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1929: Janet Gaynor - Street Angel, Sunrise and 7th HeavenBob Thomas—Popperfoto/Getty Images
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1930: Mary Pickford - CoquetteEdwin Bower Hesser—John Kobal Foundation/Getty Images
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1931: Norma Shearer - The DivorceeGeorge Hurrell—John Kobal Foundation/Getty Images
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1932: Marie Dressler - Min and BillKeystone-France/Gamma-Keystone/Getty Images
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1933: Helen Hayes - The Sin of Madelon ClaudetGeneral Photographic Agency/Getty Images
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1934: Katharine Hepburn - Morning Glory 1968: Katharine Hepburn - Guess Who's Coming to Dinner 1969: Katharine Hepburn - The Lion in Winter 1982: Katharine Hepburn - On Golden PondAlfred Eisenstaedt—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
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1935: Claudette Colbert - It Happened One NightImagno/Getty Images
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1936: Bette Davis - Dangerous 1939: Bette Davis - JezebelKeystone-France/Gamma-Keystone/Getty Images
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1937: Luise Rainer - The Great Ziegfeld 1938: Luise Rainer - The Good EarthTed Allan—Hulton Archive/Getty Images
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1940: Vivien Leigh - Gone with the Wind 1952: Vivien Leigh - A Streetcar Named DesireGordon Anthony—Getty Images
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1941: Ginger Rogers - Kitty FoyleHulton Archive/Getty Images
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1942: Joan Fontaine - SuspicionJohn Kobal Foundation/Getty Images
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1943: Greer Garson - Mrs. MiniverPopperfoto/Getty Images
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1944: Jennifer Jones - The Song of BernadetteSilver Screen Collection/Getty Images
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1945: Ingrid Bergman - Gaslight 1957: Ingrid Bergman - AnastasiaApic/Getty Images
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1946: Joan Crawford - Mildred PierceSilver Screen Collection/Getty Images
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1947: Olivia de Havilland - To Each His Own 1950: Olivia de Havilland - The HeiressSilver Screen Collection/Getty Images
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1948: Loretta Young - The Farmer's DaughterColumbia Pictures/Getty Images
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1949: Jane Wyman - Johnny BelindaJack Albin—Hulton Archive/Getty Images
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1951: Judy Holliday - Born YesterdayGAB Archive/Redferns/Getty Images
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1953: Shirley Booth - Come Back, Little ShebaCamerique/Getty Images
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1954: Audrey Hepburn - Roman HolidayHulton Archive/Getty Images
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1955: Grace Kelly - The Country GirlSilver Screen Collection/Getty Images
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1956: Anna Magnani - The Rose TattooMondadori/Getty Images
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1958: Joanne Woodward - The Three Faces of EveSilver Screen Collection/Getty Images
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1959: Susan Hayward - I Want to Live!Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images
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1960: Simone Signoret - Room at the TopKeystone-France/Gamma-Keystone/Getty Images
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1961: Elizabeth Taylor - Butterfield 8 1967: Elizabeth Taylor - Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images
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1962: Sophia Loren - Two WomenSilver Screen Collection/Getty Images
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1963: Anne Bancroft - The Miracle WorkerSilver Screen Collection/Getty Images
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1964: Patricia Neal - HudGene Kornman–Hulton Archive/Getty Images
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1965: Julie Andrews - Mary PoppinsSilver Screen Collection/Getty Images
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1966: Julie Christie - DarlingSilver Screen Collection/Getty Images
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1970: Maggie Smith - The Prime of Miss Jean BrodieTerry O'Neill—Hulton Archive/Getty Images
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1971: Glenda Jackson - Women in Love 1974: Glenda Jackson - A Touch of ClassGordon Film Productions/Getty Images
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1972: Jane Fonda - Klute 1979: Jane Fonda - Coming HomeSilver Screen Collection/Getty Images
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1973: Liza Minnelli - CabaretTerry O'Neill—Hulton Archive/Getty Images
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1975: Ellen Burstyn - Alice Doesn't Live Here AnymoreCynthia Macadams—The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
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1976: Louise Fletcher - One Flew Over the Cuckoo's NestSilver Screen Collection/Getty Images
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1977: Faye Dunaway - NetworkTerry O'Neill—Hulton Archive/Getty Images
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1978: Diane Keaton - Annie HallRon Galella—WireImage/Getty Images
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1980: Sally Field - Norma Rae 1985: Sally Field - Places in the HeartHarry Langdon—Getty Images
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1981: Sissy Spacek - Coal Miner's DaughterRon Galella—WireImage/Getty Images
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1983: Meryl Streep - Sophie's Choice 2012: Meryl Streep - The Iron LadyRon Galella—WireImage/Getty Images
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1984: Shirley MacLaine - Terms of EndearmentRon Galella—WireImage/Getty Images
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1986: Geraldine Page - The Trip to BountifulABC/Getty Images
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1987: Marlee Matlin - Children of a Lesser GodKevin Winter—DMI/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
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1988: Cher - MoonstruckEvan Agostini—Liaison/Getty Images
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1989: Jodie Foster - The Accused 1992: Jodie Foster - The Silence of the LambsThe LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
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1990: Jessica Tandy - Driving Miss DaisyRon Galella—WireImage/Getty Images
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1991: Kathy Bates - MiseryRon Galella—WireImage/Getty Images
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1993: Emma Thompson - Howards EndRon Galella—WireImage/Getty Images
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1994: Holly Hunter - The PianoRon Galella—WireImage/Getty Images
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1995: Jessica Lange - Blue SkyRon Galella—WireImage/Getty Images
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1996: Susan Sarandon - Dead Man WalkingRon Galella—WireImage/Getty Images
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1997: Frances McDormand - FargoRon Galella—WireImage/Getty Images
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1998: Helen Hunt - As Good as It GetsRon Galella—WireImage/Getty Images
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1999: Gwyneth Paltrow - Shakespeare in LoveVince Bucci—Getty Images
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2000: Hilary Swank - Boys Don't Cry 2005: Hilary Swank - Million Dollar BabyGetty Images
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2001: Julia Roberts - Erin BrockovichKevin Winter—Getty Images
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2002: Halle Berry - Monster's BallSean Gallup—Getty Images
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2003: Nicole Kidman - The HoursDimitrios Kambouris—WireImage/Getty Images
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2004: Charlize Theron - MonsterRobin Platzer—FilmMagic/Getty Images
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2006: Reese Witherspoon - Walk the LineJ. Vespa—WireImage/Getty Images
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2007: Helen Mirren - The QueenJ. Vespa—WireImage/Getty Images
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2008: Marion Cotillard - La Vie en RoseSteve Granitz—WireImage/Getty Images
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2009: Kate Winslet - The ReaderKevork Djansezian—Getty Images
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2010: Sandra Bullock - The Blind SideDan MacMedan—WireImage/Getty Images
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2011: Natalie Portman - Black SwanJohn Shearer—Getty Images
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2013: Jennifer Lawrence - Silver Linings PlaybookSteve Granitz—WireImage/Getty Images
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2014: Cate Blanchett - Blue JasmineJason Merritt—Getty Images
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2015: Julianne Moore- Still AliceAnthony Harvey—Getty Images
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2016: Brie Larson - RoomC Flanigan—Getty Images
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2017: Emma Stone - La La LandJason LaVeris—Getty Images
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2018: Frances McDormand - Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, MissouriCraig Sjodin—ABC/Getty Images
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2019: Olivia Colman - The FavouriteCraig Sjodin—ABC/Getty Images
Every year, the Academy Awards names the finest leading lady of the big screen the Best Actress. From Ingrid Bergman’s triumph in 1945 for her chilling performance in Gaslight to Meryl Streep’s two wins out of 16 nominations for leading actress, the crowning of a Best Actress often signals the anointing of a film industry legend. Most recently, in 2017, Emma Stone took home the statue for her performance in La La Land. In 2018, Frances McDormand earned the little gold man for her role in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. Olivia Colman’s performance as Queen Anne in The Favourite nabbed her the Best Actress Oscar in 2019.
MORE See All the Best Actors in Oscar History
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