11 Actresses With The Most Oscar Nominations

11 Actresses With The Most Oscar Nominations – The Academy Awards, or Oscars, represent the pinnacle of recognition in the film industry, celebrating exceptional talent and craftsmanship. Among the honorees, some actresses have achieved a remarkable feat: earning multiple nominations over the course of their careers. These nominations are a testament to their versatility, dedication, and ability to consistently captivate audiences and critics alike.

This list highlights the extraordinary actresses who have received the most Oscar nominations, showcasing the impact of their work and the legacy they’ve created in Hollywood. From timeless icons to contemporary powerhouses, these women have not only redefined acting but also solidified their places in cinematic history.

11 Actresses With The Most Oscar Nominations

1. Kate Winslet -Nominated for an Academy Award Seven Times, Won Once

Kate Winslet boasts an impressive collection of Oscar nominations, with one notable win for her role in The Reader (2008). This marked her first Academy Award victory, earned for her portrayal of Hannah Schmitz, a bus conductor facing trial for Nazi war crimes. While the film secured only this single win, it garnered nominations in other major categories, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Kate Winslet’s impressive Oscar history includes supporting role nominations for Steve Jobs (2016), Iris (2001), and Sense and Sensibility (1995). She also received recognition for her leading performances in Little Children (2006), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), and Titanic (1997). Winslet reunited with Titanic director James Cameron for the Oscar-nominated Avatar: The Way of Water (2022), despite long standing rumors of tension between the two during the making of Titanic.

2. Greer Garson – Nominated for an Academy Award Seven Times, Won Once

Greer Garson matches Kate Winslet in the number of Oscar nominations she has earned, all of which are in the Best Actress category. Impressively, Garson was nominated for five consecutive years, a remarkable streak recognizing her performances in Blossoms in the Dust (1941), Mrs. Miniver (1942), Madame Curie (1943), Mrs. Parkington (1944), and The Valley of Decision (1945).

Greer Garson earned all her Oscar nominations in the Best Actress category, achieving an extraordinary streak of five consecutive nominations. Her first and only win came for her portrayal of the titular character in Mrs. Miniver. The film itself was a major success at the Oscars, taking home awards for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress, Best Director, Best Cinematography (Black-and-White), and Best Screenplay.

While this was her only win, Garson accomplished a remarkable Oscar milestone—no actor has matched her record of five consecutive nominations in the 79 years since. Before her, Bette Davis held the record, and they remain tied to this day.

3. Jane Fonda – Nominated for an Academy Award Seven Times, Won Twice

Jane Fonda has enjoyed a recent resurgence in her acting career, delighting audiences with her charismatic performances. However, her cinematic legacy dates back to her industry debut in 1960. One of her most iconic roles remains Barbarella (1968), a character that will soon return to the big screen with Sydney Sweeney stepping into the titular role.

Fonda herself has received an impressive seven Oscar nominations throughout her career. One of these was for her role in On Golden Pond (1981), where she shared the screen with Katharine Hepburn, who earned an Oscar for her performance in the film. Fonda also took home two Academy Awards for her roles in Klute (1971) and Coming Home (1978). In addition to her accolades, Fonda has built a lasting partnership with Lily Tomlin, appearing together in projects like the hit series Grace and Frankie and films such as 80 For Brady.

4. Ingrid Bergman -Nominated for an Academy Award Seven Times, Won Three Times

Ingrid Bergman stands as one of the most celebrated actresses of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Her portrayal of Ilsa Lund in Casablanca (1942) remains one of cinema’s most iconic performances, in a film that continues to be revered decades later. Bergman also left a lasting mark through her collaborations with Alfred Hitchcock in classics like Spellbound (1945), Notorious (1946), and Under Capricorn (1949), solidifying her status as a definitive femme fatale of her era.

When it comes to Oscars, most of Bergman’s nominations were for her leading roles. However, she won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role as Greta Ohlsson in Murder on the Orient Express (1975), an adaptation of Agatha Christie’s beloved novel. In this star-studded production, she shared the screen with legends like Psycho’s Anthony Perkins and James Bond’s Sean Connery. While the film was remade in 2017, Bergman’s role of Greta Ohlsson remained uniquely hers, with no one reprising the character.

5. Glenn Close – Nominated for an Academy Award Eight Times

Glenn Close’s journey with the Oscars began in 1983 when she earned her first nomination for her theatrical film debut in The World According to Garp (1982), playing the mother of Robin Williams’ character. She quickly followed up with back-to-back nominations for The Big Chill (1983) and The Natural (1984), a sports drama adapted from Bernard Malamud’s novel. Despite her eight Oscar nominations, Close remains the most overdue living actress in Academy Awards history, with strong competition blocking her path to a win each time.

In 1987, Close delivered one of her most unforgettable performances as Alex Forrest in the thriller Fatal Attraction. Playing a vengeful stalker determined to destroy the life of her lover Dan (Michael Douglas), she pushed boundaries with a chilling portrayal that included attempts to murder Dan’s wife. Close’s unwavering commitment to this intense role demonstrated her extraordinary talent and paved the way for the many Oscar nominations that followed.

6. Geraldine Page – Nominated for an Academy Award Eight Times, Won Once

Geraldine Page’s storied relationship with the Academy began with her first Oscar nomination for Hondo (1953), only her second feature film. The movie also earned a nomination for Best Writing, Motion Picture Story. While Page kept busy during the 1950s with a successful run on television in shows like Omnibus (1955), Matinee Theatre (1955), The United States Steel Hour (1955–1957), and Sunday Showcase (1959), she also made a significant mark in theater, garnering four Tony nominations—three of them for leading roles.

Her next Oscar nod came in 1961 for Summer and Smoke, and from the 1960s through the 1980s, Page’s career soared. Over the years, she received additional nominations as a lead actress in four films and as a supporting actress in three. Despite this incredible track record, her long-awaited Oscar win came late in her career for The Trip to Bountiful (1985). In this heartfelt performance, she portrayed an elderly woman yearning to revisit her childhood home, delivering a moving depiction of nostalgia and resilience. Sadly, it would be one of her final roles, as Page passed away in 1987, leaving behind a legacy of remarkable talent and unforgettable performances.

7. Judi Dench – Nominated for an Academy Award Eight Times, Won Once

Judi Dench began her illustrious acting career in 1959, but it wasn’t until 1998 that she earned her first Oscar nomination for her leading role in Mrs. Brown (1997). In the film, Dench delivers a poignant performance as Queen Victoria during a deeply vulnerable period following the death of her beloved husband, Prince Albert. Remarkably, this would not be the last time Dench was recognized by the Academy for portraying a queen.

Her sole Oscar win came for her supporting role as Queen Elizabeth I in Shakespeare in Love (1998), a performance that has become one of her most iconic. Despite being on screen for only about eight minutes (as noted by Mental Floss), Dench’s portrayal left an indelible mark on audiences and solidified her status as a cinematic legend. Beyond her Oscar accolades, Dench has proven her versatility and lasting appeal with roles outside typical awards fare, most notably as M in the James Bond franchise, starting with Casino Royale (2006). She even lent her voice to the character in Bond video games, further cementing her legacy in modern pop culture.

8. Cate Blanchett – Nominated for an Academy Award Eight Times, Won Twice

With an impressive 100 acting credits to her name, it’s no surprise that Cate Blanchett is a fixture on this list. She has earned a total of eight Oscar nominations, including two in the same year—2008—when she was nominated for both Best Actress for Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007) and Best Supporting Actress for I’m Not There (2007).

Before these nominations, Blanchett had already built a remarkable career with both critical acclaim and commercial success, notably for her role in The Lord of the Rings films. However, she didn’t shy away from genre films either, taking on the role of the powerful Hela in Thor: Ragnarok (2017), and leading Borderlands (2024), which unfortunately received a record-low Rotten Tomatoes score.

Despite Borderlands being a letdown, Blanchett’s career continues to shine with films like Rumours, which was well-received by critics that same year. No underperforming film can diminish her legacy, especially with her well-deserved Oscar wins: Best Supporting Actress for The Aviator (2004) and Best Actress for Blue Jasmine (2013), confirming her place as one of Hollywood’s most versatile and celebrated talents.

9. Bette Davis – Nominated for an Academy Award Eleven Times, Won Twice

Bette Davis made history as the first woman to reach double digits in Oscar nominations, and as previously mentioned, she was the first actor to be nominated for five consecutive years. Her journey to recognition began with her first nomination for Of Human Bondage (1935), although this was an unusual case. Despite widespread praise for her performance, Davis wasn’t officially nominated. This sparked significant backlash, prompting the Academy to temporarily allow write-in votes that year (via Vulture). As a result, a campaign for Davis was launched, but this rule change was short-lived, being revoked after the following year.

In 1936, Davis received an official nomination for Dangerous, which she went on to win, marking the first of her two Oscar victories. Her second win came three years later for her role in Jezebel (1939), which would remain her last. Despite this, Davis continued to rack up nominations, with her final one coming for her legendary performance in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962), a film that became a defining moment in her career and cemented her as one of Hollywood’s greatest actresses.

10. Katharine Hepburn – Nominated for an Academy Award Twelve Times, Won Four Times

Katharine Hepburn holds the record for the most Oscar wins for Best Actress, with four prestigious awards to her name. She won for Morning Glory (1933), Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967), The Lion in Winter (1968), and On Golden Pond (1981). One of the defining features of Hepburn’s roles, whether in drama or comedy, is the independence and boldness of her characters—traits that made her an enduring and iconic figure in Hollywood.

A memorable moment in Oscar history occurred during the 1968 Best Actress race when Hepburn tied with Barbra Streisand for The Lion in Winter, one of just six times in Oscar history that this has happened. That same year marked a groundbreaking achievement: Hepburn became the first actor to win three Oscars for lead performances, a feat that Daniel Day-Lewis would later match. However, Hepburn still holds the edge for most wins, as she remains the only actor to claim four Best Actress Oscars. Her incredible achievement also surpasses other legends, including Meryl Streep, Frances McDormand, Jack Nicholson, Ingrid Bergman, and Walter Brennan, all of whom have earned multiple Oscars in their careers.

11. Meryl Streep – Nominated for an Academy Award Twenty One Times, Won Three Times

Meryl Streep holds the record for the most Oscar nominations of any actress, with a career that began with her first nomination for The Deer Hunter (1978), her second theatrical film. From there, her career—and her number of nominations—only grew. Among her many nominated performances, two stand out as adaptations of stage productions, though the films themselves couldn’t be more different in tone.

Streep won Oscars for her leading roles in The Iron Lady (2011) and Sophie’s Choice (1982), both inspired by true stories, though with vastly different narratives and tones. Her first Oscar win, however, came for her supporting role in Kramer vs. Kramer (1979), a performance that played a pivotal role in defining her career.

With her impressive list of nominations and diverse roles, Streep is widely regarded as one of the greatest actresses of all time. Her work spans genres and mediums, from dark comedies like Death Becomes Her, to musicals such as The Prom and Mamma Mia, and celebrated TV series like Big Little Lies and Only Murders in the Building. There seems to be no role that Streep can’t tackle, solidifying her as a true acting legend.

Source –Vulture , Wikipedia . Image Credit- Wikimedia, Google Photo, ScreenRant Title – 11 Actresses With The Most Oscar Nominations

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