Research in Progress (April 23, 2021)
The youngest winners among the Best Actresses:
Marlee Matlin, Children of a Lesser God, 21
Janet Gaynor, 7th Heaven, Street Angel, and Sunrise; 22
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Best Actress History: Winners (Film Role; Year of Winning; Age at Winning; Age at Dying)
1 Janet Gaynor, 7th Heaven, Street Angel, and Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans; 22
October 6, 1906; May 16, 1929; 22 years, 222 days; died September 14, 1984 (77 years, 344 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 Mary Pickford, Coquette
April 8, 1892 April 3, 1930; 37 years, 360 days May 29, 1979 31,826 days (87 years, 51 days)
3 Norma Shearer, The Divorcee
August 10, 1902 November 5, 1930 28 years, 87 days June 12, 1983 29,526 days (80 years, 306 days)
4 Marie Dressler, Min and Bill
November 9, 1868 November 10, 1931 63 years, 1 day July 28, 1934 24,001 days (65 years, 261 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 Helen Hayes, The Sin of Madelon Claudet, 32
October 10, 1900 November 18, 1932; 32 years, 39 days; died March 17, 1993 (92 years, 158 days)
6 Katharine Hepburn, Morning Glory, 26
May 12, 1907 March 16, 1934; 26 years, 308 days June 29, 2003 35, 112 days (96 years, 48 days) 1st of 4 Oscars
7 Claudette Colbert, It Happened One Night; 31
September 13, 1903 February 27, 1935; 31 years, 167 days July 30, 1996 (92 years, 321 days)
8 Bette Davis, Dangerous; 27
April 5, 1908 March 5, 1936 27 years, 335 days October 6, 1989 29,769 days (81 years, 184 days) 1st of 2
9 Luise Rainer The Great Ziegfeld, 27
January 12, 1910 March 4, 1937 27 years, 51 days December 30, 2014 38,338 days (104 years, 352 days) 1st of 2
10 Luise Rainer, The Good Earth
January 12, 1910 March 10, 1938 28 years, 57 days December 30, 2014 (104 years, 352 days) 2nd of 2
11 Bette Davis, Jezebel
April 5, 1908 February 23, 1939 30 years, 324 days; October 6, 1989 (81 years, 184 days) 2nd of 2
12 Vivien Leigh, Gone with the Wind
November 5, 1913 February 29, 1940 26 years, 116 days July 7, 1967 19,602 days (53 years, 244 days) 1st of 2
13 Ginger Rogers, Kitty Foyle
July 16, 1911 February 27, 1941 29 years, 226 days April 25, 1995 (83 years, 283 days)
14 Joan Fontaine, Suspicion
October 22, 1917 February 26, 1942 24 years, 127 days December 15, 2013 (96 years, 54 days)
15 Greer Garson, Mrs. Miniver
September 29, 1904 March 4, 1943 38 years, 156 days April 6, 1996 (91 years, 190 days)
16 Jennifer Jones The Song of Bernadette. 25
March 2, 1919 March 2, 1944; 25 years, 0 days December 17, 2009 33,163 days (90 years, 290 days)
17 Ingrid Bergman, Gaslight
August 29, 1915 March 15, 1945 29 years, 198 days August 29, 1982 (67 years, 0 days) 1st of 2
18 Joan Crawford, Mildred Pierce
March 23, 1905 March 7, 1946 40 years, 349 days May 10, 1977 26,711 days (72 years, 48 days)
19 Olivia de Havilland To Each His Own
July 1, 1916 March 13, 1947 30 years, 255 days July 26, 2020 (104 years, 25 days) 1st of 2
20 Loretta Young, The Farmer’s Daughter
January 6, 1913 March 20, 1948 35 years, 74 days August 12, 2000 (87 years, 219 days)
21 Jane Wyman, Johnny Belinda
January 5, 1917 March 24, 1949 32 years, 78 days September 10, 2007 33,120 days (90 years, 248 days)
22 Olivia de Havilland, The Heiress
July 1, 1916 March 23, 1950 33 years, 265 days July 26, 2020 (104 years, 25 days) 2nd of 2
23 Judy Holliday, Born Yesterday
June 21, 1921 March 29, 1951 29 years, 281 days June 7, 1965 (43 years, 351 days)
24 Vivien Leigh, A Streetcar Named Desire
November 5, 1913 March 20, 1952; 38 years, 136 days; July 7, 1967 (53 years, 244 days) 2nd of 2
25 Shirley Booth, Come Back, Little Sheba
August 30, 1898 March 19, 1953 54 years, 201 days October 16, 1992 (94 years, 47 days)
26 Audrey Hepburn, Roman Holiday
May 4, 1929 March 25, 1954 24 years, 325 days January 20, 1993 (63 years, 261 days)
27 Grace Kelly, The Country Girl
November 12, 1929 March 30, 1955 25 years, 138 days September 14, 1982 (52 years, 306 days)
28 Anna Magnani, The Rose Tattoo
March 7, 1908 March 21, 1956 48 years, 14 days September 26, 1973 (65 years, 203 days)
29 Ingrid Bergman, Anastasia August 29, 1915 March 27, 1957 41 years, 210 days August 29, 1982 (67 years, 0 days) 2nd of 2
30 Joanne Woodward, The Three Faces of Eve
February 27, 1930 March 26, 1958 28 years, 27 days (91 years, 53 days)
31 Susan Hayward, I Want to Live! June 30, 1917; April 6, 1959; 41 years, March 14, 1975 (57 years, 257 days)
32 Simone Signoret, Room at the Top
March 25, 1921 April 4, 1960 39 years, 10 days September 30, 1985 (64 years, 189 days)
33 Elizabeth Taylor, BUtterfield 8
February 27, 1932 April 17, 1961 29 years, 49 days March 23, 2011 (79 years, 24 days) 1st of 2
34 Sophia Loren, Two Women
September 20, 1934 April 9, 1962 27 years, 201 days (86 years, 213 days)
35 Anne Bancroft, The Miracle Worker
September 17, 1931 April 8, 1963 31 years, 203 days June 6, 2005 (73 years, 262 days)
36 Patricia Neal, Hud January 20, 1926
April 13, 1964 38 years, 84 days August 8, 2010 (84 years, 200 days)
37 Julie Andrews Mary Poppins
October 1, 1935 April 5, 1965 29 years, 186 days; (85 years, 202 days)
38 Julie Christie Darling
April 14, 1940 April 18, 1966 26 years, 4 days (81 years, 7 days)
39 Elizabeth Taylor, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?; 35
February 27, 1932 April 10, 1967 35 years, 42 days; March 23, 2011 (79 years, 24 days) 2nd of 2
40 Katharine Hepburn Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
May 12, 1907 April 10, 1968 60 years, 334 days June 29, 2003 (96 years, 48 days) 2nd of 4
41 Katharine Hepburn The Lion in Winter
May 12, 1907 April 14, 1969 61 years, 337 days June 29, 2003 (96 years, 48 days) Tie; 3rd of 4
42 Barbra Streisand Funny Girl April 24, 1942 April 14, 1969 26 years, 355 days (78 years, 362 days) Tie
43 Maggie Smith The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie December 28, 1934 April 7, 1970 35 years, 100 days (86 years, 114 days)
44 Glenda Jackson Women in Love May 9, 1936 April 15, 1971 34 years, 341 days (84 years, 347 days) 1st of 2
45 Jane Fonda Klute December 21, 1937 April 10, 1972 34 years, 111 days (83 years, 121 days) 1st of 2
46 Liza Minnelli Cabaret March 12, 1946 March 27, 1973 27 years, 15 days (75 years, 40 days)
47 Glenda Jackson A Touch of Class May 9, 1936 April 2, 1974 37 years, 328 days (84 years, 347 days) 2nd of 2
48 Ellen Burstyn Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore December 7, 1932 April 8, 1975 42 years, 122 days (88 years, 135 days)
49 Louise Fletcher One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest July 22, 1934 March 29, 1976 41 years, 251 days (86 years, 273 days)
50 Faye Dunaway, Network January 14, 1941 March 28, 1977 36 years, 73 days (80 years, 97 days)
51 Diane Keaton Annie Hall January 5, 1946 April 3, 1978 32 years, 88 days (75 years, 106 days)
52 Jane Fonda Coming Home December 21, 1937 April 9, 1979 41 years, 109 days (83 years, 121 days) 2nd of 2
53 Sally Field Norma Rae November 6, 1946 April 14, 1980 33 years, 160 days (74 years, 166 days) 1st of 2
54 Sissy Spacek Coal Miner’s Daughter December 25, 1949 March 31, 1981; 31 years, 96 days 26,050 days (71 years, 117 days)
55 Katharine Hepburn, On Golden Pond
May 12, 1907 March 29, 1982 74 years, 321 days June 29, 2003 (96 years, 48 days) 4th of 4
Held record as oldest winner for 8 award ceremonies (from the 54th to the 62nd, March 1982–March 1990)
56 Meryl Streep, Sophie’s Choice
June 22, 1949 April 11, 1983 33 years, 293 days (71 years, 303 days) 1st of 2
57 Shirley MacLaine, Terms of Endearment
April 24, 1934 April 9, 1984 49 years, 351 days (86 years, 362 days)
58 Sally Field Places in the Heart
November 6, 1946 March 25, 1985 38 years, 139 days (74 years, 166 days) 2nd of 2
59 Geraldine Page, The Trip to Bountiful
November 22, 1924 March 24, 1986 61 years, 122 days June 13, 1987 (62 years, 203 days)
60 Marlee Matlin Children of a Lesser God
August 24, 1965 March 30, 1987 21 years, 218 days (55 years, 240 days)
Has held record as youngest winner for 34 award ceremonies (from the 59th through the 92nd, March 1987–February 2020)
61 Cher, Moonstruck May 20, 1946 April 11, 1988 41 years, 327 days (74 years, 336 days)
62 Jodie Foster The Accused November 19, 1962 March 27, 1989 26 years, 128 days (58 years, 153 days) 1st of 2
63 Jessica Tandy, Driving Miss Daisy; 80 (Oldest Winner)
June 7, 1909 March 26, 1990 80 years, 292 days September 11, 1994 (85 years, 96 days)
Has held record as oldest winner for 31 award ceremonies (from the 62nd through the 92nd, March 1990–February 2020)
64 Kathy Bates, Misery June 28, 1948 March 25, 1991 42 years, 270 days (72 years, 297 days)
65 Jodie Foster The Silence of the Lambs November 19, 1962 March 30, 1992 29 years, 132 days (58 years, 153 days) 2nd of 2
66 Emma Thompson, Howards End, April 15, 1959 March 29, 1993 33 years, 348 days (62 years, 6 days)
67 Holly Hunter, The Piano March 20, 1958 March 21, 1994 36 years, 1 day (63 years, 32 days)
68 Jessica Lange, Blue Sky April 20, 1949 March 27, 1995 45 years, 341 days; (72 years, 1 day)
69 Susan Sarandon, Dead Man Walking October 4, 1946 March 25, 1996 49 years, 173 days (74 years, 199 days)
70 Frances McDormand Fargo June 23, 1957 March 24, 1997 39 years, 274 days (63 years, 302 days) 1st of 2
71 Helen Hunt, As Good as It Gets June 15, 1963 March 23, 1998 34 years, 281 days (57 years, 310 days)
72 Gwyneth Paltrow, Shakespeare in Love September 27, 1972 March 21, 1999 26 years, 175 days (48 years, 206 days)
73 Hilary Swank Boys Don’t Cry July 30, 1974 March 26, 2000 25 years, 240 days (46 years, 265 days) 1st of 2
74 Julia Roberts Erin Brockovich October 28, 1967 March 25, 2001 33 years, 148 days (53 years, 175 days)
75 Halle Berry Monster’s Ball August 14, 1966 March 24, 2002 35 years, 222 days 19,974 days (54 years, 250 days)
76 Nicole Kidman, The Hours June 20, 1967 March 23, 2003 35 years, 276 days (53 years, 305 days)
77 Charlize Theron, Monster August 7, 1975 February 29, 2004 28 years, 206 days (45 years, 257 days)
78 Hilary Swank Million Dollar Baby July 30, 1974 February 27, 2005 30 years, 212 days (46 years, 265 days) 2nd of 2
79 Reese Witherspoon Walk the Line March 22, 1976 March 5, 2006 29 years, 348 days (45 years, 30 days)
80 Helen Mirren The Queen July 26, 1945 February 25, 2007 61 years, 214 days (75 years, 269 days)
81 Marion Cotillard La Vie en rose September 30, 1975 February 24, 2008 32 years, 147 days 16,640 days (45 years, 203 days)
82 Kate Winslet, The Reader October 5, 1975 February 22, 2009 33 years, 140 days (45 years, 198 days)
83 Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side July 26, 1964 March 7, 2010 45 years, 224 days (56 years, 269 days)
84 Natalie Portman Black Swan June 9, 1981 February 27, 2011 29 years, 263 days (39 years, 316 days)
85 Meryl Streep The Iron Lady June 22, 1949 February 26, 2012 62 years, 249 days (71 years, 303 days) 2nd of 2
86 Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook August 15, 1990 February 24, 2013 22 years, 193 days (30 years, 249 days)
87 Cate Blanchett Blue, Jasmine May 14, 1969 March 2, 2014 44 years, 292 days (51 years, 342 days)
88 Julianne Moore, Still Alice December 3, 1960 February 22, 2015 54 years, 81 days (60 years, 139 days)
89 Brie Larson Room October 1, 1989 February 28, 2016 26 years, 150 days (31 years, 202 days)
90 Emma Stone, La La Land November 6, 1988 February 26, 2017 28 years, 112 days (32 years, 166 days)
91 Frances McDormand Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri June 23, 1957 March 4, 2018 60 years, 254 days 23,313 days (63 years, 302 days) 2nd of 2
92 Olivia Colman The Favourite January 30, 1974 February 24, 2019 45 years, 25 days (47 years, 81 days)
93 Renée Zellweger Judy April 25, 1969 February 9, 2020 50 years, 290 days (51 years, 361 days)
