List of Academy Award Best Actress winners by age

This is a list of winners of the Academy Award for Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role, presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) to an actress who has Delivered an outstanding performance while working within the film industry. More popularly known as the Academy Award (or the Oscar) for Best Actress, this award was initially presented at the 1st Academy Awards ceremony for 1927–1928 and was most recently presented at the 87th Academy Awards ceremony for 2014. Throughout the past 87 years, accounting for ties and repeat winners, AMPAS has presented a total of 88 Best Actress awards to 73 different actresses. This list is current as of the 87th Academy Awards ceremony held on February 22, 2015.

List of winners

#

Actress

Film

Date of birth

Date of award

Age upon
receiving award

Date of death

Lifespan

Notes

1

Gaynor, JanetJanet Gaynor

Seventh Heaven, Street Angel and Sunrise: A Song of Two HumansSeventh Heaven,
Street Angel    and
Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans

1906-10-06

22-222

1984-09-14

days ()

Held record as youngest winner for 59 award ceremonies (from the 1st to the 59th, May 1929–March 1987 [57 years, 10 months])

2

Pickford, MaryMary Pickford

CoquetteCoquette

1892-04-08

37-360

1979-05-29

days ()

Held record as oldest winner for 2 award ceremonies (from the 2nd to the 4th, April 1930–November 1931 [1 year, 7 months])

3

Shearer, NormaNorma Shearer

DivorceeThe Divorcee

1902-08-10

28-087

1983-06-12

days ()

4

Dressler, MarieMarie Dressler

Min And BillMin and Bill

1868-11-09

63-001

1934-07-28

days ()

Held record as oldest winner for 50 award ceremonies (from the 4th to the 50th, November 1931–March 1982 [50 years, 4 months])

5

Hayes, HelenHelen Hayes

Sin Of Madelon ClaudetThe Sin of Madelon Claudet

1900-10-10

32-039

1993-03-17

days ()

6

Hepburn, KatharineKatharine Hepburn

Morning GloryMorning Glory

1907-05-12

26-308

2003-06-29

days ()

1st of 4

7

Colbert, ClaudetteClaudette Colbert

It Happened One NightIt Happened One Night

1903-09-13

31-167

1996-07-30

days ()

8

Davis, BetteBette Davis

DangerousDangerous

1908-04-05

27-335

1989-10-06

days ()

1st of 2

9

Rainer, LuiseLuise Rainer

Great ZiegfeldThe Great Ziegfeld

1910-01-12

27-051

2014-12-30

days ()

1st of 2

10

Rainer, LuiseLuise Rainer

Good EarthThe Good Earth

1910-01-12

28-057

2014-12-30

days ()

2nd of 2

11

Davis, BetteBette Davis

JezebelJezebel

1908-04-05

30-324

1989-10-06

days ()

2nd of 2

12

Leigh, VivienVivien Leigh

Gone With The WindGone with the Wind

1913-11-05

26-116

1967-07-07

days ()

1st of 2

13

Rogers, GingerGinger Rogers

Kitty FoyleKitty Foyle

1911-07-16

29-226

1995-04-25

days ()

14

Fontaine, JoanJoan Fontaine

SuspicionSuspicion

1917-10-22

24-127

2013-12-15

days ()

15

Garson, GreerGreer Garson

Mrs MiniverMrs. Miniver

1904-09-29

38-156

1996-04-06

days ()

16

Jones, JenniferJennifer Jones

Song Of BernadetteThe Song of Bernadette

1919-03-02

25-000

2009-12-17

days ()

17

Bergman, IngridIngrid Bergman

GaslightGaslight

1915-08-29

29-198

1982-08-29

days ()

1st of 2

18

Crawford, JoanJoan Crawford

Mildred PierceMildred Pierce

1904-03-23

40-349

1977-05-10

days ()

19

De Havilland, OliviaOlivia de Havilland

To Each His OwnTo Each His Own

1916-07-01

30-255

--

days ()

1st of 2

20

Young, LorettaLoretta Young

Farmers DaughterThe Farmer's Daughter

1913-01-06

35-074

2000-08-12

days ()

21

Wyman, JaneJane Wyman

Johnny BelindaJohnny Belinda

1917-01-05

32-078

2007-09-10

days ()

22

De Havilland, OliviaOlivia de Havilland

HeiressThe Heiress

1916-07-01

33-265

--

days ()

2nd of 2

23

Holliday, JudyJudy Holliday

Born YesterdayBorn Yesterday

1921-06-21

29-281

1965-06-07

days ()

24

Leigh, VivienVivien Leigh

Streetcar Named DesireA Streetcar Named Desire

1913-11-05

38-136

1967-07-07

days ()

2nd of 2

25

Booth, ShirleyShirley Booth

Come Back Little ShebaCome Back, Little Sheba

1898-08-30

54-201

1992-10-16

days ()

26

Hepburn, AudreyAudrey Hepburn

Roman HolidayRoman Holiday

1929-05-04

24-325

1993-01-20

days ()

27

Kelly, GraceGrace Kelly

Country GirlThe Country Girl

1929-11-12

25-138

1982-09-14

days ()

28

Magnani, AnnaAnna Magnani

Rose TattooThe Rose Tattoo

1908-03-07

48-014

1973-09-26

days ()

29

Bergman, IngridIngrid Bergman

AnastasiaAnastasia

1915-08-29

41-210

1982-08-29

days ()

2nd of 2

30

Woodward, JoanneJoanne Woodward

Three Faces Of EveThe Three Faces of Eve

1930-02-27

28-027

--

days ()

31

Hayward, SusanSusan Hayward

I Want to LiveI Want to Live!

1917-06-30

41-280

1975-03-14

days ()

32

Signoret, SimoneSimone Signoret

Room At The TopRoom at the Top

1921-03-25

39-010

1985-09-30

days ()

33

Taylor, ElizabethElizabeth Taylor

Butterfield 8BUtterfield 8

1932-02-27

29-049

2011-03-23

days ()

1st of 2

34

Loren, SophiaSophia Loren

Two WomenTwo Women

1934-09-20

27-201

--

days ()

35

Bancroft, AnneAnne Bancroft

Miracle WorkerThe Miracle Worker

1931-09-17

31-203

2005-06-06

days ()

36

Neal, PatriciaPatricia Neal

HudHud

1926-01-20

38-084

2010-08-08

days()

37

Andrews, JulieJulie Andrews

Mary PoppinsMary Poppins

1935-10-01

29-186

--

days ()

38

Christie, JulieJulie Christie

DarlingDarling

1941-04-14

25-004

--

days ()

39

Taylor, ElizabethElizabeth Taylor

Whos Afraid Of Virginia WoolfWho's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

1932-02-27

35-042

2011-03-23

days ()

2nd of 2

40

Hepburn, KatharineKatharine Hepburn

Guess Whos Coming To DinnerGuess Who's Coming to Dinner

1907-05-12

60-334

2003-06-29

days ()

2nd of 4

41

Hepburn, KatharineKatharine Hepburn

Lion In WinterThe Lion in Winter

1907-05-12

61-337

2003-06-29

days ()

Tie; 3rd of 4

42

Streisand, BarbraBarbra Streisand

Funny GirlFunny Girl

1942-04-24

26-355

--

days ()

Tie

43

Smith, MaggieMaggie Smith

Prime Of Miss Jean BrodieThe Prime of Miss Jean Brodie

1934-12-28

35-100

--

days ()

44

Jackson, GlendaGlenda Jackson

Women In LoveWomen in Love

1936-05-09

34-341

--

days ()

1st of 2

45

Fonda, JaneJane Fonda

KluteKlute

1937-12-21

34-111

--

days ()

1st of 2

46

Minnelli, LizaLiza Minnelli

CabaretCabaret

1946-03-12

27-015

--

days ()

47

Jackson, GlendaGlenda Jackson

Touch Of ClassA Touch of Class

1936-05-09

37-328

--

days ()

2nd of 2

48

Burstyn, EllenEllen Burstyn

Alice Doesn't Live Here AnymoreAlice Doesn't Live Here Anymore

1932-12-07

42-122

--

days ()

49

Fletcher, LouiseLouise Fletcher

One Flew Over The Cuckoos NestOne Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

1934-07-22

41-251

--

days ()

50

Dunaway, FayeFaye Dunaway

NetworkNetwork

1941-01-14

36-073

--

days ()

51

Keaton, DianeDiane Keaton

Annie HallAnnie Hall

1946-01-05

32-088

--

days ()

52

Fonda, JaneJane Fonda

Coming HomeComing Home

1937-12-21

41-109

--

days ()

2nd of 2

53

Field, SallySally Field

Norma RaeNorma Rae

1946-11-06

33-160

--

days ()

1st of 2

54

Spacek, SissySissy Spacek

Coal Miners DaughterCoal Miner's Daughter

1949-12-25

31-096

--

days ()

55

Hepburn, KatharineKatharine Hepburn

On Golden PondOn Golden Pond

1907-05-12

74-321

2003-06-29

days ()

4th of 4
Held record as oldest winner for 8 award ceremonies (from the 54th to the 62nd, March 1982–March 1990)

56

Streep, MerylMeryl Streep

Sophies ChoiceSophie's Choice

1949-06-22

33-293

--

days ()

1st of 2

57

Maclaine, ShirleyShirley MacLaine

Terms of EndearmentTerms of Endearment

1934-04-24

49-351

--

days ()

58

Field, SallySally Field

Places In The HeartPlaces in the Heart

1946-11-06

38-139

--

days ()

2nd of 2

59

Page, GeraldineGeraldine Page

Trip To BountifulThe Trip to Bountiful

1924-11-22

61-122

1987-06-13

days ()

60

Matlin, MarleeMarlee Matlin

Children Of A Lesser GodChildren of a Lesser God

1965-08-24

21-218

--

days ()

Has held record as youngest winner for 28 award ceremonies (from the 59th through the 87th, March 1987–February 2015)

61

Cher, CherCher

MoonstruckMoonstruck

1946-05-20

41-327

--

days ()

62

Foster, JodieJodie Foster

AccusedThe Accused

1962-11-19

26-128

--

days ()

1st of 2

63

Tandy, JessicaJessica Tandy

Driving Miss DaisyDriving Miss Daisy

1909-06-07

80-292

1994-09-11

days ()

Has held record as oldest winner for 25 award ceremonies (from the 62nd through the 87th, March 1990–February 2015)

64

Bates, KathyKathy Bates

MiseryMisery

1948-06-28

42-270

--

days ()

65

Foster, JodieJodie Foster

Silence of the LambsThe Silence of the Lambs

1962-11-19

29-132

--

days ()

2nd of 2

66

Thompson, EmmaEmma Thompson

Howards EndHowards End

1959-04-15

33-348

--

days ()

67

Hunter, HollyHolly Hunter

PianoThe Piano

1958-03-20

36-001

--

days ()

68

Lange, JessicaJessica Lange

Blue SkyBlue Sky

1949-04-20

45-341

--

days ()

69

Sarandon, SusanSusan Sarandon

Dead Man WalkingDead Man Walking

1946-10-04

49-173

--

days ()

70

Mcdormand, FrancesFrances McDormand

FargoFargo

1957-06-23

39-274

--

days ()

71

Hunt, HelenHelen Hunt

As Good As It GetsAs Good as It Gets

1963-06-15

34-281

--

days ()

72

Paltrow, GwynethGwyneth Paltrow

Shakespeare In LoveShakespeare in Love

1972-09-27

26-175

--

days ()

73

Swank, HilaryHilary Swank

Boys Don't CryBoys Don't Cry

1974-07-30

25-240

--

days ()

1st of 2

74

Roberts, JuliaJulia Roberts

Erin BrockovichErin Brockovich

1967-10-28

33-148

--

days ()

75

Berry, HalleHalle Berry

Monsters BallMonster's Ball

1966-08-14

35-222

--

days ()

76

Kidman, NicoleNicole Kidman

HoursThe Hours

1967-06-20

35-276

--

days ()

77

Theron, CharlizeCharlize Theron

MonsterMonster

1975-08-07

28-206

--

days ()

78

Swank, HilaryHilary Swank

Million Dollar BabyMillion Dollar Baby

1974-07-30

30-212

--

days ()

2nd of 2

79

Witherspoon, ReeseReese Witherspoon

Walk The LineWalk the Line

1976-03-22

29-348

--

days ()

80

Mirren, HelenHelen Mirren

QueenThe Queen

1945-07-26

61-214

--

days ()

81

Cotillard, MarionMarion Cotillard

La Vie En RoseLa Vie en rose

1975-09-30

32-147

--

days ()

82

Winslet, KateKate Winslet

ReaderThe Reader

1975-10-05

33-140

--

days ()

83

Bullock, SandraSandra Bullock

Blind SideThe Blind Side

1964-07-26

45-224

--

days ()

84

Portman, NatalieNatalie Portman

Black SwanBlack Swan

1981-06-09

29-263

--

days ()

85

Streep, MerylMeryl Streep

Iron LadyThe Iron Lady

1949-06-22

62-249

--

days ()

2nd of 2

86

Lawrence, JenniferJennifer Lawrence

Silver Linings PlaybookSilver Linings Playbook

1990-08-15

22-193

--

0 days () days ()

87

Blanchett, CateCate Blanchett

Blue JasmineBlue Jasmine

1969-05-14

44-292

--

days ()

88

Moore, JulianneJulianne Moore

Still AliceStill Alice

1960-12-03

54-081

--

days ()

#

Actress

Film

Date of birth

Date of award

Age upon
receiving award

Date of death

Lifespan

Notes

See also

  • Academy Award for Best Actor
  • Academy Award for Best Actress
  • Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
  • Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
  • List of Academy Award Best Actor winners by age
  • List of Best Supporting Actor winners by age
  • List of Best Supporting Actress winners by age
  • List of Best Director winners by age
  • List of oldest and youngest Academy Award winners and nominees