyager]]''
|-
| {{sort|Hepburn|[[Katharine Hepburn]]}}
| {{sort|Harding|Tess Harding}}
| ''[[Woman of the Year]]''
|-
| {{sort|Russell|[[Rosalind Russell]]}}
| {{sort|Sherwood|[[Ruth McKenney|Ruth Sherwood]]}}
| ''[[My Sister Eileen (1942 film)|My Sister Eileen]]''
|-
| {{sort|Wright|[[Teresa Wright]]}}
| {{sort|Gerhig|[[Eleanor Gehrig|Eleanor Twitchell Gehrig]]}}
| {{sort|Pride|''[[The Pride of the Yankees]]''}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1943 in film|1943]]<br><small>[[16th Academy Awards|(16th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Jones|[[Jennifer Jones]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Soubirous|[[Bernadette Soubirous]]}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Song|''[[The Song of Bernadette (film)|The Song of Bernadette]]''}}'''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars16">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1944|title=The 16th Academy Awards (1944) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321095215/http://oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1944|archive-date=March 21, 2016}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Arthur|[[Jean Arthur]]}}
| {{sort|Milligan|Constance "Connie" Milligan}}
| {{sort|More|''[[The More the Merrier]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Bergman|[[Ingrid Bergman]]}}
| María
| ''[[For Whom the Bell Tolls (film)|For Whom the Bell Tolls]]''
|-
| {{sort|Fontaine|[[Joan Fontaine]]}}
| {{sort|Sanger|Tessa Sanger}}
| {{sort|Constant|''[[The Constant Nymph (1943 film)|The Constant Nymph]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Garson|[[Greer Garson]]}}
| {{sort|Curie|[[Marie Curie]]}}
| ''[[Madame Curie (film)|Madame Curie]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1944 in film|1944]]<br><small>[[17th Academy Awards|(17th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Bergman|[[Ingrid Bergman]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''Paula Alquist Anton'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Gaslight (1944 film)|Gaslight]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars17">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1945|title=The 17th Academy Awards (1945) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160702160225/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1945|archive-date=July 2, 2016}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Colbert|[[Claudette Colbert]]}}
| {{sort|Hilton|Anne Hilton}}
| ''[[Since You Went Away]]''
|-
| {{sort|Davis|[[Bette Davis]]}}
| {{sort|Trellis| Fanny Trellis}}
| ''[[Mr. Skeffington]]''
|-
| {{sort|Garson|[[Greer Garson]]}}
| {{sort|Parkington|Susie "Sparrow" Parkington}}
| ''[[Mrs. Parkington]]''
|-
| {{sort|Stanwyck|[[Barbara Stanwyck]]}}
| {{sort|Dietrichson|[[Phyllis Dietrichson]]}}
| ''[[Double Indemnity]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1945 in film|1945]]<br><small>[[18th Academy Awards|(18th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Crawford|[[Joan Crawford]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Beragon|Mildred Pierce Beragon}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Mildred Pierce (film)|Mildred Pierce]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars18">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1946|title=The 18th Academy Awards (1946) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402003401/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1946|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Bergman|[[Ingrid Bergman]]}}
| {{sort|Benedict|Mary Benedict}}
| {{sort|Bells|''[[The Bells of St. Mary's]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Garson|[[Greer Garson]]}}
| {{sort|Rafferty|Mary Rafferty}}
| {{sort|Valley|''[[The Valley of Decision]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Jones|[[Jennifer Jones]]}}
| Singleton / Victoria Morland
| ''[[Love Letters (1945 film)|Love Letters]]''
|-
| {{sort|Tierney|[[Gene Tierney]]}}
| {{sort|Harland|Ellen Berent Harland}}
| ''[[Leave Her to Heaven]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1946 in film|1946]]<br><small>[[19th Academy Awards|(19th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|de Havilland|[[Olivia de Havilland]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Norris|Josephine "Jody" Norris}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[To Each His Own (1946 film)|To Each His Own]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars19">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1947|title=The 19th Academy Awards (1947) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402003414/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1947|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Johnson|[[Celia Johnson]]}}
| {{sort|Jesson|Laura Jesson}}
| ''[[Brief Encounter]]''
|-
| {{sort|Jones|[[Jennifer Jones]]}}
| {{sort|Chavez|Pearl Chavez}}
| ''[[Duel in the Sun (film)|Duel in the Sun]]''
|-
| {{sort|Russell|[[Rosalind Russell]]}}
| {{sort|KEnny|[[Elizabeth Kenny]]}}
| ''[[Sister Kenny]]''
|-
| {{sort|Wyman|[[Jane Wyman]]}}
| {{sort|Baxter|Orry Baxter}}
| {{sort|Yearling|''[[The Yearling (1946 film)|The Yearling]]''}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1947 in film|1947]]<br><small>[[20th Academy Awards|(20th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Young|[[Loretta Young]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Holstrom|Katie Holstrom}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Farmer's|''[[The Farmer's Daughter (1947 film)|The Farmer's Daughter]]''}}'''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars20">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1948|title=The 20th Academy Awards (1948) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160702160236/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1948|archive-date=July 2, 2016}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Crawford|[[Joan Crawford]]}}
| {{sort|Howell|Louise Howell}}
| ''[[Possessed (1947 film)|Possessed]]''
|-
| {{sort|Hayward|[[Susan Hayward]]}}
| {{sort|Conway|[[Dixie Lee|Angelica Evans Conway]]}}
| ''[[Smash-Up, the Story of a Woman]]''
|-
| {{sort|McGuire|[[Dorothy McGuire]]}}
| {{sort|Lacy|Kathy Lacy}}
| ''[[Gentleman's Agreement]]''
|-
| {{sort|Russell|[[Rosalind Russell]]}}
| {{sort|Mannon|Lavinia Mannon}}
| ''[[Mourning Becomes Electra (film)|Mourning Becomes Electra]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1948 in film|1948]]<br><small>[[21st Academy Awards|(21st)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Wyman|[[Jane Wyman]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|McDonald|Belinda McDonald}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Johnny Belinda (1948 film)|Johnny Belinda]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars21">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1949|title=The 21st Academy Awards (1949) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111072021/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1949|archive-date=November 11, 2014}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Bergman|[[Ingrid Bergman]]}}
| [[Joan of Arc]]
| ''[[Joan of Arc (1948 film)|Joan of Arc]]''
|-
| {{sort|de Havilland|[[Olivia de Havilland]]}}
| {{sort|Cunningham|[[Mary Jane Ward|Virginia Stuart Cunningham]]}}
| {{sort|Snake|''[[The Snake Pit]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Dunne|[[Irene Dunne]]}}
| {{sort|Hanson|Martha Hanson}}
| ''[[I Remember Mama (film)|I Remember Mama]]''
|-
| {{sort|Stanwyck|[[Barbara Stanwyck]]}}
| {{sort|Stevenson|Leona Stevenson}}
| ''[[Sorry, Wrong Number]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1949 in film|1949]]<br><small>[[22nd Academy Awards|(22nd)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|de Havilland|[[Olivia de Havilland]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Sloper|Catherine Sloper}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Heiress|''[[The Heiress]]''}}'''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars22">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1950|title=The 22nd Academy Awards (1950) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402002854/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1950|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Crain|[[Jeanne Crain]]}}
| {{sort|Johnson|Patricia "Pinky" Johnson}}
| ''[[Pinky (film)|Pinky]]''
|-
| {{sort|Hayward|[[Susan Hayward]]}}
| {{sort|Winters|Eloise Winters}}
| ''[[My Foolish Heart (1949 film)|My Foolish Heart]]''
|-
| {{sort|Kerr|[[Deborah Kerr]]}}
| {{sort|Boult|Evelyn Boult}}
| ''[[Edward, My Son]]''
|-
| {{sort|Young|[[Loretta Young]]}}
| Margaret
| ''[[Come to the Stable]]''
|}

=== 1950s ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! scope="col" style="width:8%;" | Year
! scope="col" style="width:25%;"| Actress
! scope="col" style="width:30%;"| Role(s)
! scope="col" style="width:70%;"| Film
! scope="col" style="width:2%;" class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1950 in film|1950]]<br><small>[[23rd Academy Awards|(23rd)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Holliday|[[Judy Holliday]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Dawn|Emma "Billie" Dawn}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Born Yesterday (1950 film)|Born Yesterday]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars23">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1951|title=The 23rd Academy Awards (1951) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170128185155/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1951|archive-date=January 28, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Baxter|[[Anne Baxter]]}}
| {{sort|Harrington|Eve Harrington}}
|rowspan=2|''[[All About Eve]]''
|-
| {{sort|Davis|[[Bette Davis]]}}
| {{sort|Channing|Margo Channing}}
|-
| {{sort|Parker|[[Eleanor Parker]]}}
| {{sort|Allen|Marie Allen}}
| ''[[Caged (1950 film)|Caged]]''
|-
| {{sort|Swanson|[[Gloria Swanson]]}}
| {{sort|Desmond|Norma Desmond}}
| ''[[Sunset Boulevard (film)|Sunset Boulevard]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1951 in film|1951]]<br><small>[[24th Academy Awards|(24th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Leigh|[[Vivien Leigh]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|DuBois|[[Blanche DuBois]]}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Streetcar|''[[A Streetcar Named Desire (1951 film)|A Streetcar Named Desire]]''}}'''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars24">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1952|title=The 24th Academy Awards (1952) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402003505/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1952|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Hepburn|[[Katharine Hepburn]]}}
| {{sort|Sayer|Rose Sayer}}
| {{sort|African|''[[The African Queen (film)|The African Queen]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Parker|[[Eleanor Parker]]}}
| {{sort|McLeod|Mary McLeod}}
| ''[[Detective Story (1951 film)|Detective Story]]''
|-
| {{sort|Winters|[[Shelley Winters]]}}
| {{sort|Tripp|[[Murder of Grace Brown|Alice Tripp]]}}
| {{sort|Place|''[[A Place in the Sun (1951 film)|A Place in the Sun]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Wyman|[[Jane Wyman]]}}
| {{sort|Mason|Louise Mason}}
| {{sort|Blue|''[[The Blue Veil (1951 film)|The Blue Veil]]''}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1952 in film|1952]]<br><small>[[25th Academy Awards|(25th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Booth|[[Shirley Booth]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Delaney|Lola Delaney}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Come Back, Little Sheba (1952 film)|Come Back, Little Sheba]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars25">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1953|title=The 25th Academy Awards (1953) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111074417/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1953|archive-date=November 11, 2014}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Crawford|[[Joan Crawford]]}}
| {{sort|Hudson|Myra Hudson}}
| ''[[Sudden Fear]]''
|-
| {{sort|Davis|[[Bette Davis]]}}
| {{sort|Elliot|Margaret Elliot}}
| ''{{sort|Star|[[The Star (1952 film)|The Star]]}}''
|-
| {{sort|Harris|[[Julie Harris]]}}
| {{sort|Addams|Frances "Frankie" Addams}}
| {{sort|Member|''[[The Member of the Wedding (film)|The Member of the Wedding]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Hayward|[[Susan Hayward]]}}
| {{sort|Froman|[[Jane Froman]]}}
| ''[[With a Song in My Heart (film)|With a Song in My Heart]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1953 in film|1953]]<br><small>[[26th Academy Awards|(26th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Hepburn|[[Audrey Hepburn]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Ann|Princess Ann}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Roman Holiday]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars26">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1954|title=The 26th Academy Awards (1954) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402003527/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1954|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Caron|[[Leslie Caron]]}}
| {{sort|Daurier|Lili Daurier}}
| ''[[Lili (1953 film)|Lili]]''
|-
| {{sort|Gardner|[[Ava Gardner]]}}
| {{sort|Kelly|Eloise "Honey Bear" Kelly}}
| ''[[Mogambo]]''
|-
| {{sort|Kerr|[[Deborah Kerr]]}}
| {{sort|Holmes|Karen Holmes}}
| ''[[From Here to Eternity]]''
|-
| {{sort|McNamara|[[Maggie McNamara]]}}
| {{sort|O'Neill|Patty O'Neill}}
| {{sort|Moon|''[[The Moon Is Blue (film)|The Moon Is Blue]]''}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1954 in film|1954]]<br><small>[[27th Academy Awards|(27th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Kelly|[[Grace Kelly]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Elgin|Georgie Elgin}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Country|''[[The Country Girl (1954 film)|The Country Girl]]''}}'''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars27">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1955|title=The 27th Academy Awards (1955) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220053716/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1955|archive-date=December 20, 2014}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Dandridge|[[Dorothy Dandridge]]}}
| {{sort|Jones|Carmen Jones}}
| ''[[Carmen Jones (film)|Carmen Jones]]''
|-
| {{sort|Garland|[[Judy Garland]]}}
| {{sort|Blodgett|Esther Victoria Blodgett / Vicki Lester}}
| {{sort|Star|''[[A Star Is Born (1954 film)|A Star Is Born]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Hepburn|[[Audrey Hepburn]]}}
| {{sort|Fairchild|Sabrina Fairchild}}
| ''[[Sabrina (1954 film)|Sabrina]]''
|-
| {{sort|Wyman|[[Jane Wyman]]}}
| {{sort|Phillips|Helen Phillips}}
| ''[[Magnificent Obsession (1954 film)|Magnificent Obsession]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1955 in film|1955]]<br><small>[[28th Academy Awards|(28th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Magnani|[[Anna Magnani]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Rose|Serafina Delle Rose}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Rose|''[[The Rose Tattoo (film)|The Rose Tattoo]]''}}'''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars28">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1956|title=The 28th Academy Awards (1956) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111073646/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1956|archive-date=November 11, 2014}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Hayward|[[Susan Hayward]]}}
| {{sort|Roth|[[Lillian Roth]]}}
| ''[[I'll Cry Tomorrow]]''
|-
| {{sort|Hepburn|[[Katharine Hepburn]]}}
| {{sort|Hudson|Jane Hudson}}
| ''[[Summertime (1955 film)|Summertime]]''
|-
| {{sort|Jones|[[Jennifer Jones]]}}
| {{sort|Suyin|[[Han Suyin]]}}
| ''[[Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing (film)|Love is a Many-Splendored Thing]]''
|-
| {{sort|Parker|[[Eleanor Parker]]}}
| {{sort|Lawrence|[[Marjorie Lawrence]]}}
| ''[[Interrupted Melody]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1956 in film|1956]]<br><small>[[29th Academy Awards|(29th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Bergman|[[Ingrid Bergman]] {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Koreff|[[Anna Anderson|Anna Koreff]] / [[Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia|Anastasia]]}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Anastasia (1956 film)|Anastasia]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars29">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1957|title=The 29th Academy Awards (1957) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402003615/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1957|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Baker|[[Carroll Baker]]}}
| Baby Doll Meighan
| ''[[Baby Doll]]''
|-
| {{sort|Hepburn|[[Katharine Hepburn]]}}
| {{sort|Curry|Lizzie Curry}}
| {{sort|Rainmaker|''[[The Rainmaker (1956 film)|The Rainmaker]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Kelly|[[Nancy Kelly]]}}
| {{sort|Penmark|Christine Penmark}}
| {{sort|Bad|''[[The Bad Seed (1956 film)|The Bad Seed]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Kerr|[[Deborah Kerr]]}}
| {{sort|Leonowens|[[Anna Leonowens]]}}
| {{sort|King|''[[The King and I (1956 film)|The King and I]]''}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1957 in film|1957]]<br><small>[[30th Academy Awards|(30th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Woodward|[[Joanne Woodward]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|White|[[Chris Costner Sizemore|Eve White / Eve Black / Jane]]}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Three|''[[The Three Faces of Eve]]''}}'''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars30">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1958|title=The 30th Academy Awards (1958) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402003629/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1958|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Kerr|[[Deborah Kerr]]}}
| Angela
| ''[[Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison]]''
|-
| {{sort|Magnani|[[Anna Magnani]]}}
| Gioia
| ''[[Wild Is the Wind (1957 film)|Wild Is the Wind]]''
|-
| {{sort|Taylor|[[Elizabeth Taylor]]}}
| {{sort|Drake|Susanna Drake}}
| ''[[Raintree County (film)|Raintree County]]''
|-
| {{sort|Turner|[[Lana Turner]]}}
| {{sort|MacKenzie|[[Constance MacKenzie]]}}
| ''[[Peyton Place (film)|Peyton Place]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1958 in film|1958]]<br><small>[[31st Academy Awards|(31st)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Hayward|[[Susan Hayward]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Graham|[[Barbara Graham]]}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[I Want to Live!]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars31">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1959|title=The 31st Academy Awards (1959) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402003640/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1959|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Kerr|[[Deborah Kerr]]}}
| {{sort|Railton|Sibyl Railton-Bell}}
| ''[[Separate Tables (film)|Separate Tables]]''
|-
| {{sort|MacLaine|[[Shirley MacLaine]]}}
| {{sort|Moorehead|Ginnie Moorehead}}
| ''[[Some Came Running (film)|Some Came Running]]''
|-
| {{sort|Russell|[[Rosalind Russell]]}}
| {{sort|Dennis|Mame Dennis}}
| ''[[Auntie Mame (film)|Auntie Mame]]''
|-
| {{sort|Taylor|[[Elizabeth Taylor]]}}
| {{sort|Pollitt|Margaret "Maggie the Cat" Pollitt}}
| ''[[Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958 film)|Cat on a Hot Tin Roof]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1959 in film|1959]]<br><small>[[32nd Academy Awards|(32nd)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Signoret|[[Simone Signoret]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Aisgill|Alice Aisgill}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Room at the Top (1959 film)|Room at the Top]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars32">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1960|title=The 32nd Academy Awards (1960) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160908182807/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1960|archive-date=September 8, 2016}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Day|[[Doris Day]]}}
| {{sort|Morrow|Jan Morrow}}
| ''[[Pillow Talk]]''
|-
| {{sort|Hepburn|[[Audrey Hepburn]]}}
| {{sort|van der Mal|[[Marie Louise Habets|Gabrielle van der Mal]]}}
| {{sort|Nun's|''[[The Nun's Story (film)|The Nun's Story]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Hepburn|[[Katharine Hepburn]]}}
| {{sort|Venable|Violet Venable}}
| rowspan="2" |''[[Suddenly, Last Summer (film)|Suddenly, Last Summer]]''
|-
| {{sort|Taylor|[[Elizabeth Taylor]]}}
| {{sort|Holly|Catherine Holly}}
|}

=== 1960s ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! scope="col" style="width:8%;" | Year
! scope="col" style="width:25%;"| Actress
! scope="col" style="width:30%;"| Role(s)
! scope="col" style="width:70%;"| Film
! scope="col" style="width:2%;" class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1960 in film|1960]]<br><small>[[33rd Academy Awards|(33rd)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Taylor|[[Elizabeth Taylor]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Wandrous|Gloria Wandrous}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[BUtterfield 8]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars33">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1961|title=The 33rd Academy Awards (1961) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402003651/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1961|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Garson|[[Greer Garson]]}}
| {{sort|Roosevelt|[[Eleanor Roosevelt]]}}
| ''[[Sunrise at Campobello]]''
|-
| {{sort|Kerr|[[Deborah Kerr]]}}
| {{sort|Carmody|Ida Carmody}}
| {{sort|Sundowners|''[[The Sundowners (1960 film)|The Sundowners]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|MacLaine|[[Shirley MacLaine]]}}
| {{sort|Kubelik|Fran Kubelik}}
| {{sort|Apartment|''[[The Apartment]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Mercouri|[[Melina Mercouri]]}}
| Ilya
| ''[[Never on Sunday]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1961 in film|1961]]<br><small>[[34th Academy Awards|(34th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Loren|[[Sophia Loren]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''Cesira'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Two Women]]'''''<ref>{{cite news|last1=King|first1=Susan|title=The Academy to fete Sophia Loren|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/awards/2011/03/the-academy-to-fete-sopha-loren.html|access-date=April 13, 2015|work=Los Angeles Times|date=March 28, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150506105524/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/awards/2011/03/the-academy-to-fete-sopha-loren.html|archive-date=May 6, 2015}}</ref>
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars34">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1962|title=The 34th Academy Awards (1962) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402003704/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1962|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Hepburn|[[Audrey Hepburn]]}}
| {{sort|Golightly|Holly Golightly / Lula Mae Barnes}}
| ''[[Breakfast at Tiffany's (film)|Breakfast at Tiffany's]]''
|-
| {{sort|Laurie|[[Piper Laurie]]}}
| {{sort|Packard|Sarah Packard}}
| {{sort|Hustler|''[[The Hustler]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Page|[[Geraldine Page]]}}
| {{sort|Winemiller|Alma Winemiller}}
| ''[[Summer and Smoke (film)|Summer and Smoke]]''
|-
| {{sort|Wood|[[Natalie Wood]]}}
| {{sort|Loomis|Wilma Dean "Deanie" Loomis}}
| ''[[Splendor in the Grass]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1962 in film|1962]]<br><small>[[35th Academy Awards|(35th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Bancroft|[[Anne Bancroft]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Sullivan|[[Annie Sullivan]]}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Miracle|''[[The Miracle Worker (1962 film)|The Miracle Worker]]''}}'''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars35">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1963|title=The 35th Academy Awards (1963) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160702160340/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1963|archive-date=July 2, 2016}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Davis|[[Bette Davis]]}}
| {{sort|Hudson|[[Baby Jane Hudson]]}}
| ''[[What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (film)|What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?]]''
|-
| {{sort|Hepburn|[[Katharine Hepburn]]}}
| {{sort|Tyrone|[[Ella O'Neill|Mary Cavan Tyrone]]}}
| ''[[Long Day's Journey into Night (1962 film)|Long Day's Journey into Night]]''
|-
| {{sort|Page|[[Geraldine Page]]}}
| {{sort|Del Lago|Alexandra Del Lago}}
| ''[[Sweet Bird of Youth (1962 film)|Sweet Bird of Youth]]''
|-
| {{sort|Remick|[[Lee Remick]]}}
| {{sort|Clay|Kirsten Arnesen Clay}}
| ''[[Days of Wine and Roses (film)|Days of Wine and Roses]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1963 in film|1963]]<br><small>[[36th Academy Awards|(36th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Neal|[[Patricia Neal]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Brown|Alma Brown}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Hud (1963 film)|Hud]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars36">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1964|title=The 36th Academy Awards (1964) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402003742/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1964|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Caron|[[Leslie Caron]]}}
| {{sort|Fossett|Jane Fossett}}
| {{sort|L-Shaped|''[[The L-Shaped Room]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|MacLaine|[[Shirley MacLaine]]}}
| {{sort|La Douce|Irma La Douce}}
| ''[[Irma la Douce]]''
|-
| {{sort|Roberts|[[Rachel Roberts (actress)|Rachel Roberts]]}}
| {{sort|Hammond|Margaret Hammond}}
| ''[[This Sporting Life]]''
|-
| {{sort|Wood|[[Natalie Wood]]}}
| {{sort|Rossini|Angie Rossini}}
| ''[[Love with the Proper Stranger]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1964 in film|1964]]<br><small>[[37th Academy Awards|(37th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Andrews|[[Julie Andrews]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Poppins|[[Mary Poppins (character)|Mary Poppins]]}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Mary Poppins (film)|Mary Poppins]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars37">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1965|title=The 37th Academy Awards (1965) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402003759/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1965|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Bancroft|[[Anne Bancroft]]}}
| {{sort|Armitage|[[Penelope Mortimer|Jo Armitage]]}}
| {{sort|Pumpkin|''[[The Pumpkin Eater]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Loren|[[Sophia Loren]]}}
| {{sort|Marturano|Filumena Marturano}}
| ''[[Marriage Italian Style]]''
|-
| {{sort|Reynolds|[[Debbie Reynolds]]}}
| {{sort|Brown|[[Margaret Brown|Molly Brown]]}}
| {{sort|Unsinkable|''[[The Unsinkable Molly Brown (film)|The Unsinkable Molly Brown]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Stanley|[[Kim Stanley]]}}
| {{sort|Savage|Myra Savage}}
| ''[[Séance on a Wet Afternoon]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1965 in film|1965]]<br><small>[[38th Academy Awards|(38th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Christie|[[Julie Christie]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Scott|Diana Scott}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Darling (1965 film)|Darling]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars38">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1966|title=The 38th Academy Awards (1966) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402003812/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1966|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Andrews|[[Julie Andrews]]}}
| {{sort|von Trapp|[[Maria von Trapp]]}}
| {{sort|Sound|''[[The Sound of Music (film)|The Sound of Music]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Eggar|[[Samantha Eggar]]}}
| {{sort|Grey|Miranda Grey}}
| {{sort|Collector|''[[The Collector (1965 film)|The Collector]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Hartman|[[Elizabeth Hartman]]}}
| {{sort|D'Arcy|Selina D'Arcy}}
| {{sort|Patch|''[[A Patch of Blue]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Signoret|[[Simone Signoret]]}}
| {{sort|Condesa|La Condesa}}
| ''[[Ship of Fools (film)|Ship of Fools]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1966 in film|1966]]<br><small>[[39th Academy Awards|(39th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Taylor|[[Elizabeth Taylor]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''Martha'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (film)|Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars39">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1967|title=The 39th Academy Awards (1967) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402003824/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1967|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Aimée|[[Anouk Aimée]]}}
| {{sort|Gauthier|Anne Gauthier}}
| {{sort|Man|''[[A Man and a Woman]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Kamińska|[[Ida Kamińska]]}}
| {{sort|Lautmann|Rozalie Lautmann}}
| {{sort|Shop|''[[The Shop on Main Street]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Redgrave|[[Lynn Redgrave]]}}
| {{sort|Parkin|Georgina "Georgy" Parkin}}
| ''[[Georgy Girl]]''
|-
| {{sort|Redgrave|[[Vanessa Redgrave]]}}
| {{sort|Delt|Leonie Delt}}
| ''[[Morgan – A Suitable Case for Treatment|Morgan!]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1967 in film|1967]]<br><small>[[40th Academy Awards|(40th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Hepburn|[[Katharine Hepburn]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Drayton|Christina Drayton}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Guess Who's Coming to Dinner]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars40">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1968|title=The 40th Academy Awards (1968) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402003842/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1968|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Bancroft|[[Anne Bancroft]]}}
| {{sort|Robinson|Mrs. Robinson}}
| {{sort|Graduate|''[[The Graduate]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Dunaway|[[Faye Dunaway]]}}
| {{sort|Parker|[[Bonnie and Clyde|Bonnie Parker]]}}
| ''[[Bonnie and Clyde (film)|Bonnie and Clyde]]''
|-
| {{sort|Evans|[[Edith Evans]]}}
| {{sort|Ross|Maggie Ross}}
| {{sort|Whisperers|''[[The Whisperers]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Hepburn|[[Audrey Hepburn]]}}
| {{sort|Hendrix|Susy Hendrix}}
| ''[[Wait Until Dark (film)|Wait Until Dark]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1968 in film|1968]]<br><small>[[41st Academy Awards|(41st)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Hepburn|[[Katharine Hepburn]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}} <small>(TIE)</small> {{ref label|Tie|C|1}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''[[Eleanor of Aquitaine]]'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Lion|''[[The Lion in Winter (1968 film)|The Lion in Winter]]''}}'''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars41">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1969|title=The 41st Academy Awards (1969) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402003856/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1969|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Streisand|[[Barbra Streisand]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}} <small>(TIE)</small> {{ref label|Tie|C|2}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Brice|[[Fanny Brice]]}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Funny Girl (film)|Funny Girl]]'''''
|-
| {{sort|Neal|[[Patricia Neal]]}}
| {{sort|Cleary|Nettie Cleary}}
| {{sort|Subject|''[[The Subject Was Roses (film)|The Subject Was Roses]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Redgrave|[[Vanessa Redgrave]]}}
| {{sort|Duncan|[[Isadora Duncan]]}}
| ''[[Isadora (film)|Isadora]]''
|-
| {{sort|Woodward|[[Joanne Woodward]]}}
| {{sort|Cameron|Rachel Cameron}}
| ''[[Rachel, Rachel]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1969 in film|1969]]<br><small>[[42nd Academy Awards|(42nd)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Smith|[[Maggie Smith]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Brodie|[[Jean Brodie]]}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Prime|''[[The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (film)|The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie]]''}}'''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars42">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1970|title=The 42nd Academy Awards (1970) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402002922/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1970|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Bujold|[[Geneviève Bujold]]}}
| {{sort|Boleyn|[[Anne Boleyn]]}}
| ''[[Anne of the Thousand Days]]''
|-
| {{sort|Fonda|[[Jane Fonda]]}}
| {{sort|Beatty|Gloria Beatty}}
| ''[[They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (film)|They Shoot Horses, Don't They?]]''
|-
| {{sort|Minnelli|[[Liza Minnelli]]}}
| {{sort|Adams|Mary Ann "Pookie" Adams}}
| {{sort|Sterile|''[[The Sterile Cuckoo]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Simmons|[[Jean Simmons]]}}
| {{sort|Wilson|Mary Wilson}}
| {{sort|Happy|''[[The Happy Ending]]''}}
|}

=== 1970s ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! scope="col" style="width:8%;" | Year
! scope="col" style="width:25%;"| Actress
! scope="col" style="width:30%;"| Role(s)
! scope="col" style="width:70%;"| Film
! scope="col" style="width:2%;" class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1970 in film|1970]]<br><small>[[43rd Academy Awards|(43rd)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Jackson|[[Glenda Jackson]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Brangwen|Gudrun Brangwen}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Women in Love (film)|Women in Love]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars43">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1971|title=The 43rd Academy Awards (1971) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402003910/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1971|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Alexander|[[Jane Alexander]]}}
| {{sort|Backman|Eleanor Backman}}
| {{sort|Great|''[[The Great White Hope (film)|The Great White Hope]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|MacGraw|[[Ali MacGraw]]}}
| {{sort|Cavalleri-Barrett|Jennifer Cavalleri-Barrett}}
| ''[[Love Story (1970 film)|Love Story]]''
|-
| {{sort|Miles|[[Sarah Miles]]}}
| {{sort|Ryan|Rosy Ryan}}
| ''[[Ryan's Daughter]]''
|-
| {{sort|Snodgress|[[Carrie Snodgress]]}}
| {{sort|Balser|[[Sue Kaufman|Bettina "Tina" Balser]]}}
| ''[[Diary of a Mad Housewife]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1971 in film|1971]]<br><small>[[44th Academy Awards|(44th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Fonda|[[Jane Fonda]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Daniels|Bree Daniels}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Klute]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars44">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1972|title=The 44th Academy Awards (1972) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402003926/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1972|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Christie|[[Julie Christie]]}}
| {{sort|Miller|Constance Miller}}
| ''[[McCabe & Mrs. Miller]]''
|-
| {{sort|Jackson|[[Glenda Jackson]]}}
| {{sort|Greville|Alex Greville}}
| ''[[Sunday Bloody Sunday (film)|Sunday Bloody Sunday]]''
|-
| {{sort|Redgrave|[[Vanessa Redgrave]]}}
| [[Mary, Queen of Scots]]
| ''[[Mary, Queen of Scots (1971 film)|Mary, Queen of Scots]]''
|-
| {{sort|Suzman|[[Janet Suzman]]}}
| {{sort|Alexandra|[[Alexandra Fyodorovna (Alix of Hesse)|Empress Alexandra of Russia]]}}
| ''[[Nicholas and Alexandra]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1972 in film|1972]]<br><small>[[45th Academy Awards|(45th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Minnelli|[[Liza Minnelli]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Bowles|[[Sally Bowles]]}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Cabaret (1972 film)|Cabaret]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars45">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1973|title=The 45th Academy Awards (1973) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402003938/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1973|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Ross|[[Diana Ross]]}}
| {{sort|Holiday|[[Billie Holiday]]}}
| ''[[Lady Sings the Blues (film)|Lady Sings the Blues]]''
|-
| {{sort|Smith|[[Maggie Smith]]}}
| {{sort|Bertram|Augusta Bertram}}
| ''[[Travels with My Aunt (film)|Travels with My Aunt]]''
|-
| {{sort|Tyson|[[Cicely Tyson]]}}
| {{sort|Morgan|Rebecca Morgan}}
| ''[[Sounder (film)|Sounder]]''
|-
| {{sort|Ullmann|[[Liv Ullmann]]}}
| {{sort|Nilsson|Kristina Nilsson}}
| {{sort|Emigrants|''[[The Emigrants (film)|The Emigrants]]''}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1973 in film|1973]]<br><small>[[46th Academy Awards|(46th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Jackson|[[Glenda Jackson]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Allessio|Vickie Allessio}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Touch|''[[A Touch of Class (film)|A Touch of Class]]''}}'''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars46">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1974|title=The 46th Academy Awards (1974) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402003953/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1974|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Burstyn|[[Ellen Burstyn]]}}
| {{sort|MacNeil|Chris MacNeil}}
| {{sort|Exorcist|''[[The Exorcist]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Mason|[[Marsha Mason]]}}
| {{sort|Paul|Maggie Paul}}
| ''[[Cinderella Liberty]]''
|-
| {{sort|Streisand|[[Barbra Streisand]]}}
| {{sort|Morosky|Katie Morosky}}
| {{sort|Way|''[[The Way We Were]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Woodward|[[Joanne Woodward]]}}
| {{sort|Walden|Rita Walden}}
| ''[[Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1974 in film|1974]]<br><small>[[47th Academy Awards|(47th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Burstyn|[[Ellen Burstyn]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Hyatt|[[Alice Hyatt]]}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars47">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1975|title=The 47th Academy Awards (1975) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402004005/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1975|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Carroll|[[Diahann Carroll]]}}
| {{sort|Price|Claudine Price}}
| ''[[Claudine (film)|Claudine]]''
|-
| {{sort|Dunaway|[[Faye Dunaway]]}}
| {{sort|Mulwray|Evelyn Cross Mulwray}}
| ''[[Chinatown (1974 film)|Chinatown]]''
|-
| {{sort|Perrine|[[Valerie Perrine]]}}
| {{sort|Bruce|[[Honey Bruce|Harriett Jolliff / Honey Bruce]]}}
| ''[[Lenny (film)|Lenny]]''
|-
| {{sort|Rowlands|[[Gena Rowlands]]}}
| {{sort|Longhetti|Mabel Longhetti}}
| {{sort|Woman|''[[A Woman Under the Influence]]''}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1975 in film|1975]]<br><small>[[48th Academy Awards|(48th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Fletcher|[[Louise Fletcher]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Ratched|[[Nurse Ratched|Nurse Mildred Ratched]]}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (film)|One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars48">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1976|title=The 48th Academy Awards (1976) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402004018/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1976|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Adjani|[[Isabelle Adjani]]}}
| {{sort|Hugo|[[Adèle Hugo|Adèle Hugo / Adèle Lewly]]}}
| {{sort|Story|''[[The Story of Adele H.]]''}}
|-
| [[Ann-Margret]]
| {{sort|Walker|Nora Walker}}
| ''[[Tommy (1975 film)|Tommy]]''
|-
| {{sort|Jackson|[[Glenda Jackson]]}}
| {{sort|Gabler|[[Hedda Gabler]]}}
| ''[[Hedda (1975 film)|Hedda]]''
|-
| {{sort|Kane|[[Carol Kane]]}}
| Gitl
| ''[[Hester Street (film)|Hester Street]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1976 in film|1976]]<br><small>[[49th Academy Awards|(49th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Dunaway|[[Faye Dunaway]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Christensen|Diana Christensen}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Network (1976 film)|Network]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars49">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1977|title=The 49th Academy Awards (1977) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402004041/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1977|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Barrault|[[Marie-Christine Barrault ]]}}
| Marthe
| ''[[Cousin Cousine]]''
|-
| {{sort|Shire|[[Talia Shire]]}}
| {{sort|Pennino|[[Adrian Pennino]]}}
| ''[[Rocky]]''
|-
| {{sort|Spacek|[[Sissy Spacek]]}}
| {{sort|White|[[Carrie White]]}}
| ''[[Carrie (1976 film)|Carrie]]''
|-
| {{sort|Ullmann|[[Liv Ullmann]]}}
| {{sort|Isaksson|Jenny Isaksson}}
| ''[[Face to Face (1976 film)|Face to Face]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1977 in film|1977]]<br><small>[[50th Academy Awards|(50th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Keaton|[[Diane Keaton]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Hall|Annie Hall}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Annie Hall]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars50">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1978|title=The 50th Academy Awards (1978) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402004056/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1978|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Bancroft|[[Anne Bancroft]]}}
| {{sort|Jacklin|[[Nora Kaye|Emma Jacklin]]}}
| {{sort|Turning|''[[The Turning Point (1977 film)|The Turning Point]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Fonda|[[Jane Fonda]]}}
| {{sort|Hellman|[[Lillian Hellman]]}}
| ''[[Julia (1977 film)|Julia]]''
|-
| {{sort|MacLaine|[[Shirley MacLaine]]}}
| {{sort|Rodgers|[[Isabel Mirrow Brown|Deedee Rodgers]]}}
| {{sort|Turning|''[[The Turning Point (1977 film)|The Turning Point]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Mason|[[Marsha Mason]]}}
| {{sort|McFadden|Paula McFadden}}
| {{sort|Goodbye|''[[The Goodbye Girl]]''}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1978 in film|1978]]<br><small>[[51st Academy Awards|(51st)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Fonda|[[Jane Fonda]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Hyde|Sally Hyde}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Coming Home (1978 film)|Coming Home]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars51">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1979|title=The 51st Academy Awards (1979) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402004111/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1979|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Bergman|[[Ingrid Bergman]]}}
| {{sort|Andergast|Charlotte Andergast}}
| ''[[Autumn Sonata]]''
|-
| {{sort|Burstyn|[[Ellen Burstyn]]}}
| Doris
| ''[[Same Time, Next Year (film)|Same Time, Next Year]]''
|-
| {{sort|Clayburgh|[[Jill Clayburgh]]}}
| {{sort|Benton|Erica Benton}}
| {{sort|Unmarried|''[[An Unmarried Woman]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Page|[[Geraldine Page]]}}
| Eve
| ''[[Interiors]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1979 in film|1979]]<br><small>[[52nd Academy Awards|(52nd)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Field|[[Sally Field]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Webster|[[Crystal Lee Sutton|Norma Rae Webster]]}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Norma Rae]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars52">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1980|title=The 52nd Academy Awards (1980) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402002939/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1980|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Clayburgh|[[Jill Clayburgh]]}}
| {{sort|Holmberg|Marilyn Holmberg}}
| ''[[Starting Over (1979 film)|Starting Over]]''
|-
| {{sort|Fonda|[[Jane Fonda]]}}
| {{sort|Wells|Kimberly Wells}}
| {{sort|China|''[[The China Syndrome]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Mason|[[Marsha Mason]]}}
| {{sort|MacLaine|Jennie MacLaine}}
| ''[[Chapter Two (film)|Chapter Two]]''
|-
| {{sort|Midler|[[Bette Midler]]}}
| {{sort|Foster|Mary Rose Foster}}
| {{sort|Rose|''[[The Rose (film)|The Rose]]''}}
|}

=== 1980s ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! scope="col" style="width:8%;" | Year
! scope="col" style="width:25%;"| Actress
! scope="col" style="width:30%;"| Role(s)
! scope="col" style="width:70%;"| Film
! scope="col" style="width:2%;" class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1980 in film|1980]]<br><small>[[53rd Academy Awards|(53rd)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Spacek|[[Sissy Spacek]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Lynn|[[Loretta Lynn]]}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Coal Miner's Daughter (film)|Coal Miner's Daughter]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars53">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1981|title=The 53rd Academy Awards (1981) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402004127/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1981|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Burstyn|[[Ellen Burstyn]]}}
| {{sort|McCauley|Edna Mae Harper-McCauley}}
| ''[[Resurrection (1980 film)|Resurrection]]''
|-
| {{sort|Hawn|[[Goldie Hawn]]}}
| {{sort|Benjamin|Judy Benjamin}}
| ''[[Private Benjamin (1980 film)|Private Benjamin]]''
|-
| {{sort|Moore|[[Mary Tyler Moore]]}}
| {{sort|Jarrett|Beth Jarrett}}
| ''[[Ordinary People]]''
|-
| {{sort|Rowlands|[[Gena Rowlands]]}}
| {{sort|Swenson|Gloria Swenson}}
| ''[[Gloria (1980 film)|Gloria]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1981 in film|1981]]<br><small>[[54th Academy Awards|(54th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Hepburn|[[Katharine Hepburn]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Thayer|Ethel Thayer}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[On Golden Pond (1981 film)|On Golden Pond]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars54">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1982|title=The 54th Academy Awards (1982) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402004138/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1982|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Keaton|[[Diane Keaton]]}}
| {{sort|Bryant|[[Louise Bryant]]}}
| ''[[Reds (film)|Reds]]''
|-
| {{sort|Mason|[[Marsha Mason]]}}
| {{sort|Hines|Georgia Hines}}
| ''[[Only When I Laugh (film)|Only When I Laugh]]''
|-
| {{sort|Sarandon|[[Susan Sarandon]]}}
| {{sort|Matthews|Sally Matthews}}
| ''[[Atlantic City (1980 film)|Atlantic City]]''
|-
| {{sort|Streep|[[Meryl Streep]]}}
| {{sort|Woodruff|Sara Woodruff}} and Anna
| {{sort|French|''[[The French Lieutenant's Woman (film)|The French Lieutenant's Woman]]''}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1982 in film|1982]]<br><small>[[55th Academy Awards|(55th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Streep|[[Meryl Streep]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Zawistowski|Sophie Zawistowski}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Sophie's Choice (film)|Sophie's Choice]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars55">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1983 |title=The 55th Academy Awards (1983) Nominees and Winners |access-date=August 27, 2013 |publisher=AMPAS |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120905/http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/legacy/ceremony/55th-winners.html |archive-date=September 5, 2012}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Andrews|[[Julie Andrews]]}}
| {{sort|Grant|Victor Grazinski / Victoria Grant}}
| ''[[Victor/Victoria]]''
|-
| {{sort|Lange|[[Jessica Lange]]}}
| {{sort|Farmer|[[Frances Farmer]]}}
| ''[[Frances (film)|Frances]]''
|-
| {{sort|Spacek|[[Sissy Spacek]]}}
| {{sort|Horman|[[Joyce Horman|Beth Horman]]}}
| ''[[Missing (1982 film)|Missing]]''
|-
| {{sort|Winger|[[Debra Winger]]}}
| {{sort|Pokrifki|Paula Pokrifki}}
| {{sort|Officer|''[[An Officer and a Gentleman]]''}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1983 in film|1983]]<br><small>[[56th Academy Awards|(56th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|MacLaine|[[Shirley MacLaine]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Greenway|Aurora Greenway}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Terms of Endearment]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars56">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1984|title=The 56th Academy Awards (1984) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402004202/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1984|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Alexander|[[Jane Alexander]]}}
| {{sort|Wetherly|Carol Wetherly}}
| ''[[Testament (1983 film)|Testament]]''
|-
| {{sort|Streep|[[Meryl Streep]]}}
| {{sort|Silkwood|[[Karen Silkwood]]}}
| ''[[Silkwood]]''
|-
| {{sort|Walters|[[Julie Walters]]}}
| {{sort|Rita|Susan White / Rita}}
| ''[[Educating Rita (film)|Educating Rita]]''
|-
| {{sort|Winger|[[Debra Winger]]}}
| {{sort|Horton|Emma Greenway Horton}}
| ''[[Terms of Endearment]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1984 in film|1984]]<br><small>[[57th Academy Awards|(57th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Field|[[Sally Field]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Spalding|Edna Spalding}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Places in the Heart]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars57">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1985|title=The 57th Academy Awards (1985) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402004214/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1985|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Davis|[[Judy Davis]]}}
| {{sort|Quested|Adela Quested}}
| {{sort|Passage|''[[A Passage to India (film)|A Passage to India]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Lange|[[Jessica Lange]]}}
| {{sort|Ivy|Jewell Ivy}}
| ''[[Country (film)|Country]]''
|-
| {{sort|Redgrave|[[Vanessa Redgrave]]}}
| {{sort|Chancellor|Olive Chancellor}}
| {{sort|Bostonians|''[[The Bostonians (film)|The Bostonians]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Spacek|[[Sissy Spacek]]}}
| {{sort|Garvey|Mae Garvey}}
| {{sort|River|''[[The River (1984 film)|The River]]''}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1985 in film|1985]]<br><small>[[58th Academy Awards|(58th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Page|[[Geraldine Page]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Watts|Carrie Watts}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Trip|''[[The Trip to Bountiful]]''}}'''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars58">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1986|title=The 58th Academy Awards (1986) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402004226/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1986|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Bancroft|[[Anne Bancroft]]}}
| {{sort|Ruth|Miriam Ruth / Anna Maria Burchetti}}
| ''[[Agnes of God (film)|Agnes of God]]''
|-
| {{sort|Goldberg|[[Whoopi Goldberg]]}}
| {{sort|Johnson|[[The Color Purple#Celie|Celie Harris-Johnson]]}}
| {{sort|Color|''[[The Color Purple (1985 film)|The Color Purple]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Lange|[[Jessica Lange]]}}
| {{sort|Cline|[[Patsy Cline]]}}
| ''[[Sweet Dreams (1985 film)|Sweet Dreams]]''
|-
| {{sort|Streep|[[Meryl Streep]]}}
| {{sort|Blixen|[[Karen Blixen]]}}
| ''[[Out of Africa (film)|Out of Africa]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1986 in film|1986]]<br><small>[[59th Academy Awards|(59th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Matlin|[[Marlee Matlin]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Norman|Sarah Norman}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Children of a Lesser God (film)|Children of a Lesser God]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars59">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1987|title=The 59th Academy Awards (1987) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402004243/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1987|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Fonda|[[Jane Fonda]]}}
| {{sort|Sternbergen|Alex Sternbergen / Viveca Van Loren}}
| {{sort|Morning|''[[The Morning After (1986 film)|The Morning After]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Spacek|[[Sissy Spacek]]}}
| {{sort|Botrelle| Babe Botrelle / Rebecca MaGrath}}
| ''[[Crimes of the Heart (film)|Crimes of the Heart]]''
|-
| {{sort|Turner|[[Kathleen Turner]]}}
| {{sort|Bodell|Peggy Sue Kelcher-Bodell}}
| ''[[Peggy Sue Got Married]]''
|-
| {{sort|Weaver|[[Sigourney Weaver]]}}
| {{sort|Ripley|[[Ellen Ripley]]}}
| ''[[Aliens (film)|Aliens]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1987 in film|1987]]<br><small>[[60th Academy Awards|(60th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''[[Cher]] {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Castorini|Loretta Castorini}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Moonstruck]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars60">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1988|title=The 60th Academy Awards (1988) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402004300/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1988|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Close|[[Glenn Close]]}}
| {{sort|Forrest|Alex Forrest}}
| ''[[Fatal Attraction]]''
|-
| {{sort|Hunter|[[Holly Hunter]]}}
| {{sort|Craig|[[Susan Zirinsky#Broadcast News film|Jane Craig]]}}
| ''[[Broadcast News (film)|Broadcast News]]''
|-
| {{sort|Kirkland|[[Sally Kirkland]]}}
| [[Elżbieta Czyżewska|Anna]]
| ''[[Anna (1987 film)|Anna]]''
|-
| {{sort|Streep|[[Meryl Streep]]}}
| {{sort|Archer|Helen Archer}}
| ''[[Ironweed (film)|Ironweed]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1988 in film|1988]]<br><small>[[61st Academy Awards|(61st)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Foster|[[Jodie Foster]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Tobias|[[Cheryl Araujo|Sarah Tobias]]}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Accused|''[[The Accused (1988 film)|The Accused]]''}}'''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars61">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1989|title=The 61st Academy Awards (1989) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706095646/http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/legacy/ceremony/61st-winners.html|archive-date=July 6, 2011}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Close|[[Glenn Close]]}}
| {{sort|de Merteuil|Marquise Isabelle de Merteuil}}
| ''[[Dangerous Liaisons]]''
|-
| {{sort|Griffith|[[Melanie Griffith]]}}
| {{sort|McGill|Tess McGill}}
| ''[[Working Girl]]''
|-
| {{sort|Streep|[[Meryl Streep]]}}
| {{sort|Chamberlain|[[Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton|Lindy Chamberlain]]}}
| {{sort|Cry|''[[Evil Angels (film)|A Cry in the Dark]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Weaver|[[Sigourney Weaver]]}}
| {{sort|Fossey|[[Dian Fossey]]}}
| ''[[Gorillas in the Mist]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1989 in film|1989]]<br><small>[[62nd Academy Awards|(62nd)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Tandy|[[Jessica Tandy]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Werthan|Daisy Werthan}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Driving Miss Daisy]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars62">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1990|title=The 62nd Academy Awards (1990) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402002952/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1990|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Adjani|[[Isabelle Adjani]]}}
| {{sort|Claudel|[[Camille Claudel]]}}
| ''[[Camille Claudel (film)|Camille Claudel]]''
|-
| {{sort|Collins|[[Pauline Collins]]}}
| {{sort|Valentine|Shirley Valentine-Bradshaw}}
| ''[[Shirley Valentine (film)|Shirley Valentine]]''
|-
| {{sort|Lange|[[Jessica Lange]]}}
| {{sort|Talbot|Ann Talbot}}
| ''[[Music Box (film)|Music Box]]''
|-
| {{sort|Pfeiffer|[[Michelle Pfeiffer]]}}
| {{sort|Diamond|[[Susie Diamond]]}}
| {{sort|Fabulous|''[[The Fabulous Baker Boys]]''}}
|}

=== 1990s ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! scope="col" style="width:8%;" | Year
! scope="col" style="width:25%;"| Actress
! scope="col" style="width:30%;"| Role(s)
! scope="col" style="width:70%;"| Film
! scope="col" style="width:2%;" class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1990 in film|1990]]<br><small>[[63rd Academy Awards|(63rd)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Bates|[[Kathy Bates]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Wilkes|[[Annie Wilkes]]}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Misery (film)|Misery]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars63">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1991|title=The 63rd Academy Awards (1991) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402004341/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1991|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Huston|[[Anjelica Huston]]}}
| {{sort|Dillon|Lilly Dillon}}
| {{sort|Grifters|''[[The Grifters (film)|The Grifters]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Roberts|[[Julia Roberts]]}}
| {{sort|Ward|Vivian Ward}}
| ''[[Pretty Woman]]''
|-
| {{sort|Streep|[[Meryl Streep]]}}
| {{sort|Vale|[[Carrie Fisher|Suzanne Vale]]}}
| ''[[Postcards from the Edge (film)|Postcards from the Edge]]''
|-
| {{sort|Woodward|[[Joanne Woodward]]}}
| {{sort|Bridge|[[Mrs. Bridge#Synopsis|India Bridge]]}}
| ''[[Mr. & Mrs. Bridge]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1991 in film|1991]]<br><small>[[64th Academy Awards|(64th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Foster|[[Jodie Foster]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Starling|[[Clarice Starling]]}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Silence|''[[The Silence of the Lambs (film)|The Silence of the Lambs]]''}}'''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars64">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1992|title=The 64th Academy Awards (1992) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402004405/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1992|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Davis|[[Geena Davis]]}}
| {{sort|Dickinson|Thelma Dickinson}}
| ''[[Thelma & Louise]]''
|-
| {{sort|Dern|[[Laura Dern]]}}
| Rose
| ''[[Rambling Rose (film)|Rambling Rose]]''
|-
| {{sort|Midler|[[Bette Midler]]}}
| {{sort|Leonard|Dixie Leonard}}
| ''[[For the Boys]]''
|-
| {{sort|Sarandon|[[Susan Sarandon]]}}
| {{sort|Sawyer|Louise Sawyer}}
| ''[[Thelma & Louise]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1992 in film|1992]]<br><small>[[65th Academy Awards|(65th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Thompson|[[Emma Thompson]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Schlegel|Margaret Schlegel}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Howards End (film)|Howards End]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars65">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1993|title=The 65th Academy Awards (1993) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402004418/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1993|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Deneuve|[[Catherine Deneuve]]}}
| {{sort|Devries|Éliane Devries}}
| {{lang|fr|[[Indochine (film)|Indochine]]}}
|-
| {{sort|McDonnell|[[Mary McDonnell]]}}
| {{sort|Culhane|May-Alice Culhane}}
| ''[[Passion Fish]]''
|-
| {{sort|Pfeiffer|[[Michelle Pfeiffer]]}}
| {{sort|Hallett|Louise Irene "Lurene" Hallett}}
| ''[[Love Field (film)|Love Field]]''
|-
| {{sort|Sarandon|[[Susan Sarandon]]}}
| {{sort|Odone|[[Michaela Odone|Michaela Murphy Odone]]}}
| ''[[Lorenzo's Oil]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1993 in film|1993]]<br><small>[[66th Academy Awards|(66th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Hunter|[[Holly Hunter]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|McGrath|Ada McGrath}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Piano|''[[The Piano]]''}}'''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars66">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1994|title=The 66th Academy Awards (1994) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402004432/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1994|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Bassett|[[Angela Bassett]]}}
| {{sort|Turner|[[Tina Turner|Anna Mae Bullock / Tina Turner]]}}
| ''[[What's Love Got to Do with It (1993 film)|What's Love Got to Do with It]]''
|-
| {{sort|Channing|[[Stockard Channing]]}}
| {{sort|Kittredge|[[Inger McCabe Elliott|Louisa "Ouisa" Kittredge]]}}
| ''[[Six Degrees of Separation (film)|Six Degrees of Separation]]''
|-
| {{sort|Thompson|[[Emma Thompson]]}}
| {{sort|Kenton|Sarah "Sally" Kenton}}
| {{sort|Remains|''[[The Remains of the Day (film)|The Remains of the Day]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Winger|[[Debra Winger]]}}
| {{sort|Davidman|[[Joy Davidman]]}}
| ''[[Shadowlands (1993 film)|Shadowlands]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1994 in film|1994]]<br><small>[[67th Academy Awards|(67th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Lange|[[Jessica Lange]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Marshall|Carly Marshall}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Blue Sky (1994 film)|Blue Sky]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars67">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1995|title=The 67th Academy Awards (1995) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402004445/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1995|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Foster|[[Jodie Foster]]}}
| {{sort|Kellty|[[Poto and Cabengo|Nell Kellty]]}}
| ''[[Nell (film)|Nell]]''
|-
| {{sort|Richardson|[[Miranda Richardson]]}}
| {{sort|Haigh|[[Vivienne Haigh-Wood]]}}
| ''[[Tom & Viv]]''
|-
| {{sort|Ryder|[[Winona Ryder]]}}
| {{sort|March|[[Jo March|Josephine "Jo" March]]}}
| ''[[Little Women (1994 film)|Little Women]]''
|-
| {{sort|Sarandon|[[Susan Sarandon]]}}
| {{sort|Love|Regina "Reggie" Love}}
| {{sort|Client|''[[The Client (1994 film)|The Client]]''}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1995 in film|1995]]<br><small>[[68th Academy Awards|(68th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Sarandon|[[Susan Sarandon]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Prejean|[[Sister Helen Prejean|Helen Prejean]]}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Dead Man Walking (film)|Dead Man Walking]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars68">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1996|title=The 68th Academy Awards (1996) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402004458/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1996|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Shue|[[Elisabeth Shue]]}}
| Sera
| ''[[Leaving Las Vegas]]''
|-
| {{sort|Stone|[[Sharon Stone]]}}
| {{sort|McKenna|[[Geri McGee|Ginger McKenna]]}}
| ''[[Casino (1995 film)|Casino]]''
|-
| {{sort|Streep|[[Meryl Streep]]}}
| {{sort|Johnson|Francesca Johnson}}
| {{sort|Bridges|''[[The Bridges of Madison County (film)|The Bridges of Madison County]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Thompson|[[Emma Thompson]]}}
| {{sort|Dashwood|[[Elinor Dashwood]]}}
| ''[[Sense and Sensibility (film)|Sense and Sensibility]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1996 in film|1996]]<br><small>[[69th Academy Awards|(69th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|McDormand|[[Frances McDormand]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Gunderson|Marge Gunderson}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Fargo (1996 film)|Fargo]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars69">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1997|title=The 69th Academy Awards (1997) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402004512/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1997|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Blethyn|[[Brenda Blethyn]]}}
| {{sort|Purley|Cynthia Rose Purley}}
| ''[[Secrets & Lies (film)|Secrets & Lies]]''
|-
| {{sort|Keaton|[[Diane Keaton]]}}
| {{sort|Wakefield|Bessie Wakefield}}
| ''[[Marvin's Room (film)|Marvin's Room]]''
|-
| {{sort|Scott Thomas|[[Kristin Scott Thomas]]}}
| {{sort|Clifton|Katharine Clifton}}
| {{sort|English|''[[The English Patient (film)|The English Patient]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Watson|[[Emily Watson]]}}
| {{sort|McNeill|Bess McNeill}}
| ''[[Breaking the Waves]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1997 in film|1997]]<br><small>[[70th Academy Awards|(70th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Hunt|[[Helen Hunt]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Connelly|Carol Connelly}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[As Good as It Gets]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars70">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1998|title=The 70th Academy Awards (1998) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402004523/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1998|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Bonham Carter|[[Helena Bonham Carter]]}}
| {{sort|Croy|Kate Croy}}
| {{sort|Wings|''[[The Wings of the Dove (1997 film)|The Wings of the Dove]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Christie|[[Julie Christie]]}}
| {{sort|Hart|Phyllis Hart}}
| ''[[Afterglow (1997 film)|Afterglow]]''
|-
| {{sort|Dench|[[Judi Dench]]}}
| {{sort|Victoria|[[Queen Victoria]]}}
| ''[[Mrs Brown]]''
|-
| {{sort|Winslet|[[Kate Winslet]]}}
| {{sort|DeWitt|Rose DeWitt Bukater}}
| ''[[Titanic (1997 film)|Titanic]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1998 in film|1998]]<br><small>[[71st Academy Awards|(71st)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Paltrow|[[Gwyneth Paltrow]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|de Lesseps|Viola de Lesseps}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Shakespeare in Love]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars71">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1999|title=The 71st Academy Awards (1999) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402004536/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1999|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Blanchett|[[Cate Blanchett]]}}
| {{sort|Elizabeth|[[Queen Elizabeth I]]}}
| ''[[Elizabeth (film)|Elizabeth]]''
|-
| {{sort|Montenegro|[[Fernanda Montenegro]]}}
| {{sort|Teixeira|Isadora "Dora" Teixeira}}
| ''[[Central Station (film)|Central Station]]''
|-
| {{sort|Streep|[[Meryl Streep]]}}
| {{sort|Gulden|[[Anna Quindlen#One True Thing|Kate Gulden]]}}
| ''[[One True Thing]]''
|-
| {{sort|Watson|[[Emily Watson]]}}
| {{sort|du Pré|[[Jacqueline du Pré]]}}
| ''[[Hilary and Jackie]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[1999 in film|1999]]<br><small>[[72nd Academy Awards|(72nd)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Swank|[[Hilary Swank]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Teena|[[Brandon Teena]]}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Boys Don't Cry (1999 film)|Boys Don't Cry]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars72">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2000|title=The 72nd Academy Awards (2000) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402003006/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2000|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Bening|[[Annette Bening]]}}
| {{sort|Burnham|Carolyn Burnham}}
| ''[[American Beauty (1999 film)|American Beauty]]''
|-
| {{sort|McTeer|[[Janet McTeer]]}}
| {{sort|Walker|Mary Jo Walker}}
| ''[[Tumbleweeds (1999 film)|Tumbleweeds]]''
|-
| {{sort|Moore|[[Julianne Moore]]}}
| {{sort|Miles|[[Catherine Walston|Sarah Miles]]}}
| {{sort|End|''[[The End of the Affair (1999 film)|The End of the Affair]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Streep|[[Meryl Streep]]}}
| {{sort|Guaspari|[[Roberta Guaspari]]}}
| ''[[Music of the Heart]]''
|}

===2000s===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! scope="col" style="width:8%;" | Year
! scope="col" style="width:25%;"| Actress
! scope="col" style="width:30%;"| Role(s)
! scope="col" style="width:70%;"| Film
! scope="col" style="width:2%;" class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[2000 in film|2000]]<br><small>[[73rd Academy Awards|(73rd)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Roberts|[[Julia Roberts]] {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Brockovich|[[Erin Brockovich]]}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Erin Brockovich (film)|Erin Brockovich]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars73">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2001|title=The 73rd Academy Awards (2001) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402004546/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2001|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Allen|[[Joan Allen]]}}
| {{sort|Hanson|Laine Hanson}}
| {{sort|Contender|''[[The Contender (2000 film)|The Contender]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Binoche|[[Juliette Binoche]]}}
| {{sort|Rocher|Vianne Rocher}}
| ''[[Chocolat (2000 film)|Chocolat]]''
|-
| {{sort|Burstyn|[[Ellen Burstyn]]}}
| {{sort|Goldfarb|Sara Goldfarb}}
| ''[[Requiem for a Dream]]''
|-
| {{sort|Linney|[[Laura Linney]]}}
| {{sort|Prescott|Samantha "Sammy" Prescott}}
| ''[[You Can Count on Me]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[2001 in film|2001]]<br><small>[[74th Academy Awards|(74th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Berry|[[Halle Berry]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Musgrove|Leticia Musgrove}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Monster's Ball]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars74">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2002|title=The 74th Academy Awards (2002) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402004559/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2002|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Dench|[[Judi Dench]]}}
| {{sort|Murdoch|[[Iris Murdoch]]}}
| ''[[Iris (2001 film)|Iris]]''
|-
| {{sort|Kidman|[[Nicole Kidman]]}}
| Satine
| ''[[Moulin Rouge!]]''
|-
| {{sort|Spacek|[[Sissy Spacek]]}}
| {{sort|Fowler|Ruth Fowler}}
| ''[[In the Bedroom]]''
|-
| {{sort|Zellweger|[[Renée Zellweger]]}}
| {{sort|Jones|[[Bridget Jones]]}}
| ''[[Bridget Jones's Diary]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[2002 in film|2002]]<br><small>[[75th Academy Awards|(75th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Kidman|[[Nicole Kidman]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Woolf|[[Virginia Woolf]]}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Hours|''[[The Hours (film)|The Hours]]''}}'''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars75">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2003|title=The 75th Academy Awards (2003) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402004617/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2003|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Hayek|[[Salma Hayek]]}}
| {{sort|Kahlo|[[Frida Kahlo]]}}
| ''[[Frida (2002 film)|Frida]]''
|-
| {{sort|Lane|[[Diane Lane]]}}
| {{sort|Sumner|Constance "Connie" Sumner}}
| ''[[Unfaithful (2002 film)|Unfaithful]]''
|-
| {{sort|Moore|[[Julianne Moore]]}}
| {{sort|Whitaker|Cathy Whitaker}}
| ''[[Far from Heaven]]''
|-
| {{sort|Zellweger|[[Renée Zellweger]]}}
| {{sort|Hart|[[Roxie Hart]]}}
| ''[[Chicago (2002 film)|Chicago]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[2003 in film|2003]]<br><small>[[76th Academy Awards|(76th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Theron|[[Charlize Theron]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Wuornos|[[Aileen Wuornos]]}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Monster (2003 film)|Monster]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars76">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2004|title=The 76th Academy Awards (2004) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402004632/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2004|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Castle-Hughes|[[Keisha Castle-Hughes]]}}
| {{sort|Apirana|Paikea Apirana}}
| ''[[Whale Rider]]''
|-
| {{sort|Keaton|[[Diane Keaton]]}}
| {{sort|Barry|Erica Jane Barry}}
| ''[[Something's Gotta Give (film)|Something's Gotta Give]]''
|-
| {{sort|Morton|[[Samantha Morton]]}}
| {{sort|Sullivan|Sarah Sullivan}}
| ''[[In America (film)|In America]]''
|-
| {{sort|Watts|[[Naomi Watts]]}}
| {{sort|Peck|Cristina Williams-Peck}}
| ''[[21 Grams]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[2004 in film|2004]]<br><small>[[77th Academy Awards|(77th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Swank|[[Hilary Swank]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Fitzgerald|Maggie Fitzgerald}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Million Dollar Baby]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars77">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2005|title=The 77th Academy Awards (2005) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170601231314/http://oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2005|archive-date=June 1, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Bening|[[Annette Bening]]}}
| {{sort|Lambert|Julia Lambert}}
| ''[[Being Julia]]''
|-
| {{sort|Sandino Moreno|[[Catalina Sandino Moreno]]}}
| {{sort|Álvarez|María Álvarez}}
| ''[[Maria Full of Grace]]''
|-
| {{sort|Staunton|[[Imelda Staunton]]}}
| {{sort|Drake|Vera Rose Drake}}
| ''[[Vera Drake]]''
|-
| {{sort|Winslet|[[Kate Winslet]]}}
| {{sort|Kruczynski|Clementine Kruczynski}}
| ''[[Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[2005 in film|2005]]<br><small>[[78th Academy Awards|(78th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Witherspoon|[[Reese Witherspoon]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Carter Cash|[[June Carter Cash]]}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Walk the Line]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars78">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2006|title=The 78th Academy Awards (2006) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109220946/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2006|archive-date=November 9, 2014}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Dench|[[Judi Dench]]}}
| {{sort|Henderson|[[Laura Henderson|Laura Forster-Henderson]]}}
| ''[[Mrs Henderson Presents]]''
|-
| {{sort|Huffman|[[Felicity Huffman]]}}
| {{sort|Osbourne|Sabrina "Bree" Osbourne}}
| ''[[Transamerica (film)|Transamerica]]''
|-
| {{sort|Knightley|[[Keira Knightley]]}}
| {{sort|Bennet|[[Elizabeth Bennet]]}}
| ''[[Pride & Prejudice (2005 film)|Pride & Prejudice]]''
|-
| {{sort|Theron|[[Charlize Theron]]}}
| {{sort|Aimes|[[Jenson v. Eveleth Taconite Co.|Josey Aimes]]}}
| ''[[North Country (film)|North Country]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[2006 in film|2006]]<br><small>[[79th Academy Awards|(79th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Mirren|[[Helen Mirren]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Elizabeth|[[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]]}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Queen|''[[The Queen (2006 film)|The Queen]]''}}'''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars79">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2007|title=The 79th Academy Awards (2007) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402004711/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2007|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Cruz|[[Penélope Cruz]]}}
| Raimunda
| ''[[Volver]]''
|-
| {{sort|Dench|[[Judi Dench]]}}
| {{sort|Covett|Barbara Covett}}
| ''[[Notes on a Scandal (film)|Notes on a Scandal]]''
|-
| {{sort|Streep|[[Meryl Streep]]}}
| {{sort|Priestly|[[Miranda Priestly]]}}
| {{sort|Devil|''[[The Devil Wears Prada (film)|The Devil Wears Prada]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Winslet|[[Kate Winslet]]}}
| {{sort|Pierce|Sarah Pierce}}
| ''[[Little Children (film)|Little Children]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[2007 in film|2007]]<br><small>[[80th Academy Awards|(80th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Cotillard|[[Marion Cotillard]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Piaf|[[Édith Piaf]]}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[La Vie en Rose (film)|La Vie en Rose]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars80">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2008|title=The 80th Academy Awards (2008) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402004725/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2008|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Blanchett|[[Cate Blanchett]]}}
| {{sort|Elizabeth|[[Queen Elizabeth I]]}}
| ''[[Elizabeth: The Golden Age]]''
|-
| {{sort|Christie|[[Julie Christie]]}}
| {{sort|Anderson|Fiona Anderson}}
| ''[[Away from Her]]''
|-
| {{sort|Linney|[[Laura Linney]]}}
| {{sort|Savage|Wendy Savage}}
| {{sort|Savages|''[[The Savages (film)|The Savages]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Page|[[Elliot Page]]}}{{ref label|Donnelley|D}}
| {{sort|MacGuff|Juno MacGuff}}
| ''[[Juno (film)|Juno]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[2008 in film|2008]]<br><small>[[81st Academy Awards|(81st)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Winslet|[[Kate Winslet]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Schmitz|Hanna Schmitz}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Reader|''[[The Reader (2008 film)|The Reader]]''}}'''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars81">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2009|title=The 81st Academy Awards (2009) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110111206/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2009|archive-date=November 10, 2014}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Hathaway|[[Anne Hathaway]]}}
| {{sort|Buchman|Kym Buchman}}
| ''[[Rachel Getting Married]]''
|-
| {{sort|Jolie|[[Angelina Jolie]]}}
| {{sort|Collins|[[Christine Collins]]}}
| ''[[Changeling (film)|Changeling]]''
|-
| {{sort|Leo|[[Melissa Leo]]}}
| {{sort|Eddy|Ray Eddy}}
| ''[[Frozen River]]''
|-
| {{sort|Streep|[[Meryl Streep]]}}
| {{sort|Beauvier|Sister Aloysius Beauvier}}
| ''[[Doubt (2008 film)|Doubt]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[2009 in film|2009]]<br><small>[[82nd Academy Awards|(82nd)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Bullock|[[Sandra Bullock]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Tuohy|[[Leigh Anne Tuohy]]}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Blind|''[[The Blind Side (film)|The Blind Side]]''}}'''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars82">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2010|title=The 82nd Academy Awards (2010) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929191037/http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/legacy/ceremony/82nd-winners.html|archive-date=September 29, 2012}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Mirren|[[Helen Mirren]]}}
| {{sort|Tolstaya|[[Sophia Tolstaya|Countess Sophia Tolstaya]]}}
| {{sort|Last|''[[The Last Station]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Mulligan|[[Carey Mulligan]]}}
| {{sort|Mellor|[[Lynn Barber|Jenny Mellor]]}}
| {{sort|Education|''[[An Education]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Sidibe|[[Gabourey Sidibe]]}}
| {{sort|Precious|Claireece "Precious" Jones}}
| ''[[Precious (film)|Precious]]''
|-
| {{sort|Streep|[[Meryl Streep]]}}
| {{sort|Child|[[Julia Child]]}}
| ''[[Julie & Julia]]''
|}

=== 2010s ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! scope="col" style="width:8%;" | Year
! scope="col" style="width:25%;"| Actress
! scope="col" style="width:30%;"| Role(s)
! scope="col" style="width:70%;"| Film
! scope="col" style="width:2%;" class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[2010 in film|2010]]<br><small>[[83rd Academy Awards|(83rd)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Portman|[[Natalie Portman]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Sayers|Nina Sayers}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Black Swan (film)|Black Swan]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars83">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2011|title=The 83rd Academy Awards (2011) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605132752/http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/83/nominees.html|archive-date=June 5, 2011}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Bening|[[Annette Bening]]}}
| {{sort|Allgood|Dr. Nicole "Nic" Allgood}}
| {{sort|Kids|''[[The Kids Are All Right (film)|The Kids Are All Right]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Kidman|[[Nicole Kidman]]}}
| {{sort|Corbett|Becca Corbett}}
| ''[[Rabbit Hole (2010 film)|Rabbit Hole]]''
|-
| {{sort|Lawrence|[[Jennifer Lawrence]]}}
| {{sort|Dolly|Ree Dolly}}
| ''[[Winter's Bone]]''
|-
| {{sort|Williams|[[Michelle Williams (actress)|Michelle Williams]]}}
| {{sort|Heller|Cynthia "Cindy" Heller}}
| ''[[Blue Valentine (film)|Blue Valentine]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[2011 in film|2011]]<br><small>[[84th Academy Awards|(84th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Streep|[[Meryl Streep]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Thatcher|[[Margaret Thatcher]]}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Iron|''[[The Iron Lady (film)|The Iron Lady]]''}}'''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars84">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2012|title=The 84th Academy Awards (2012) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141015232303/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2012|archive-date=October 15, 2014}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Close|[[Glenn Close]]}}
| {{sort|Nobbs|Albert Nobbs}}
| ''[[Albert Nobbs]]''
|-
| {{sort|Davis|[[Viola Davis]]}}
| {{sort|Clark|Aibileen Clark}}
| {{sort|Help|''[[The Help (film)|The Help]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Mara|[[Rooney Mara]]}}
| {{sort|Salander|[[Lisbeth Salander]]}}
| {{sort|Girl|''[[The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011 film)|The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Williams|[[Michelle Williams (actress)|Michelle Williams]]}}
| {{sort|Monroe|[[Marilyn Monroe]]}}
| ''[[My Week with Marilyn]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[2012 in film|2012]]<br><small>[[85th Academy Awards|(85th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Lawrence|[[Jennifer Lawrence]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Maxwell|Tiffany Maxwell}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Silver Linings Playbook]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars85">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2013|title=The 85th Academy Awards (2013) Nominees and Winners|access-date=August 27, 2013|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014074656/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2013|archive-date=October 14, 2014}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Chastain|[[Jessica Chastain]]}}
| {{sort|Harris|Maya Harris}}
| ''[[Zero Dark Thirty]]''
|-
| {{sort|Riva|[[Emmanuelle Riva]]}}
| {{sort|Laurent|Anne Laurent}}
| ''[[Amour (2012 film)|Amour]]''
|-
| {{sort|Wallis|[[Quvenzhané Wallis]]}}
| Hushpuppy
| ''[[Beasts of the Southern Wild]]''
|-
| {{sort|Watts|[[Naomi Watts]]}}
| {{sort|Bennett|[[María Belón|Maria Bennett]]}}
| {{sort|Impossible|''[[The Impossible (2012 film)|The Impossible]]''}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[2013 in film|2013]]<br><small>[[86th Academy Awards|(86th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Blanchett|[[Cate Blanchett]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Francis|Jeanette "Jasmine" Francis}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Blue Jasmine]]'''''
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars86">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2014|title=The 86th Academy Awards (2014) Nominees and Winners|access-date=April 10, 2014|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014193700/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2014|archive-date=October 14, 2014}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Adams|[[Amy Adams]]}}
| {{sort|Prosser|Sydney Prosser / [[Evelyn Knight|Lady Edith Greensly]]}}
| ''[[American Hustle]]''
|-
| {{sort|Bullock|[[Sandra Bullock]]}}
| {{sort|Stone|Ryan Stone}}
| ''[[Gravity (2013 film)|Gravity]]''
|-
| {{sort|Dench|[[Judi Dench]]}}
| {{sort|Lee|[[Philomena Lee]]}}
| ''[[Philomena (film)|Philomena]]''
|-
| {{sort|Streep|[[Meryl Streep]]}}
| {{sort|Weston|Violet Weston}}
| ''[[August: Osage County (film)|August: Osage County]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[2014 in film|2014]]<br><small>[[87th Academy Awards|(87th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Moore|[[Julianne Moore]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Howland|Alice Howland}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Still Alice]]'''''
| rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars87">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2015|title=The 87th Academy Awards (2015) Nominees and Winners|access-date=January 15, 2015|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150310051043/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2015|archive-date=March 10, 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Cotillard|[[Marion Cotillard]]}}
| {{sort|Bya|Sandra Bya}}
| ''[[Two Days, One Night]]''
|-
| {{sort|Jones|[[Felicity Jones]]}}
| {{sort|Hawking|[[Jane Hawking|Jane Wilde Hawking]]}}
| {{sort|Theory|''[[The Theory of Everything (2014 film)|The Theory of Everything]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Pike|[[Rosamund Pike]]}}
| {{sort|Dunne|[[Amy Dunne|Amy Elliott-Dunne]]}}
| ''[[Gone Girl (film)|Gone Girl]]''
|-
| {{sort|Witherspoon|[[Reese Witherspoon]]}}
| {{sort|Strayed|[[Cheryl Strayed]]}}
| ''[[Wild (2014 film)|Wild]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[2015 in film|2015]]<br><small>[[88th Academy Awards|(88th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Larson|[[Brie Larson]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Newsome|Joy "Ma" Newsome}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Room (2015 film)|Room]]'''''
| rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars88">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2016|title=The 88th Academy Awards (2016) Nominees and Winners|access-date=January 14, 2016|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125161918/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2016|archive-date=January 25, 2016}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Blanchett|[[Cate Blanchett]]}}
| {{sort|Aird|Carol Aird}}
| ''[[Carol (film)|Carol]]''
|-
| {{sort|Lawrence|[[Jennifer Lawrence]]}}
| {{sort|Mangano|[[Joy Mangano]]}}
| ''[[Joy (2015 film)|Joy]]''
|-
| {{sort|Rampling|[[Charlotte Rampling]]}}
| {{sort|Mercer|Kate Mercer}}
| ''[[45 Years]]''
|-
| {{sort|Ronan|[[Saoirse Ronan]]}}
| {{sort|Lacey|Eilis Lacey}}
| ''[[Brooklyn (film)|Brooklyn]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[2016 in film|2016]]<br><small>[[89th Academy Awards|(89th)]] </small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Stone|[[Emma Stone]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Dolan|Mia Dolan}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[La La Land]]'''''
| rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars89">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2017|title=The 89th Academy Awards (2017) Nominees and Winners|access-date=January 14, 2017|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303235233/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2017|archive-date=March 3, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Huppert|[[Isabelle Huppert]]}}
| {{sort|Leblanc|Michèle Leblanc}}
|''[[Elle (film)|Elle]]''
|-
| {{sort|Negga|[[Ruth Negga]]}}
| {{sort|Loving|[[Mildred and Richard Loving|Mildred Loving]]}}
| ''[[Loving (2016 film)|Loving]]''
|-
| {{sort|Portman|[[Natalie Portman]]}}
| {{sort|Kennedy|[[Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis|Jacqueline "Jackie" Kennedy]]}}
| ''[[Jackie (2016 film)|Jackie]]''
|-
| {{sort|Streep|[[Meryl Streep]]}}
| {{sort|Jenkins|[[Florence Foster Jenkins]]}}
| ''[[Florence Foster Jenkins (film)|Florence Foster Jenkins]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[2017 in film|2017]]<br><small>[[90th Academy Awards|(90th)]] </small>
|style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|McDormand|[[Frances McDormand]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
|style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Hayes|Mildred Hayes}}'''
|style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri]]'''''
| rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars90">{{cite news|url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2018|title=The 90th Academy Awards (2018) Nominees and Winners|access-date=January 14, 2018|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315142317/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2018|archive-date=March 15, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Hawkins|[[Sally Hawkins]]}}
| {{sort|Esposito|Elisa Esposito}}
| {{sort|Shape|''[[The Shape of Water]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Robbie|[[Margot Robbie]]}}
| {{sort|Harding|[[Tonya Harding]]}}
| ''[[I, Tonya]]''
|-
| {{sort|Ronan|[[Saoirse Ronan]]}}
| {{sort|McPherson|Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson}}
| ''[[Lady Bird (film)|Lady Bird]]''
|-
| {{sort|Streep|[[Meryl Streep]]}}
| {{sort|Graham|[[Katharine Graham]]}}
| {{sort|Post|''[[The Post (film)|The Post]]''}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[2018 in film|2018]]<br><small>[[91st Academy Awards|(91st)]] </small>
|style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Colman|[[Olivia Colman]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
|style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Anne|[[Anne, Queen of Great Britain|Queen Anne]]}}'''
|style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Favourite|''[[The Favourite]]''}}'''
| rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars91">{{cite news|url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2019|title=The 91st Academy Awards (2019) Nominees and Winners|access-date=January 14, 2019|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228005357/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2019|archive-date=February 28, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Aparicio|[[Yalitza Aparicio]]}}
| {{sort|Gutiérrez|Cleodegaria "Cleo" Gutiérrez}}
| ''[[Roma (2018 film)|Roma]]''
|-
| {{sort|Close|[[Glenn Close]]}}
| {{sort|Castleman|Joan Castleman}}
| {{sort|Wife|''[[The Wife (2017 film)|The Wife]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Gaga|[[Lady Gaga]]}}
| {{sort|Maine|Ally Maine}}
| {{sort|Star|''[[A Star Is Born (2018 film)|A Star Is Born]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|McCarthy|[[Melissa McCarthy]]}}
| {{sort|Israel|[[Lee Israel| Leonore Carol "Lee" Israel]]}}
| ''[[Can You Ever Forgive Me?]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[2019 in film|2019]]<br><small>[[92nd Academy Awards|(92nd)]] </small>
|style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Zellweger|[[Renée Zellweger]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
|style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Garland|[[Judy Garland]]}}'''
|style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Judy (2019 film)|Judy]]'''''
| rowspan=5|<ref name="Oscars92">{{cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2020|title=The 92nd Academy Awards (2020) Nominees and Winners|access-date=January 31, 2020|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209145743/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2020|archive-date=February 9, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Erivo|[[Cynthia Erivo]]}}
| {{sort|Tubman|[[Harriet Tubman]]}}
| ''[[Harriet (film)|Harriet]]''
|-
| {{sort|Johansson|[[Scarlett Johansson]]}}
| {{sort|Barber|Nicole Barber}}
| ''[[Marriage Story]]''
|-
| {{sort|Ronan|[[Saoirse Ronan]]}}
| {{sort|March|[[Jo March|Josephine "Jo" March]]}}
| ''[[Little Women (2019 film)|Little Women]]''
|-
| {{sort|Theron|[[Charlize Theron]]}}
| {{sort|Kelly|[[Megyn Kelly]]}}
| ''[[Bombshell (2019 film)|Bombshell]]''
|}

=== 2020s ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! scope="col" style="width:8%;" | Year
! scope="col" style="width:25%;" | Actress
! scope="col" style="width:30%;" | Role(s)
! scope="col" style="width:70%;" | Film
! scope="col" style="width:2%;" class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[2020 in film|2020/21]]<br/><small>[[93rd Academy Awards|(93rd)]]</small><ref name="name=2020-21">The eligibility period for the 93rd ceremony was extended through to February 28, 2021, due to the impact of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].</ref>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|McDormand|[[Frances McDormand]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''Fern'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Nomadland]]'''''
| rowspan="5" | <ref name="Oscars93">{{cite news|url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2021|title=The 93rd Academy Awards (2021) Nominees and Winners|access-date=March 14, 2023|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501233256/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2021|archive-date=May 1, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Davis|[[Viola Davis]]}}
| {{sort|Rainey|[[Ma Rainey|Gertrude "Ma" Rainey]]}}
| ''[[Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (film)|Ma Rainey's Black Bottom]]''
|-
| {{sort|Day|[[Andra Day]]}}
| {{sort|Holiday|[[Billie Holiday]]}}
| {{sort|United|''[[The United States vs. Billie Holiday]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Kirby|[[Vanessa Kirby]]}}
| {{sort|Weiss|Martha Weiss}}
| ''[[Pieces of a Woman]]''
|-
| {{sort|Mulligan|[[Carey Mulligan]]}}
| {{sort|Thomas|Cassandra "Cassie" Thomas}}
| ''[[Promising Young Woman]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[2021 in film|2021]]<br><small>[[94th Academy Awards|(94th)]]</small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Chastain|[[Jessica Chastain]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Bakker|[[Tammy Faye Bakker]]}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Eyes|''[[The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2021 film)|The Eyes of Tammy Faye]]''}}'''
| rowspan="5" | <ref name="Oscars94">{{cite news|url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2022|title=The 94th Academy Awards (2022) Nominees and Winners|access-date=March 14, 2023|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401051947/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2022|archive-date=April 1, 2022}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Colman|[[Olivia Colman]]}}
| {{sort|Caruso|Leda Caruso}}
| {{sort|Lost|''[[The Lost Daughter (film)|The Lost Daughter]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Cruz|[[Penélope Cruz]]}}
| {{sort|Martínez|Janis Martínez Moreno}}
| ''[[Parallel Mothers]]''
|-
| {{sort|Kidman|[[Nicole Kidman]]}}
| {{sort|Ball|[[Lucille Ball]]}}
| ''[[Being the Ricardos]]''
|-
| {{sort|Stewart|[[Kristen Stewart]]}}
| {{sort|Diana|[[Diana, Princess of Wales]]}}
| ''[[Spencer (film)|Spencer]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[2022 in film|2022]]<br><small>[[95th Academy Awards|(95th)]]</small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Yeoh|[[Michelle Yeoh]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Wang|[[Evelyn Quan Wang]]}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Everything Everywhere All at Once]]'''''
| rowspan="5" | <ref name="Oscars95">{{cite news|url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2023|title=The 95th Academy Awards (2023) Nominees and Winners|access-date=March 14, 2023|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314145222/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2023|archive-date=March 14, 2023}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Blanchett|[[Cate Blanchett]]}}
| {{sort|Tár|Lydia Tár}}
| ''[[Tár]]''
|-
| {{sort|de Armas|[[Ana de Armas]]}}
| {{sort|Jeane|[[Marilyn Monroe|Norma Jeane / Marilyn Monroe]]}}
| ''[[Blonde (2022 film)|Blonde]]''
|-
| {{sort|Riseborough|[[Andrea Riseborough]]}}
| {{sort|Rowland|Leslie Rowland}}
| ''[[To Leslie]]''
|-
| {{sort|Williams|[[Michelle Williams (actress)|Michelle Williams]]}}
| {{sort|Fabelman|Mitzi Fabelman}}
| {{sort|Fabelmans|''[[The Fabelmans]]''}}
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[2023 in film|2023]]<br><small>[[96th Academy Awards|(96th)]]</small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Stone|[[Emma Stone]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Baxter|Bella Baxter}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Poor Things (film)|Poor Things]]'''''
| rowspan="5" | <ref name="Oscars96">{{cite news|url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2024|title=The 96th Academy Awards (2024) Nominees and Winners|access-date=March 24, 2024|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240322080415/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2024|archive-date=March 22, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Bening|[[Annette Bening]]}}
| {{sort|Nyad|[[Diana Nyad]]}}
|''[[Nyad (film)|Nyad]]''
|-
| {{sort|Gladstone|[[Lily Gladstone]]}}
| {{sort|Burkhart|[[Mollie Kyle|Mollie Burkhart]]}}
|''[[Killers of the Flower Moon (film)|Killers of the Flower Moon]]''
|-
| {{sort|Hüller|[[Sandra Hüller]]}}
| {{sort|Voyter|Sandra Voyter}}
|''[[Anatomy of a Fall]]''
|-
| {{sort|Mulligan|[[Carey Mulligan]]}}
| {{sort|Montealegre|[[Felicia Montealegre Bernstein|Felicia Montealegre]]}}
|''[[Maestro (2023 film)|Maestro]]''
|-
! scope="row" rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| [[2024 in film|2024]]<br><small>[[97th Academy Awards|(97th)]]</small>
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Madison|[[Mikey Madison]]}} {{double dagger|alt=Award winner}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''{{sort|Mikheeva|Anora "Ani" Mikheeva}}'''
| style="background:#FAEB86;"| '''''[[Anora]]'''''
| rowspan="5" | <ref name="Oscars97">{{cite news|url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2025|title=The 97th Academy Awards (2025) Nominees and Winners|access-date=March 2, 2025|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)}}</ref>
|-
| {{sort|Erivo|[[Cynthia Erivo]]}}
| {{sort|Thropp|[[Elphaba|Elphaba Thropp]]}}
| ''[[Wicked (2024 film)|Wicked]]''
|-
| {{sort|Gascón|[[Karla Sofía Gascón]]}}
| {{sort|Pérez|Emilia Pérez / Juan "Manitas" Del Monte}}
|''[[Emilia Pérez]]''
|-
| {{sort|Moore|[[Demi Moore]]}}
| {{sort|Sparkle|Elisabeth Sparkle}}
| {{sort|Substance|''[[The Substance]]''}}
|-
| {{sort|Torres|[[Fernanda Torres]]}}
| {{sort|Paiva|[[Eunice Paiva]]}}
| ''[[I'm Still Here (2024 film)|I'm Still Here]]''
|}

==Multiple wins and nominations==
{{see also|List of superlative Academy Award winners and nominees#Best Actress in a Leading Role}}
The following individuals won two or more Academy Awards for Best Actress:<!---This list is only for nominations/wins in this particular category. Actresses like Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, and Kate Winslet were nominated for Best Actress AND Best Supporting Actress. Only count the nominations/wins for Best Actress. Streep, in particular, has two Best Actress wins and one Best Supporting Actress win. Emma Thompson, meanwhile, has two Oscars, but one is for writing, so only count her statistics in this category.--->
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" width="55" | Wins
! scope="col" | Actress
! scope="col" width="55" | Nominations
|-
| style="text-align:center"| 4
| [[Katharine Hepburn]]
| 12
|-
| style="text-align:center"| 3
| [[Frances McDormand]]
| 3<!---This list is only for nominations/wins in this particular category. McDormand has three wins from three nominations in the Best Actress category. Her OTHER three nominations are in Best Supporting Actress, out of 6 total noms. NOTE: Her producing win does not factor into anything here either.--->
|-
| rowspan=13 | 2
| [[Meryl Streep]]
| 17<!---This list is only for nominations/wins in this particular category. Streep has two wins from seventeen nominations in the Best Actress category. Her third Oscar via her remaining four nominations are in Best Supporting Actress, out of 21 total noms.--->
|-
| [[Bette Davis]]
| 11
|-
| [[Ingrid Bergman]]
| rowspan=2 | 6
|-
| [[Jane Fonda]]
|-
| [[Elizabeth Taylor]]
| 5
|-
| [[Olivia de Havilland]]
| rowspan=2 | 4
|-
| [[Glenda Jackson]]
|-
| [[Jodie Foster]]
| 3<!---This list is only for nominations/wins in this particular category. Foster has two wins from three nominations in the Best Actress category. She has an additional two nominations in Best Supporting Actress, out of 5 total.--->
|-
| [[Sally Field]]
| rowspan=5 | 2
|-
| [[Vivien Leigh]]
|-
| [[Luise Rainer]]
|-
| [[Emma Stone]]<!---This list is only for nominations/wins in this particular category. Stone has two wins from two nominations in the Best Actress category. She has an additional two nominations in Best Supporting Actress, out of 4 total.--->
|-
| [[Hilary Swank]]
|}

{{main|List of actors with more than one Academy Award nomination in the acting categories#Most nominations by category (actress)}}
The following individuals received three or more Best Actress nominations:
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" width="55" | Nominations
! scope="col" align="center" | Actress
|-
| style="text-align:center"| 17<!---This list is only for nominations/wins in this particular category. Streep has two wins from seventeen nominations in the Best Actress category. Her third Oscar via her remaining four nominations are in Best Supporting Actress, out of 21 total noms.--->
| [[Meryl Streep]]
|-
| style="text-align:center"| 12
| [[Katharine Hepburn]]
|-
| style="text-align:center"| 11
| [[Bette Davis]]
|-
| style="text-align:center"| 7
| [[Greer Garson]]
|-
| rowspan=4 style="text-align:center"| 6
| [[Ingrid Bergman]]
|-
| [[Jane Fonda]]
|-
| [[Deborah Kerr]]
|-
| [[Sissy Spacek]]
|-
| rowspan=12 style="text-align:center"| 5
| [[Anne Bancroft]]
|-
| [[Cate Blanchett]]<!---This list is only for nominations/wins in this particular category. Blanchett has one win from five nominations in the Best Actress category. Her second Oscar from an additional three nominations are in Best Supporting Actress, out of 8 total noms.--->
|-
| [[Ellen Burstyn]]
|-
| [[Judi Dench]]<!---This list is only for nominations/wins in this particular category. Dench has five nominations in the Best Actress category. Her Oscar win, plus an additional two nominations, are in Best Supporting Actress, out of 8 total.--->
|-
| [[Irene Dunne]]
|-
| [[Susan Hayward]]
|-
| [[Audrey Hepburn]]
|-
| [[Jessica Lange]]
|-
| [[Shirley MacLaine]]
|-
| [[Susan Sarandon]]
|-
| [[Norma Shearer]]<!--Although Shearer was nominated for two films in 1930, they account for ONE nomination per rules at the time. No explanation was ever given as to why she only won for one film, while Janet Gaynor won for all three films she earned noms for in 1927.-->
|-
| [[Elizabeth Taylor]]
|-
| rowspan=16 style="text-align:center"| 4
| [[Annette Bening]]
|-
| [[Julie Christie]]
|-
| [[Glenn Close]]<!---This list is only for nominations/wins in this particular category. Close has four nominations in the Best Actress category. She has an additional four nominations in Best Supporting Actress, out of 8 total.--->
|-
| [[Olivia de Havilland]]
|-
| [[Glenda Jackson]]
|-
| [[Jennifer Jones]]
|-
| [[Diane Keaton]]
|-
| [[Nicole Kidman]]
|-
| [[Marsha Mason]]
|-
| [[Geraldine Page]]<!---This list is only for nominations/wins in this particular category. Page has one win from four nominations in the Best Actress category. She has an additional four nominations in Best Supporting Actress, out of 8 total.--->
|-
| [[Vanessa Redgrave]]<!---This list is only for nominations/wins in this particular category. Redgrave has four nominations in the Best Actress category. Her one Oscar win and a further nomination are in Best Supporting Actress, out of 6 total noms.--->
|-
| [[Rosalind Russell]]
|-
| [[Barbara Stanwyck]]
|-
| [[Kate Winslet]]<!---This list is only for nominations/wins in this particular category. Winslet has one win from four nominations in the Best Actress category. She has an additional three nominations in Best Supporting Actress, out of 7 total.--->
|-
| [[Joanne Woodward]]
|-
| [[Jane Wyman]]
|-
| rowspan=19 style="text-align:center"| 3
| [[Julie Andrews]]
|-
| [[Claudette Colbert]]
|-
| [[Joan Crawford]]
|-
| [[Faye Dunaway]]
|-
| [[Joan Fontaine]]
|-
| [[Jodie Foster]]<!---This list is only for nominations/wins in this particular category. Foster has two wins from three nominations in the Best Actress category. She has an additional two nominations in Best Supporting Actress, out of 5 total.--->
|-
| [[Greta Garbo]]<!--Although Garbo was nominated for two films in 1930, they account for ONE nomination per rules at the time.-->
|-
| [[Jennifer Lawrence]]
|-
| [[Frances McDormand]]<!---This list is only for nominations/wins in this particular category. McDormand has three wins from three nominations in the Best Actress category. Her OTHER three nominations are in Best Supporting Actress, out of 6 total noms. NOTE: Her producing win does not factor into anything here either.--->
|-
| [[Julianne Moore]]<!---This list is only for nominations/wins in this particular category. Moore has one win from three nominations in the Best Actress category. She has an additional two nominations in Best Supporting Actress, out of 5 total.--->
|-
| [[Carey Mulligan]]
|-
| [[Eleanor Parker]]
|-
| [[Saoirse Ronan]]
|-
| [[Gloria Swanson]]
|-
| [[Charlize Theron]]
|-
| [[Emma Thompson]]<!---This list is only for nominations/wins in this particular category. Thompson has one win from three nominations in the Best Actress category. She has an additional one nomination in Best Supporting Actress. She also won Best Adapted Screenplay, although it does not factor into her winners' tally here—regardless of receiving an acting nom for the same film.--->
|-
| [[Michelle Williams (actress)|Michelle Williams]]<!---This list is only for nominations/wins in this particular category. Williams has three nominations in the Best Actress category. She has an additional two nominations in Best Supporting Actress, out of 5 total.--->
|-
| [[Debra Winger]]
|-
| [[Renée Zellweger]]
|}

==Age superlatives==
{{Main|List of oldest and youngest Academy Award winners and nominees#Best Actress in a Leading Role}}
<!---The statistics pertain to the Best Actress category only--->
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col"| Record
! scope="col"| Actor
! scope="col"| Film
! scope="col"| Year
! scope="col"| Age
! class="unsortable" scope="col"| {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
| Oldest Winner
| [[Jessica Tandy]]
| ''[[Driving Miss Daisy]]''
| [[62nd Academy Awards|1990]]
| 80
| <ref name="Age">{{cite news |title=Oldest/Youngest Acting Nominees and Winners |publisher=AMPAS |url=http://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/ampas_awards/help/helpMain.jsp?helpContentURL=statistics/indexStats.html |url-status=dead |access-date=December 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301005626/http://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/ampas_awards/help/helpMain.jsp?helpContentURL=statistics%2FindexStats.html |archive-date=March 1, 2009}}</ref>
|- style="height:4.5em;"
| Oldest Nominee
| [[Emmanuelle Riva]]
| ''[[Amour (2012 film)|Amour]]''
| [[85th Academy Awards|2013]]
| 85
| <ref name="Age" />
|- style="height:4.5em;"
| Youngest Winner
| [[Marlee Matlin]]
| ''[[Children of a Lesser God (film)|Children of a Lesser God ]]''
| [[59th Academy Awards|1987]]
| 21
| <ref name="Age" />
|- style="height:4.5em;"
| Youngest Nominee
| [[Quvenzhané Wallis]]
| ''[[Beasts of the Southern Wild]]''
| [[85th Academy Awards|2013]]
| 9
| <ref name="Age" />
|}

==Films with multiple Leading Actress nominations==
Winners are in '''bold'''.
*''[[All About Eve]]'' (1950) – [[Anne Baxter]] and [[Bette Davis]]
*''[[Suddenly, Last Summer (film)|Suddenly, Last Summer]]'' (1959) – [[Katharine Hepburn]] and [[Elizabeth Taylor]]
*''[[The Turning Point (1977 film)|The Turning Point]]'' (1977) – [[Anne Bancroft]] and [[Shirley MacLaine]]
*''[[Terms of Endearment]]'' (1983) – '''Shirley MacLaine''' and [[Debra Winger]]
*''[[Thelma & Louise]]'' (1991) – [[Geena Davis]] and [[Susan Sarandon]]

==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).

* [[Billie Holiday]] from ''[[Lady Sings the Blues (film)|Lady Sings the Blues]]'' <small>([[Diana Ross]], 1972)</small> and ''[[The United States vs. Billie Holiday]]'' <small>([[Andra Day]], 2021)</small>
* [[Jo March|Josephine "Jo" March]] from ''[[Little Women (1994 film)|Little Women]]'' <small>([[Winona Ryder]], 1994)</small> and ''[[Little Women (2019 film)|Little Women]]'' <small>([[Saoirse Ronan]], 2019)</small>
* [[Ethel Proudlock case|Leslie Crosbie]] from ''[[The Letter (1929 film)|The Letter]]'' <small>([[Jeanne Eagels]], 1929)</small> and ''[[The Letter (1940 film)|The Letter]]'' <small>([[Bette Davis]], 1940)</small>
* [[Marilyn Monroe]] from ''[[My Week with Marilyn]]'' <small>([[Michelle Williams (actress)|Michelle Williams]], 2011)</small> and ''[[Blonde (2022 film)|Blonde]]'' <small>([[Ana de Armas]], 2022)</small>
* [[Queen Elizabeth I]] from ''[[Elizabeth (film)|Elizabeth]]'' <small>([[Cate Blanchett]], 1998)</small> and ''[[Elizabeth: The Golden Age]]'' <small>(Cate Blanchett, 2007)</small>
* Vicki Lester <small>({{nee|Esther (Victoria) Blodgett}})</small> from ''[[A Star Is Born (1937 film)|A Star Is Born]]'' <small>([[Janet Gaynor]], 1937)</small> and ''[[A Star Is Born (1954 film)|A Star Is Born]]'' <small>([[Judy Garland]], 1954)</small>
** Ally Maine <small>({{nee|Campano}})</small> from ''[[A Star Is Born (2018 film)|A Star Is Born]]'' <small>([[Lady Gaga]], 2018)</small>

==See also==
* [[Academy Award for Best Actor]]
* [[List of actors with Academy Award nominations|All Academy Award acting nominees]]
* [[List of actors with more than one Academy Award nomination in the acting categories]]
* [[List of actors with two or more Academy Awards in acting categories]]
* [[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 in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy]]
* [[Independent Spirit Award for Best Lead Performance]]
* [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role]]
* [[List of Academy Award–nominated films]]

==Notes==
{{refbegin}}
{{reflist|group=note}}

: '''A'''{{note label|Shearer||1}}{{note label|Garbo||2}}: Rules at the time of the first three ceremonies allowed for a performer to receive a single nomination which could honor their work in more than one film. [[Greta Garbo]] and [[Norma Shearer]] were both nominated for two different roles in the same category. Current Academy rules forbid this from happening. No official reason was ever given as to why Shearer won the award for only one of the two films she was listed for.<ref name="Variety Double Oscar Nominations">{{cite news|last=Rooney|first=David|title=On the double-bubble|url=https://variety.com/2003/film/news/on-the-double-bubble-1117896294/|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=August 30, 2013|date=November 25, 2003|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402113216/http://variety.com/2003/film/news/on-the-double-bubble-1117896294/|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>
: '''B'''{{note|Davis}}: [[Bette Davis]]'s performance in ''[[Of Human Bondage (1934 film)|Of Human Bondage]]'' was not nominated for an Oscar.<ref>{{harvnb|Wiley|Bona|1996|p=1002}}</ref> Several influential people at the time campaigned to have her name included on the list, so for that year (and the following year also) the Academy relaxed its rules and allowed a write-in vote.<ref>{{harvnb|Wiley|Bona|1996|p=1045}}</ref> Technically this meant that any performance was eligible to win the award, whether or not the person was an official nominee. While the Academy does not officially recognize this as a nomination for Davis,<ref>{{harvnb|Levy|2003|p=51}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Wiley|Bona|1996|p=65}}</ref> it has included her in the list of nominees for the 1935 ceremony on its official website.<ref name="Oscars7" />
: '''C'''{{note label|Tie||1}}{{note label|Tie||2}}: [[Katharine Hepburn]] and [[Barbra Streisand]] received the same number of votes, resulting in both actresses receiving the award, according to Academy rules.<ref name="Oscar tie">{{harvnb|Levy|2003|p=116}}</ref>
: '''D'''{{note|Donnelley}}: [[Elliot Page]] was nominated as Ellen Page, before his [[Gender transitioning|gender transition]] in 2020.<ref name="elliotpage">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/elliot-page-transgender-ellen-page-juno-umbrella-academy-1234843023/|title=Oscar-Nominated 'Umbrella Academy' Star Elliot Page Announces He Is Transgender|date=December 1, 2020|work=Variety|access-date=December 1, 2020|first=Matt|last=Donnelly|archive-date=December 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201193503/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/elliot-page-transgender-ellen-page-juno-umbrella-academy-1234843023/|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{refend}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}

* {{cite book |last=Crouse |first=Richard |title=Reel Winners: Movie Award Trivia |year=2005 |isbn=978-1-55002-574-3 |location=[[Toronto|Toronto, Ontario]], [[Canada]] |publisher=[[University of Toronto Press]] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/reelwinnersmovie0000crou}}
* {{citation |last=Levy |first=Emanuel |title=All About Oscar: The History and Politics of the Academy Awards |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-82641-452-6 |location=[[New York (state)|New York]], [[United States]] |publisher=[[Continuum International Publishing Group]]}}
* {{citation |last=Thise |first=Mark |title=Hollywood Winners & Losers A to Z |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-87910-351-4 |location=[[New York (state)|New York]], [[United States]] |publisher=[[Hal Leonard Corporation|Limelight Editions]] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/hollywoodwinners0000this}}
* {{citation |last1=Wiley |first1=Mason |last2=Bona |first2=Damien |title=Inside Oscar: The Unofficial History of the Academy Awards |year=1996 |isbn=978-0-34540-053-6 |location=[[New York (state)|New York]], [[United States]] |edition=5 |oclc=779680732 |publisher=[[Ballantine Books]]}}

{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* [http://www.oscars.org/ Oscars.org] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122140142/http://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/ampas_awards/ |date=January 22, 2009}} (official Academy site)
* [http://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/ The Academy Awards Database]{{cbignore}} (official site)
* [http://oscar.go.com Oscar.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140909025935/http://oscar.go.com/ |date=September 9, 2014}} (official ceremony promotional site)

{{Academy Awards}}
{{Academy Awards lists}}
{{Academy Award Best Actress}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Academy Award For Best Actress}}
[[Category:Academy Awards]]
[[Category:Best Actress Academy Award winners|*]]
[[Category:Film awards for lead actress]]