The New Oscar Actress Hierarchy - Glenn & Frances Rising
Tuesday, March 16, 2021 at 2:01PM by Nathaniel R
We thought it would be fun to revise the Oscar Acting Hierarchy we last shared when Julianne Moore FINALLY won an Oscar six years back. What follows is a List of Oscar's 36 All Time Favorite Actresses... (you can see the corresponding actor list here) restricted to women with 5 or more nominations (though 4 nominations will get you in the list if you've won twice). Only the acting statistics are accounted for so Emma Thompson, for example, is not ranked. If you included her screenplay win she would have made the list. If you counted non-acting nominations, you'd also see Shirley Maclaine jump a rank as she was nominated for documentary once. Now that virtually every major star is also a producer these types of extra stats will only get murkier so we're opting not to include them and focusing only on what the Academy thinks of them as actors.
🔺 = the actress has moved up the chart or strengthened her placement since the last publication of this list (in February 2015). An explanation of how the rank was determined is at the end of the post.
OSCAR'S HOLY TRINITY
And 33 More Royals
THE HOLY TRINITY
01 🔺 Meryl Streep 21 nominations | 3 wins
02 Katharine Hepburn 12 nominations | 4 wins
03 Bette Davis 10/11 nominations* | 2 wins
* some people count Bette's write-in for Of Human Bondage, some do not
Their leading men in Oscar's heart: Nicholson, Olivier, Tracy, Newman
THE SUPREME GODDESSES
04 Ingrid Bergman 7 nominations | 3 wins
05 Jane Fonda 7 nominations | 2 wins
06 🔺 Cate Blanchett 7 nominations | 2 wins
07 Geraldine Page 8 nominations | 1 win
08 🔺 Glenn Close 8 nominations
09 Greer Garson 7 nominations | 1 win
10 Judi Dench 7 nominations | 1 win
11 🔺 Kate Winslet 7 nominations | 1 win
12 Elizabeth Taylor 5 nominations | 2 wins | honorary statue
13 🔺 Frances McDormand 6 nominations | 2 wins
14 Jessica Lange 6 nominations | 2 wins
15 Maggie Smith 6 nominations | 2 wins
Similarly celebrated men: DeNiro, Hoffman, O'Toole, Daniel Day-Lewis
DEMI-GODDESSES
16 Audrey Hepburn 5 nominations | 1 win | honorary statue
17 Sissy Spacek 6 nominations | 1 win
18 Deborah Kerr 6 nominations | 0 wins | honorary statue
19 Ellen Burstyn 6 nominations | 1 win
20 Vanessa Redgrave 6 nominations | 1 win
21 Olivia de Havilland 5 nominations | 2 wins
22 🔺 Amy Adams 6 nominations | 0 wins
23 Thelma Ritter 6 nominations | 0 wins
24 Shirley Maclaine 5 nominations | 1 win
25 Anne Bancroft 5 nominations | 1 win
26 Susan Sarandon 5 nominations | 1 win
27 Susan Hayward 5 nominations | 1 win
28 Norma Shearer 5 nominations | 1 win
29 Jennifer Jones 5 nominations | 1 win
30 Julianne Moore 5 nominations | 1 win
similarly celebrated men: Jimmy Stewart, Gregory Peck, Tom Hanks, Michael Caine
And closing out the list of Oscar's most beloved...
31 Jodie Foster 4 nominations | 2 wins
32 Glenda Jackson 4 nominations | 2 wins
33 🔺 Renée Zellweger 4 nominations | 2 wins
34 Shelley Winters 4 nominations | 2 wins
35 Barbara Stanwyck 4 nominations | 0 wins | 1 honorary
36 Irene Dunne 5 nominations | 0 wins
THE REST OF THE POST IS NOT COMPREHENSIVE (SO DON'T TELL US WE MISSED SOMEONE). JUST NAMES THAT COULD THEORETICALLY JOIN THE LIST ABOVE...
Who will be next to join the all time Oscar Actress hierarchy?
Tantalizingly close to list and still acting in movies with 4 nods each
🔺 Kathy Bates, Annette Bening, 🔺 Viola Davis, Jodie Foster, Holly Hunter, Diane Keaton, 🔺 Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lawrence, Helen Mirren, Julia Roberts, 🔺 Saoirse Ronan, Emma Thompson, and 🔺 Michelle Williams
3-Timers that feel possible for a fourth... but can they make it to five? Five is such a small club
🔺 Laura Dern, Michelle Pfeiffer, 🔺 Natalie Portman, 🔺 Octavia Spencer, 🔺 Emma Stone, 🔺 Charlize Theron
2-Timers that feel possible for a third at least...
Jessica Chastain, 🔺 Olivia Colman, Anne Hathaway, 🔺 Sally Hawkins, 🔺 Scarlett Johansson, 🔺 Rooney Mara, 🔺 Melissa McCarthy, 🔺 Carey Mulligan 🔺 Margot Robbie, and 🔺 Rachel Weisz
One nomination only and it was several years ago. Seriously, what is the hold up on a second?
Toni Collette, Lupita Nyong'o, and Tilda Swinton
Current exciting actresses that have never been nominated (for acting) What would it take?
Nina Arianda, Nicole Beharie, Emily Blunt, Rose Byrne, Hong Chau, Carrie Coon, Essie Davis, Elizabeth Debicki, Elle Fanning, Kirsten Dunst, Regina Hall, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Elisabeth Moss, Sarah Paulson, Kristen Stewart, Tessa Thompson, Mia Wasikowska, and Kristen Wiig
Comment? You know you wanna.
How the ranks were determined... Number of nominations determines general placement, with wins counting as an extra half nomination each to determine initial rank. Once that is done, wins determine rank. In the event that someone has the same stats in nominations and wins, the tiebreaker factor is that lead counts more than supporting. If the tie stubbornly remains its broken by endurance (how many year the spread of nominations covers). Further mitigating factors: Three wins is so uncommon that it gives the actress a phantom extra full nomination in terms of ranking (thus Ingrid Bergman trumps Geraldine Page). Honorary statues (Oscar or Jean Hersholt) give the actress a phantom extra boost with the same affect as an additional nomination and win (thus Liz Taylor jumps Jessica Lange)... unless she never won a competitive Oscar in which case it only counts as a phantom win or nomination (thus Kerr cannot pole vault up to do battle with Lange or Blanchett) which of those to be determined by the gatekeeper (yours truly).
In the event that someone has multiple wins they may vault over the next immediate rivals if said rivals have never won a competitive Oscar and/or half or more of their nominations are in supporting (thus de Havilland trumps Thelma Ritter despite having less nominations. This also accounts for four women with only 4 nominations entering this 5 nomination only "Most Beloved" ranks.)
Reader Comments (85)
Meryl Streep will probably get nominated again and has a good shot of winning again.
Of the Supreme Goddesses- Cate Blanchett seems most likely to get another nomination. If Glenn wins this year, I don't think she will ever be nominated again.
Demi Goddess Amy Adams will win someday. People want it to happen.
Of the 4 nom group Nicole Kidman has the most adventurous streak and is still cranking out interesting performances and has earned respect from the industry.
3 Tier group has Charlize Theron and her Furiosa performance still carries good weight. She might actually have an overdue scenario despite winning already.
2 Tier I'd say Margot Robbie is going to get another nomination. She is HUNGRY in her career and nearly got nominated for a meh performance in Mary Queen of Scots.
of the never nominated it has to be Emily Blunt. That SAG win proves people like her and are actively rooting for her to win.
No Hillary Swank?
Where is SIGOURNEY WEAVER's 3 Oscar nominations!!! *GASP*
add Kathleen Turner to this list!
One nomination only and it was several years ago. Seriously, what is the hold up on a second?
Toni Collette, Lupita Nyong'o, and Tilda Swinton
I think Marisa Tomei is a possibility for one or two more nods! I'd love to see her back at the Oscars, especially for a leading role.
Marisa Tomei is not amused at her exclusion...
*cough* 3 nominations, 1 of them a win *cough*
Ellen Burstyn is not having a good week. First the snub and now this pic.
This is such a great list. However, it's kind of nuts that Vanessa Redgrave has only 6 noms and 1 win. Though she was never popular at BAFTA, and I suppose with her own countrymen, it strikes me as odd that she doesn't have far more noms (e.g., Prick Up Your Ears, Coriolanus, Atonement). I know she's done a lot of TV post-80s, but it just seems odd.
Maggie Smith's misses seem odd as well (e.g., The Lady in the Van, The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne), as she seems to be the type of actress who should 8 or more nominations. I have to imagine that British actor's willingness to work in television so frequently likely keeps them from racking up the nominations.
It's very easy to see Nicole, Viola, Michelle Williams, Helen Mirren and Emma Thompson making this list. I think Charlize will too. Octavia Spencer feels like 2 time winner - it's very easy to see her pick up another nominate.
I wouldn't count out Sally Field. She has a very specific acting style and hasn't been in a film with buzz in a few years, but I think she'll be back the next time she gets a plum supporting role in a project with some buzz.
I really hope Jane Fonda gets one more acting nomination.
Nicole Kidman will be back with more nominations and most likely another win. She's just to adventurous in her roles not to score again. She just needs to avoid time wasters like Ryan Murphy.
LOL Peggy.
I still feel Julia Roberts will join the 5 club,if she had a Diane Keaton SGG type role.
Michelle Williams,Margot Robbie and Emma Stone seem likely to join the 4 or 5 club.
What is it with some Actresses never getting near a nomination again it's nearly 30 years for some of them i'm thinking of actresses like Turner,Pfeiffer,Lange,Sarandon,Weaver,Foster Winger,Fonda and for the Brits KST,Miranda Richardson,Vanessa Redgrave,Maggie Smith and Emily Watson.
I'm too good for this list.
Wish Geena Davis was someone on here with her Oscar win and Honorary Oscar. Would love to see her get another nomination, or dare I say two...
Nathaniel - thanks for this. Based on your ranking system (each win will get an extra 1/2 nomination) - wouldn't Geraldine Page (8 noms + 0.5 win = 8.5 points) be ahead of Fonda and Blanchett (7 noms + 0.5 win + 0.5 win = 8 points each)?
It's a strange thing to say about someone with six Best Actress Oscar nominations and one win, but I've always felt Sissy Spacek was a smidge underappreciated. I would have given her additional nominations for ''Badlands,' Three Women,' and 'Raggedy Man,' and a second trophy for either 'Carrie,' 'Crimes of the Heart,' or 'In the Bedroom.'
Then again, when you think of all the talented actresses who have never won (Alfre Woodard, Helena Bonham Carter, Judy Davis, Liv Ullmann, Kathleen Turner, Isabelle Adjani, Isabelle Huppert, Joan Allen, Sigourney Weaver, and Sally Hawkins, to name just a few), having "only" (ha!) one Oscar doesn't seem so bad.
Discerning Oscar voters will pass on Hillbilly Elegy, knowing they can make Close a nine-nomination, one-win goddess in her own space between the trinity and the supremes when Sunset Boulevard (Paramount Pictures) is released.
We can only hope that Streep (likely), Colman (likely), Foster (less likely) and Cher (unlikely) are also nominated that year to make it super-delicious.
Meryl will extend her record , i think Glenn will tie with Bette Davis (i wish she'll tie with Katharine Hepburn, at least nomination-wise) and i strongly believe that the two Cates will also enter the "trinity club" challenging the Hepburn-Davis nomination records.
Of that list at the bottom:
Actresses who have only a single lauded or laudatory film role and not an extended "moment" of heat in the film medium: Nina Arianda (FFJ), Hong Chau (Downsizing), Regina Hall (Support the Girls), Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Beyond the Lights).
Maybe a moment has started: Nicole Beharie.
Wait, hasn't their "moment" (some of these are longer than others) passed: Emily Blunt (2006-2018. If they can't give her a pity nomination, at least, for MARY POPPINS, that's pretty strong evidence that her Oscar hopes might be OVER), Kristen Wiig (2011-2014), Mia Wasikowska (2010-2015), Carrie Coon (2014-2017), Elle Fanning (2014-2016), Kirsten Dunst (2000-2011), Sarah Paulson (2013-2017), Rose Byrne (2013-2016) and Kristen Stewart (2014-2016)
Definitely in their moment: Essie Davis (2014-now), Tessa Thompson (2015-now), Elizabeth Debicki (2013-now, though probably the most precarious of these three. Needs something more substantial than Peter Rabbit 2 and FAST)
Overall, with Streep’s snub this awards season, think It only bodes well for that 22nd. Really cannot see anyone catching up to her.
Your work is fantastic.
Now, following your rules, Ingrid Bergman 7 nominations | 3 wins is n.04 and Geraldine Page 8 nominations | 1 win is n.07; Jodie Foster 4 nominations | 2 wins is n.31 and Irene Dunne 5 nominations | 0 wins is n.36, so Katharine Hepburn 12 nominations | 4 wins should be n.01 above our beloved Meryl Streep 21 nominations | 3 wins, the latter being the number one in your list. Right?
@Dan Humphreys-Agreed. No one should be working with that no-talent asshole who does nothing more than spout a bunch of bullshit about inclusivity when he caters to the worst stereotypes of people and encourage bad behavior in his sets while bullying rock musicians into trying to get their music into his stupid shows. Oh and fuck him for stiffing Naya Rivera's kid.
Keira Knightley will rise!
If Kate and Cate don’t get another nomination (or two) I will be outraged!
Also Michelle Williams is on the top of my list of actresses without an Oscar that needs the honor. Maybe for her next film with Reichardt? Fingers crossed.
If Nightmare Alley is as cutting-edge as I hope it will be, that's going to bring extraordinary attention to Cate Blanchett's Lady Macbeth-esque character.
I love the supporting actress category to death but still, when doing such a ranking, I'd give a bit more to a lead win at least.
So Nicole Kidman and Helen Mirren should place higher than Irene Dune for example.
Speaking of 4 times nominee that are still working (at least on Broadway), I'd love to see a comeback role for Jane Alexander.
I love this list!
I think the first to reach 5 noms will be Michelle Williams (maybe with the Peggy Lee - Todd Haynes project), Viola and Saoirse, followed by Kidman, Lawrence and, I hope, Bening. Maybe Roberts and Thompson too.
I can easily see moving up in the next few years Julianne (she has a lot of juicy projects coming up), Amy (we all know she will win someday, so at least she will rise at 7), Frances (she's on fire this decade), and Cate (we know she will come back soon). Not confident about Winslet, after the Ammonite snub I fear her love story with the Academy may be over, like it happened with Sarandon. Glenn may reach 9 if she doesn't win this year.
Barbara Stanwyck only having four nominations is just CRAZY.
All those listed in 2-timers are definitely going to get more.
And Volvagia--your comments sound very AGEIST. Surely you didn't mean that those women's times have "passed", did you? Yikes, Olivia Colman is 47 and has been acting for at least 2 decades; it's only now that she's doing very high profile film work, but she has always been a good actress. Same re Sarah Paulson and Kirsten Dunst.
Oh. this is beautifully laid out.
I can't believe Kidman only has 4. She should EASILY be around 6 or 7.
@thevoid99: PREACH!
Prajhan you write
not sure what you mean. 3 or more wins gives you "an extra phantom nomination" so for purposes of the ranks Ingrid Bergman is essentially 8/3 and Katharine Hepburn is essentially 13/4 ... so Bergman still behind Davis and Hepburn still well behind Streep due to streeps sheer volume of nods. plus her own 3 wins making her essentially a 22/3 already.
Hary -- i hear what you're saying but i had to place the cut off somewhere and 5 nominations seemed like the right place because it is so exclusive (so few actors get there). If not it would be like top 55 or something because there are so many people essentially tied for #37.
Ryan -- i know. .aren't Kidman's stats horrible?
I know Nathaniel isn't fond of Kathy Bates as an awards magnet. But whenever she works with prominent auteurs she bodes well for her in supporting actress: Mike Nichols, Alexander Payne (also Jack's girl, plus a "brave" nude scene), and Clint Eastwood (with his own Academy voter bloc). She's aiming for a 2nd win and hopefully it happens within the next five years. She'll join Maggie Smith and Helen Hayes as one-time best actress winners who earned their second wins in supporting actress.
I also agree that Tomei like Spencer are real threats to repeat and are definitely expanding their nod record.
If Maureen Stapleton (4 noms / 1 win) were still alive she’d put her cigarette out in your eye for not mentioning her.
since the last time you published this list, miss glenn leapfrogged 12 legendary oscar winners to the upper half of the supreme goddess list, all without winning a statuette.....total icon
Johansson, Portman, Hathaway, Michelle Williams (and maybe Nyong'o) seem destined to reach the "demi-goddess" status... For me, they're the finest from the "80's harvest" and I'm rooting for them to be honest
a sea of white women
Sigourney Weaver is the one that always stings me.
She makes tough choices with tough characters and should have twice the nominations she has.
Hopefully once all the Avatar nonsense is done she can get some really great material.
I can't get over the fact that Toni Collette has a sole nomination from over 20 years ago.
MIA-3 time nominee Joan Allen. (Nixon, The Crucible, The Contender). She is somebody that, if given the right role, completely deserves to win).
Michelle Williams' next 3 projects after the VENOM sequel are films directed by Kelly Reichardt, Todd Haynes, and Steven Spielberg. She's going to keep climbing this list for certain.
Kidman's stats are "horrible?"
4 noms / 1 win sounds about right to me. Much of her best work (The Portrait of a Lady, Eyes Wide Shut, Birth) went unrecognized by AMPAS, but she got in (and won) for performances that would not have cracked my top 5. Things evened out for her.
Gena Rowlands, Alfre Woodard, Liv Ullmann, and the never-nominated Mia Farrow are better examples of actresses whose record with Oscar in no way reflects the strength of their film work.
What would it take for those intresting actresses to get a nomination? Among other things, the Academy would have to man up and put a definitive end to category fraud!
Where is Hillary Swank?
humdingr -- only two nominations.
I think what humdinger means is why didn’t you at least put her in the “two timers that feels time for a third” camp
Someone upthread mentioned Keira Knightley, a two-timer (one in support) whom I think is a tremendous talent, certainly stunning, but hasn't been seen much lately. I hope she makes a comeback very soon.
I'd add Marion Cotillard to the "2-Timers that feel possible for a third at least..." list.
The Oscars just straight up hate Glenn Close at this point. Beyond cruel.
Swanks has hit the nadir of her career with the awful Fatale.
@dannyboy
Again, Glenn's fellow actors have nominated her 8 times. She beat out legends like Burstyn and Foster (the GG winner!) to get nominated for a critically panned film. And they nominated her for two little-seen independent films in 2011 and 2018. Doesn't sound like they hate her to me! Especially when you consider she hasn't had a hit in 20 years and isn't as well-known to younger generations as some of her contemporaries.
The issue for Glenn is that she isn't getting good roles in good films. Unless she can get a juicy role in a film that's critically acclaimed and a bigger awards contender (preferably a Best Picture nominee), she has no chance of winning a competitive award.
Thank you, Gilbert.