The Best Actress Academy Award is presented to a leading actress in a film and is nominated by members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The category is formally known as Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role and was referred to as Academy Award of Merit for Performance by an Actress before a 1977 change. The famous golden Oscar statue is presented as the award, as with all categories.
At the 2010 Oscars, Sandra Bullock, for The Blind Side, Helen Mirren for The Last Station, Carey Mulligan for An Education, Gabourey Sidibe for Precious and Meryl Streep for Julie & Julia were nominated for the award. The Oscar was handed out to Sandra Bullock on March 7, 2010, at the 82nd Academy Awards at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood, California.
Selected Previous Winners
- 1933 - Katharine Hepburn
- 1935 - Bette Davis
- 1939 - Vivien Leigh
- 1944 - Ingrid Bergman
- 1953 - Audrey Hepburn
- 1960 - Elizabeth Taylor
- 1977 - Diane Keaton
- 1982 - Meryl Streep
- 1988 - Jodie Foster
- 1999 - Hilary Swank
- 2003 - Nicole Kidman
- 2004 - Charlize Theron
- 2005 - Hillary Swank
- 2006 - Reese Witherspoon
- 2007 - Hellen Mirren
- 2008 - Marion Cotillard
- 2009 - Kate Winslet
- 2010 - Sandra Bullock
References
Fast Facts
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Fact:
Best Actress one of 24 total categories
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Full Name
Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
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Fact:
Formally known as Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
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No. statues awarded
81
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No. recipients
67
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First winner
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Most nominations
Katharine Hepburn (12)
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Most wins
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Consecutive winners
Luise Rainer and Katharine Hepburn
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Fact:
Katharine Hepburn and Barbra Streisand tied for it in 1968
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Oldest winner/nominee
Jessica Tandy (age 80)
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Youngest winner
Marlee Matlin (age 21)
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2008 winner
