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Year Oscar Winner Worthiest Nominee Runt of the Litter
* Too good to deserve this
** Absurdly great to be last!
Best of the Year
2010 Natalie Portman
Black Swan
Michelle Williams
Blue Valentine
Natalie Portman*
Black Swan
Birgit Minichmayr
Everyone Else
2009 Sandra Bullock
The Blind Side
Gabourey Sidibe
Precious
Sandra Bullock
The Blind Side
Tilda Swinton
Julia
2008 Kate Winslet
The Reader
Anne Hathaway
Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie
Changeling
Juliette Binoche
Flight of the Red Balloon
2007 Marion Cotillard
La Vie en rose
Marion Cotillard
La Vie en rose
Cate Blanchett
Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Tang Wei
Lust, Caution
2006 Helen Mirren
The Queen
Penélope Cruz
Volver
Kate Winslet
Little Children
Luminita Gheorghiu
The Death of Mr. Lazarescu
2005 Reese Witherspoon
Walk the Line
Felicity Huffman
Transamerica
Judi Dench
Mrs. Henderson Presents
Joan Allen
The Upside of Anger
2004 Hilary Swank
Million Dollar Baby
Kate Winslet
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Annette Bening*
Being Julia
Kate Winslet
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
2003 Charlize Theron
Monster
Charlize Theron
Monster
Naomi Watts
21 Grams
Charlize Theron
Monster
2002 Nicole Kidman
The Hours
Julianne Moore
Far from Heaven
Salma Hayek
Frida
Isabelle Huppert
The Piano Teacher
2001 Halle Berry
Monster's Ball
Judi Dench
Iris
Sissy Spacek
In the Bedroom
Maggie Cheung
In the Mood for Love
2000 Julia Roberts
Erin Brockovich
Julia Roberts
Erin Brockovich
Juliette Binoche
Chocolat
Julia Roberts
Erin Brockovich
1999 Hilary Swank
Boys Don't Cry
Hilary Swank
Boys Don't Cry
Julianne Moore
The End of the Affair
Hilary Swank
Boys Don't Cry
1998 Gwyneth Paltrow
Shakespeare in Love
Emily Watson
Hilary and Jackie
Cate Blanchett
Elizabeth
Ally Sheedy
High Art
1997 Helen Hunt
As Good As It Gets
Helena Bonham Carter
The Wings of the Dove
Kate Winslet
Titanic
Tilda Swinton
Female Perversions
1996 Frances McDormand
Fargo
Frances McDormand
Fargo
Diane Keaton*
Marvin's Room
Frances McDormand
Fargo
1995 Susan Sarandon
Dead Man Walking
Meryl Streep
The Bridges of Madison County
Emma Thompson*
Sense and Sensibility
Julianne Moore
Safe
1994 Jessica Lange
Blue Sky
Winona Ryder
Little Women
Susan Sarandon
The Client
Julianne Moore
Vanya on 42nd Street
1993 Holly Hunter
The Piano
Holly Hunter
The Piano
Debra Winger
Shadowlands
Holly Hunter
The Piano
1992 Emma Thompson
Howards End
Emma Thompson
Howards End
Catherine Deneuve
Indochine
Emma Thompson
Howards End
1991 Jodie Foster
The Silence of the Lambs
Jodie Foster
The Silence of the Lambs
Bette Midler
For the Boys
Michelle Pfeiffer
Frankie & Johnny
1990 Kathy Bates
Misery
Meryl Streep
Postcards from the Edge
Joanne Woodward
Mr. and Mrs. Bridge
Sandra Bernhard
Without You I'm Nothing
1989 Jessica Tandy
Driving Miss Daisy
Michelle Pfeiffer
The Fabulous Baker Boys
Pauline Collins
Shirley Valentine
Meg Ryan
When Harry Met Sally...
1988 Jodie Foster
The Accused
Sigourney Weaver
Gorillas in the Mist
Melanie Griffith
Working Girl
Gena Rowlands
Another Woman
1987 Cher
Moonstruck
Glenn Close
Fatal Attraction
Cher**
Moonstruck
Glenn Close
Fatal Attraction
1986 Marlee Matlin
Children of a Lesser God
Sigourney Weaver
Aliens
Kathleen Turner
Peggy Sue Got Married
Marie Rivière
The Green Ray
1985 Geraldine Page
The Trip to Bountiful
Whoopi Goldberg
The Color Purple
Anne Bancroft
Agnes of God
Mia Farrow
The Purple Rose of Cairo
1984 Sally Field
Places in the Heart
Jessica Lange
Country
Sally Field
Places in the Heart
Kathleen Turner
Romancing the Stone
1983 Shirley MacLaine
Terms of Endearment
Meryl Streep
Silkwood
Julie Walters
Educating Rita
Meryl Streep
Silkwood
1982 Meryl Streep
Sophie's Choice
Jessica Lange
Frances
Debra Winger
An Officer and a Gentleman
Jessica Lange
Frances
1981 Katharine Hepburn
On Golden Pond
Diane Keaton
Reds
Meryl Streep
The French Lieutenant's Woman
Diane Keaton
Reds
1980 Sissy Spacek
Coal Miner's Daughter
Sissy Spacek
Coal Miner's Daughter
Goldie Hawn
Private Benjamin
Shelley Duvall
The Shining
1979 Sally Field
Norma Rae
Jane Fonda
The China Syndrome
Marsha Mason
Chapter Two
Jane Fonda
The China Syndrome
1978 Jane Fonda
Coming Home
Ingrid Bergman
Autumn Sonata
Ellen Burstyn
Same Time, Next Year
Ingrid Bergman
Autumn Sonata
1977 Diane Keaton
Annie Hall
Diane Keaton
Annie Hall
Anne Bancroft
The Turning Point
Liza Minnelli
New York, New York
1976 Faye Dunaway
Network
Sissy Spacek
Carrie
Marie-Christine Barrault
Cousin cousine
Sissy Spacek
Carrie
1975 Louise Fletcher
One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest
Isabelle Adjani
The Story of Adèle H.
Carol Kane
Hester Street
Ronee Blakley
Nashville
1974 Ellen Burstyn
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
Gena Rowlands
A Woman under the Influence
Valerie Perrine**
Lenny
Gena Rowlands
A Woman under the Influence
1973 Glenda Jackson
A Touch of Class
Barbra Streisand
The Way We Were
Marsha Mason *
Cinderella Liberty
Barbra Streisand
The Way We Were
1972 Liza Minnelli
Cabaret
Cicely Tyson
Sounder
Maggie Smith
Travels with My Aunt
Cicely Tyson
Sounder
1971 Jane Fonda
Klute
Julie Christie
McCabe & Mrs. Miller
Janet Suzman
Nicholas and Alexandra
Julie Christie
McCabe & Mrs. Miller
1970 Glenda Jackson
Women in Love
Glenda Jackson
Women in Love
Ali MacGraw
Love Story
Glenda Jackson
Women in Love
1969 Maggie Smith
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
Jane Fonda
They Shoot Horses, Don't They?
Liza Minnelli*
The Sterile Cuckoo
Jane Fonda
They Shoot Horses, Don't They?
1968 Katharine Hepburn
The Lion in Winter (tie)
Barbra Streisand
Funny Girl (tie)
Barbra Streisand
Funny Girl
Patricia Neal*
The Subject Was Roses
Barbra Streisand
Funny Girl
1967 Katharine Hepburn
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
Edith Evans
The Whisperers
Katharine Hepburn*
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
Bibi Andersson
Persona
1966 Elizabeth Taylor
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Elizabeth Taylor
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Lynn Redgrave
Georgy Girl
Elizabeth Taylor
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
1965 Julie Christie
Darling
Julie Andrews
The Sound of Music
Samantha Eggar
The Collector
Julie Andrews
The Sound of Music
1964 Julie Andrews
Mary Poppins
Julie Andrews
Mary Poppins
Debbie Reynolds
The Unsinkable Molly Brown
Julie Andrews
Mary Poppins
1963 Patricia Neal
Hud
Patricia Neal
Hud
Natalie Wood
Love with the Proper Stranger
Anna Karina
Vivre sa vie (My Life to Live)
1962 Anne Bancroft
The Miracle Worker
Katharine Hepburn
Long Day's Journey into Night
Lee Remick**
Days of Wine and Roses
Katharine Hepburn
Long Day's Journey into Night
1961 Sophia Loren
Two Women
Natalie Wood
Splendor in the Grass
Geraldine Page
Summer and Smoke
Monica Vitti
L'Avventura
1960 Elizabeth Taylor
BUtterfield 8
Deborah Kerr
The Sundowners
Greer Garson
Sunrise at Campobello
Janet Leigh
Psycho
(nominated as Supporting)
1959 Simone Signoret
Room at the Top
Audrey Hepburn
The Nun's Story
Doris Day
Pillow Talk
Marilyn Monroe
Some Like It Hot
1958 Susan Hayward
I Want to Live!
Shirley MacLaine
Some Came Running
Deborah Kerr
Separate Tables
Kim Novak
Vertigo
1957 Joanne Woodward
The Three Faces of Eve
Anna Magnani
Wild Is the Wind
Lana Turner
Peyton Place
Eva Dahlbeck
Smiles of a Summer Night
1956 Ingrid Bergman
Anastasia
Carroll Baker
Baby Doll
Nancy Kelly
The Bad Seed
Carroll Baker
Baby Doll
1955 Anna Magnani
The Rose Tattoo
Susan Hayward
I'll Cry Tomorrow
Jennifer Jones
Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing
Susan Hayward
I'll Cry Tomorrow
1954 Grace Kelly
The Country Girl
Judy Garland
A Star Is Born
Grace Kelly*
The Country Girl
Judy Garland
A Star Is Born
1953 Audrey Hepburn
Roman Holiday
Ava Gardner
Mogambo
Leslie Caron
Lili
Barbara Stanwyck
All I Desire
1952 Shirley Booth
Come Back, Little Sheba
Julie Harris
The Member of the Wedding
Bette Davis
The Star
Debbie Reynolds
Singin' in the Rain
1951 Vivien Leigh
A Streetcar Named Desire
Vivien Leigh
A Streetcar Named Desire
Eleanor Parker
Detective Story
Vivien Leigh
A Streetcar Named Desire
1950 Judy Holliday
Born Yesterday
Gloria Swanson
Sunset Boulevard
Anne Baxter**
All About Eve
Gloria Swanson
Sunset Boulevard
1949 Olivia de Havilland
The Heiress
Olivia de Havilland
The Heiress
Jeanne Crain
Pinky
Ginger Rogers
The Barkleys of Broadway
1948 Jane Wyman
Johnny Belinda
Olivia de Havilland
The Snake Pit
Irene Dunne
I Remember Mama
Joan Fontaine
Letter from an Unknown Woman
1947 Loretta Young
The Farmer's Daughter
Susan Hayward
Smash-Up: The Story of a Woman
Rosalind Russell
Mourning Becomes Electra
Deborah Kerr
Black Narcissus
1946 Olivia de Havilland
To Each His Own
Celia Johnson
Brief Encounter
Jennifer Jones
Duel in the Sun
Ingrid Bergman
Notorious
1945 Joan Crawford
Mildred Pierce
Joan Crawford
Mildred Pierce
Ingrid Bergman
The Bells of St. Mary's
Peggy Ann Garner
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
1944 Ingrid Bergman
Gaslight
Barbara Stanwyck
Double Indemnity
Bette Davis
Mr. Skeffington
Barbara Stanwyck
Double Indemnity
1943 Jennifer Jones
The Song of Bernadette
Jean Arthur
The More the Merrier
Greer Garson
Madame Curie
Jean Arthur
The More the Merrier
1942 Greer Garson
Mrs. Miniver
Bette Davis
Now, Voyager
Rosalind Russell
My Sister Eileen
Agnes Moorehead
The Magnificent Ambersons
(nominated as Supporting)
1941 Joan Fontaine
Suspicion
Barbara Stanwyck
Ball of Fire
Joan Fontaine
Suspicion
Barbara Stanwyck
The Lady Eve
1940 Ginger Rogers
Kitty Foyle
Bette Davis
The Letter
Martha Scott
Our Town
Rosalind Russell
His Girl Friday
1939 Vivien Leigh
Gone with the Wind
Vivien Leigh
Gone with the Wind
Greer Garson*
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Vivien Leigh
Gone with the Wind
1938 Bette Davis
Jezebel
Norma Shearer
Marie Antoinette
Wendy Hiller*
Pygmalion
Katharine Hepburn
Holiday
1937 Luise Rainer
The Good Earth
Greta Garbo
Camille
Janet Gaynor*
A Star Is Born
Greta Garbo
Camille
1936 Luise Rainer
The Great Ziegfeld
Carole Lombard
My Man Godfrey
Norma Shearer
Romeo and Juliet
Ruth Chatterton
Dodsworth
1935 Bette Davis
Dangerous
Katharine Hepburn
Alice Adams
Merle Oberon
The Dark Angel
Katharine Hepburn
Alice Adams
1934 Claudette Colbert
It Happened One Night
Claudette Colbert
It Happened One Night
Grace Moore*
One Night of Love
Claudette Colbert
Imitation of Life
1932-33 Katharine Hepburn
Morning Glory
Katharine Hepburn
Morning Glory
Diana Wynyard
Cavalcade
Kay Francis
Trouble in Paradise
1931-32 Helen Hayes
The Sin of Madelon Claudet
Lynn Fontanne
The Guardsman
Marie Dressler
Emma
Joan Crawford
Grand Hotel
1930-31 Marie Dressler
Min and Bill
Marie Dressler
Min and Bill
Norma Shearer
A Free Soul
Marie Dressler
Min and Bill
1929-30 Norma Shearer
The Divorcée
Nancy Carroll
The Devil's Holiday
Greta Garbo
Romance
Louise Brooks
Pandora's Box
1928-29 Mary Pickford
Coquette
Jeanne Eagels
The Letter
Mary Pickford
Coquette
Renée Falconetti
The Passion of Joan of Arc
1927-28 Janet Gaynor
7th Heaven, Street Angel, and Sunrise
Janet Gaynor
7th Heaven
Louise Dresser
A Ship Comes In
Janet Gaynor
7th Heaven
Multiple Winners Luise Rainer (36, 37)
Katharine Hepburn (33, 67, 68, 81)
Bette Davis (35, 38)
Vivien Leigh (39, 51)
Ingrid Bergman (44, 56)
Elizabeth Taylor (60, 66)
Glenda Jackson (70, 73)
Jane Fonda (71, 78)
Sally Field (79, 84)
Jodie Foster (88, 91)
Hilary Swank (99, 04)
Katharine Hepburn (33, 35, 62)
Bette Davis (40, 42)
Barbara Stanwyck (41, 44)
Olivia de Havilland (48, 49)
Vivien Leigh (39, 51)
Susan Hayward (47, 55)
Julie Andrews (64, 65)
Barbra Streisand (68, 73)
Jane Fonda (69, 79)
Sissy Spacek (76, 80)
Diane Keaton (77, 81)
Jessica Lange (82, 84)
Meryl Streep (83, 90, 95)
Norma Shearer (31, 36)
Greer Garson (39, 43)
Rosalind Russell (42, 47)
Bette Davis (44, 52)
Jennifer Jones (46, 55)
Marsha Mason (73, 79)
Anne Bancroft (77, 85)
Debra Winger (82, 93)
Kate Winslet (97, 06)
Cate Blanchett (98, 07)
Katharine Hepburn (35, 38, 62)
Barbara Stanwyck (41, 44, 53)
Vivien Leigh (39, 51)
Julie Andrews (64, 65)
Barbra Streisand (68, 73)
Ingrid Bergman (46, 78)
Jane Fonda (69, 79)
Gena Rowlands (74, 88)
Julianne Moore (94, 95)
Tilda Swinton (97, 09)

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