A Decade of Academy Awards – Best Actress

Hollywood is in the crux of its annual awards season with the Oscars quickly approaching, so what better time to look back on the winners of years past?

Keep clicking to see which leading ladies have been honored with the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture for the past 10 years.

 

This year oscar winner Sandra Bullock
This year oscar winner Sandra Bullock
(1:Kate Winslet - 2008) After six nominations, Kate Winslet finally took home the Best Actress prize for her performance in 2008's The Reader, in which she played a former Nazi concentration camp guard during World War II. She said after her win, "I'd be lying if I hadn't made a version of this speech before, but I think I was probably eight years old and staring into the bathroom mirror. And this would've been a shampoo bottle."
(1:Kate Winslet – 2008) After six nominations, Kate Winslet finally took home the Best Actress prize for her performance in 2008′s The Reader, in which she played a former Nazi concentration camp guard during World War II. She said after her win, “I’d be lying if I hadn’t made a version of this speech before, but I think I was probably eight years old and staring into the bathroom mirror. And this would’ve been a shampoo bottle.”
2. Marion Cotillard, 2007: Marion Cotillard and her flawless Jean Paul Gaultier Couture gown accepted the top honor for 2007's La Vie en Rose, in which she portrayed singer Edith Piaf. She's the first (and only) actress to ever win the award for a French language performance.
2. Marion Cotillard, 2007: Marion Cotillard and her flawless Jean Paul Gaultier Couture gown accepted the top honor for 2007′s La Vie en Rose, in which she portrayed singer Edith Piaf. She’s the first (and only) actress to ever win the award for a French language performance.

3. Helen Mirren, 2006 Helen Mirren's turn as Queen Elizabeth II in 2006's The Queen was the role that earned her this prize, though she had been nominated twice before. Though don't expect her to buy into the whole awards ceremony thing: She's said before of the Oscars, "It's the creme-de-la-creme of bulls**t."
3. Helen Mirren, 2006 Helen Mirren’s turn as Queen Elizabeth II in 2006′s The Queen was the role that earned her this prize, though she had been nominated twice before. Though don’t expect her to buy into the whole awards ceremony thing: She’s said before of the Oscars, “It’s the creme-de-la-creme of bulls**t.”
4. Reese Witherspoon, 2005 Reese Witherspoon found her perfect role as June Carter Cash in Walk the Line, and the Academy seemed to agree. Kudos to Reese for actually singing the tunes herself!
4. Reese Witherspoon, 2005 Reese Witherspoon found her perfect role as June Carter Cash in Walk the Line, and the Academy seemed to agree. Kudos to Reese for actually singing the tunes herself!
5. Hilary Swank, 2004 Hilary Swank won her second Academy Award for her portrayal of boxer Maggie Fitzgerald in the 2004 Clint Eastwood vehicle Million Dollar Baby. She famously forgot to thank her then-husband Chad Lowe when she won for Boys Don't Cry in 2000, so he was the first person to get a shout-out this time around. They split a year later.
5. Hilary Swank, 2004 Hilary Swank won her second Academy Award for her portrayal of boxer Maggie Fitzgerald in the 2004 Clint Eastwood vehicle Million Dollar Baby. She famously forgot to thank her then-husband Chad Lowe when she won for Boys Don’t Cry in 2000, so he was the first person to get a shout-out this time around. They split a year later.

6. Charlize Theron, 2003 Charlize Theron uglified herself to play prostitute and serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Monster, and her efforts paid off: She won an Oscar for her performance in the film. Critics raved over her performance, too -- Roger Ebert wrote, "What Charlize Theron achieves in Patty Jenkins' Monster isn't a performance but an embodiment."
6. Charlize Theron, 2003 Charlize Theron uglified herself to play prostitute and serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Monster, and her efforts paid off: She won an Oscar for her performance in the film. Critics raved over her performance, too — Roger Ebert wrote, “What Charlize Theron achieves in Patty Jenkins’ Monster isn’t a performance but an embodiment.”
7. Nicole Kidman, 2002 Nicole Kidman's portrayal of author Virginia Woolf in 2002's The Hours earned her the Best Actress Oscar, as well as superb feedback from critics. She had to wear a prosthetic nose for the part of Woolf, and as a result, she was almost unrecognizable.
7. Nicole Kidman, 2002 Nicole Kidman’s portrayal of author Virginia Woolf in 2002′s The Hours earned her the Best Actress Oscar, as well as superb feedback from critics. She had to wear a prosthetic nose for the part of Woolf, and as a result, she was almost unrecognizable.
8. Halle Berry, 2001 Halle Berry became the first (and so far, only) African American woman to ever win the Best Actress honor, thanks to her performance in the film Monster's Ball. During her speech, she said, "This moment is so much bigger than me."
8. Halle Berry, 2001 Halle Berry became the first (and so far, only) African American woman to ever win the Best Actress honor, thanks to her performance in the film Monster’s Ball. During her speech, she said, “This moment is so much bigger than me.”

9. Julia Roberts, 2000 Julia Roberts' portrayal of single mom turned environmental activist Erin Brockovich in the film of the same name launched her reputation from romantic comedy queen to "serious actress." She didn't even pretend to tone down her excitement during her acceptance speech, exclaiming, "A girl's got to have her moment." She did, however, forget to thank the real-life Erin Brockovich. Oops.
9. Julia Roberts, 2000 Julia Roberts’ portrayal of single mom turned environmental activist Erin Brockovich in the film of the same name launched her reputation from romantic comedy queen to “serious actress.” She didn’t even pretend to tone down her excitement during her acceptance speech, exclaiming, “A girl’s got to have her moment.” She did, however, forget to thank the real-life Erin Brockovich. Oops.
10. Hilary Swank, 1999 Yep: That's Hilary Swank again! Before Million Dollar Baby, the actress won her first Oscar for her turn as transsexual Brandon Teena in Boys Don't Cry. After winning both honors, she became the third youngest woman in history to have two Academy Awards under her belt.
10. Hilary Swank, 1999 Yep: That’s Hilary Swank again! Before Million Dollar Baby, the actress won her first Oscar for her turn as transsexual Brandon Teena in Boys Don’t Cry. After winning both honors, she became the third youngest woman in history to have two Academy Awards under her belt.
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