The work and talent recognized by just one Oscar nomination should be celebrated, but some actresses and actors turn in award-worthy performances year after year.
Think of Daniel Day-Lewis’ career-defining role in “Lincoln” or Jack Nicholson in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.”
Meryl Streep has outpaced her peers in terms of Oscar nominations. To date, the actress has received 21 nods, winning three. Next in line are Katharine Hepburn and Jack Nicholson with 12 nominations each, with four wins for Hepburn and three for Nicholson.
We list the talents who have received five or more total nominations, including this year’s nominees Cate Blanchett and Michelle Williams.
Meryl Streep – 21 nominations, 3 wins
Actress Meryl Streep holds the record for most Oscar nominations, most recently being nominated for her work as Kate Graham in “The Post” at the 2018 Academy Awards. Of her 21 nods, Streep has won three Oscars for “Kramer vs. Kramer” (1979), “Sophie’s Choice” (1982) and “The Iron Lady” (2011). She could very well be on her way to an Emmy too, with the recent announcement that she has been cast in “Only Murders in the Building” on Hulu.
Katharine Hepburn – 12 nominations, 4 wins
Actress Katharine Hepburn won four out of her 12 nominations for “Morning Glory” (1933), “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” (1967), “The Lion in Winter” (1968) and “On Golden Pond” (1981).
Jack Nicholson – 12 nominations, 3 wins
Jack Nicholson ties Katharine Hepburn’s record of 12 total nominations. He has won three Oscars, for “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” (1975), “Terms of Endearment” (1983) and “As Good As It Gets” (1997).
Bette Davis – 11 nominations, 2 wins
Screen legend Bette Davis has been nominated for 11 Academy Awards. She won for Best Actress in a Leading Role in “Jezebel” (1938) and “Dangerous” (1935).
Laurence Olivier – 10 nominations, 1 win, 2 honorary
Olivier got 10 acting nods in his career, winning for Best Actor in “Hamlet” (1948).
He also won two honorary Oscars: one for bringing “Henry V” (1944) to the screen and one for his life achievements (1978).
His 13 total Oscar noms include Best Director for “Hamlet” (1948) and two Best Film (Picture) awards as a producer. His non-acting win came for Best Film for “Hamlet.”
Paul Newman – 10 nominations, 1 win, 1 honorary, 1 Hersholt
Of his ten acting nominations, Paul Newman won one Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role for “The Color of Money” (1986). He also received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1994, and an honorary award for his career achievements.
Denzel Washington – 9 nominations, 2 wins
Denzel Washington has been nominated for nine acting Academy Awards, most recently for “The Tragedy of Macbeth” (2021). His tenth is shared with Todd Black and Scott Rudin for “Fences,” which was nominated for Best Picture in 2017. Washington has won Oscars for “Training Day” (2001) and “Glory” (1989).
Spencer Tracy – 9 nominations, 2 wins
Actor Spencer Tracy garnered nine Oscar nominations in his career. He won for “Captains Courageous” (1937) and “Boys Town” (1938).
Al Pacino – 9 nominations, 1 win
Al Pacino won his Oscar for “Scent of a Woman” (1992). He has received nine nods over his career, including two playing Michael Corleone in “The Godfather” and “The Godfather Pt. II.”
Marlon Brando – 8 nominations, 2 wins
Marlon Brando won two Oscars for “On the Waterfront” (1954) and for his role in “The Godfather” (1972). He asked Sacheen Littlefeather to represent him for his “Godfather” acceptance speech, refusing the award because of the treatment of Native Americans in entertainment.
Jack Lemmon – 8 nominations, 2 wins
Actor Jack Lemon received eight Oscar nods. He won two Academy Awards for his supporting role in “Mister Roberts” (1955) and his lead role in “Save the Tiger” (1973).
Cate Blanchett – 8 nominations, 2 wins
Cate Blanchett has won two Oscars for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in “Blue Jasmine” (2013) and Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in “The Aviator” (2004), in which she played none-other than 12-time Oscar nominee Katharine Hepburn. Her nomination for Best Actress “Tár” in this year’s ceremony marks her eighth Oscars nod.
Judi Dench – 8 nominations, 1 win
Judi Dench won her Academy Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in “Mrs. Henderson Presents” (2005). She has been nominated eight times total, most recently for her role in “Belfast” (2021).
Geraldine Page – 8 nominations, 1 win
Actress Geraldine Page won her Oscar for “The Trip to Bountiful” (1985). She had seven other nominations total.
Peter O’Toole – 8 nominations,1 honorary award
While Peter O’Toole was nominated for eight Oscars throughout his acting career, he didn’t win any except for the honorary award he was given for his accomplishments. Glenn Close tied O’Toole for this feat in 2021.
Glenn Close – 8 nominations, 0 wins
Actress Glenn Close has been nominated for eight Oscars, but she hasn’t won yet. In 2021, she tied O’Toole’s record after being nominated for her role in “Hillbilly Elegy” but not winning.
Robert De Niro – 7 nominations, 2 wins
Robert De Niro has 7 Academy Award nominations, eight if you include the nod for “The Irishman” in the Best Motion Picture category in 2020. De Niro has won two Oscars for his lead role in “Raging Bull” (1980) and his supporting role in “The Godfather Part II.”
Ingrid Bergman – 7 nominations, 3 wins
Ingrid Bergman won three Oscars for Best Actress in a Leading Role for “Anastasia” (1956), Best Actress in a Leading Role in “Murder on the Orient Express” (1974) and Best Actress in a Leading Role for “Gaslight” (1944). She had four other nominations.
Jane Fonda – 7 nominations, 2 wins
Jane Fonda has been nominated for seven Oscars. She won Academy Awards for Best Actress in a Leading Role in “Klute” (1971) and Best Actress in a Leading Role in “Coming Home” (1978).
Dustin Hoffman – 7 nominations, 2 wins
Dustin Hoffman has won two Oscars — one for Best Actor in a Leading Role for “Rain Man” (1988) and one for Best Actor in a Leading Role in “Kramer vs. Kramer” (1979) starring alongside the record-holder herself Meryl Streep. He has been nominated a total of seven times.
Jeff Bridges – 7 nominations, 1 win
Jeff Bridges won his Oscar for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for “Crazy Heart” (2009). He has received seven total Oscar nominations.
Robert Duvall – 7 nominations, 1 win
Robert Duvall has been nominated seven times for various Oscars. He won for Best Actor in a Leading Role in “Tender Mercies” (1983).
Greer Carson – 7 (1 win)
Greer Carson received seven Oscar nods in her career. She won one for Best Actress in a Leading Role thanks to “Mrs. Miniver” (1942).
Kate Winslet – 7 nominations, 1 win
Kate Winslet, who most recently starred in Best Picture contender “Avatar: The Way of Water” (2022), has garnered seven Oscar nominations. She won for her role in “The Reader” (2008), taking home the trophy for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role.
Richard Burton – 7 nominations, 0 wins
Richard Burton gathered seven Academy Award nods, but he didn’t win any of them. His nods included films like “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” (1966), “Becket” (1964) and “The Robe” (1953) among others.
Daniel Day-Lewis – 6 nominations, 3 wins
Daniel Day-Lewis has won three Oscars — all for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role — for “My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown” (1989), “There Will Be Blood” (2007) and “Lincoln” (2013).’
Tom Hanks – 6 nominations, 2 wins
Tom Hanks won back-to-back Oscars for leading roles in “Philadelphia” (1993) and “Forrest Gump” (1994). His four other nominations come from “Big” (1988), “Saving Private Ryan” (1998), “Cast Away” (2000) and “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” (2019).
Maggie Smith – 6 nominations, 2 wins
Dame Maggie Smith, who has six total Oscar nominations, won two Oscars for Best Actress in a Leading Role in “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” (1969) and Best Actress in a Supporting Role in “California Suite” (1978).
Leonardo DiCaprio – 6 nominations, 1 win
Leonardo DiCaprio finally won his Oscar for “The Revenant” in 2016 after Hollywood held its breath for four previous films. He was most recently nominated for his work in Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” (2020).
Ellen Burstyn – 6 nominations, 1 win
Ellen Burstyn won her Oscar for her work in “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore” (1974). She has received five other nominations throughout her lengthy and distinguished career.
Amy Adams – 6 nominations, 0 wins
Amy Adams has six Oscar nominations from films like “Vice” (2018), “American Hustle” (2013), “The Fighter” (2010) and more. She has yet to win.
Sean Penn – 5 nominations, 2 wins
Sean Penn has won two Oscars for his roles in “Milk” (2008) and “Mystic River” (2003). He has a total of five nominations.
Susan Sarandon – 5 nominations, 1 win
Susan Sarandon won her Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her work in “Dead Man Walking” (1995). She has four other nominations.
Michelle Williams – 5 nominations, 0 wins
Michelle Williams received her fifth Oscar nomination for her work in “The Fabelmans” (2022), thus she’ll be competing in this year’s ceremony for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Her previous nods have been for “Manchester by the Sea” (2016), “My Week with Marilyn” (2011) “Blue Valentine” (2010) and “Brokeback Mountain” (2005).
Nicole Kidman – 5 nominations, 1 win
Nicole Kidman has been nominated five times for an Oscar. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role portraying Virginia Woolf in “The Hours” (2002).
