Best Actress: Recent Episodes

Kyle Brownrigg

Discussing Best Actress & Best Supporting Actress Oscar wins, the nominees, and a final reveal of who should have walked away with Hollywood’s highest honour. Hosted by award winning comedian Kyle Brownrigg and guest every two weeks.

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The year is 1938 and the nominees are:

Luise Rainer - The Good Earth
Irene Donne - The Awful Truth
Greta Garbo - Camille
Janet Gaynor - A Star is Born
Barbara Stanwyck - Stella Dallas

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In 1938 Luise Rainer became the first performer to win back-to-back Oscars as well as the first performer to have two Academy Awards. Her first Oscar was won the year prior for The Great Ziegfeld. If you weren’t aware, this is perhaps one of the most controversial Oscar wins because Luise Rainer, a German born woman, is portraying a Chinese woman in yellow face in The Good Earth. A big part of her win for this Oscar was the major financial support from the MGM studio she was represented by. The other nominees gave career standouts in their respective films but were freelance actors and couldn’t campaign to the same lengths as a major studio. Luise Rainer was only in Hollywood for a total of 3 years before eventually leaving as a result of the lack of interest in “the glam” of movie stardom. Regardless, she set an Oscar record that has only been repeated (in leading roles) by Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, and Tom Hanks.

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Chris as they discuss.

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The year is 2023 and the nominees are:

Michelle Yeoh - Everything Everywhere All at Once
Cate Blanchett - Tár
Ana de Armas - Blonde
Andrea Riseborough
Michelle Williams - The Fabelmans

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In 2023 Michelle Yeoh became the second woman of colour in the 95 year history of the Oscars to win Best Actress in a Leading Role for the critical smash hit, Everything Everywhere All at Once. This was one of the most exciting Best Actress Oscar races in recent memory. In my opinion it really came down to Yeoh, Blanchett, and Riseborough (the dark horse nominee of the century). I think a lot of people were expecting Riseborough to be the upset since her nomination shocked everyone, including the Academy, and called for a recount and investigation, which turned out to be above board. Blanchett as Tár is arguably one of Blanchett’s greatest performances on screen. Yeoh was utilizing all her skills in this powerhouse performance in EEAAO. It was a real nail biter! I think the correct winner was Yeoh however when it comes down to personal taste, I have my opinions. I’m sorry to say I don’t think Williams or de Armas had a real shot at this trophy. Not this year. Who do you think should have won?

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Cathryn Naiker as they discuss.

[ For full episode catalogue please subscribe to our Patreon at Patreon.com/BestActress ] The year is 1985 and the nominees are:

Sissy Spacek - The River
Vanessa Redgrave - The Bostonians
Jessica Lange - Country
Judy Davis - A Passage to India
Sally Field - Places in the Heart

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In 1985 Sally Field won her second Oscar playing a widow struggling to save her farm in Places in the Heart. This was an odd year in that there were 2 other similarly nominated roles for both Jessica Lange and Sissy Spacek. Each of films portrayed a woman trying to keep her family and farm from being foreclosed by the bank. Honestly these films began to blur together while viewing. Oh this is also the famous year when Field said the famously misquoted quote, “I can’t deny the fact that you like me! Right now! You like me!” Judy Davis became a first time nominee for the David Lean epic in A Passage to India. This was Lean’s return to screen after a 14 year hiatus following the negative reviews from critics for the film Ryan’s Daughter. Finally, Vanessa Redgrave plays a suffragette in the extremely queer coded The Bostonians. Who do you think should have won?

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Dylan Mahaney as they discuss.

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The year is 1959 and the nominees are:

Susan Hayward - I Want to Live!
Deborah Kerr - Separate Tables
Shirley MacLaine - Some Came Running
Rosalind Russell - Auntie Mama
Elizabeth Taylor - Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

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In 1959 Susan Hayward won the Oscar for her portrayal of alleged murder accomplice Barbara Graham and her eventual execution in a gas chamber. Hayward was known for delivering top shelf performances dealing with dark subject matter and she does not disappoint in, I Want to Live! Baby Shirley MacLaine received her first Oscar nomination for Some Came Running playing an uneducated naive girl from Chicago who falls in love with Frank Sinatra. Deborah Kerr gave a brief but memorable performance in Separate Tables, one of two films this year that had to be adjusted for the Hollywood Production code as to avoid discussing topics of homosexuality (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof being the second). Rosalind Russell delivers an amazing performance as the eccentric aunt (perhaps a precursor to Travels with my Aunt with Maggie Smith) known for her quirky lifestyle and outgoing personality. Finally, Elizabeth Taylor plays Paul Newman’s wife desperately trying to get him to love her again (even physically (same girl)) in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Who do you think should have won?

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Joe Arsenal as they discuss.

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The year is 1945 and the nominees are:

Ingrid Bergman - Gaslight
Claudette Colbert - Since You Went Away
Bette Davis - Mr. Skeffington
Greer Garson - Mrs. Parkington
Barbara Stanwyck - Double Indemnity

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In 1945 Ingrid Bergman won her first of three Oscars for a role that we currently use as a psychological term in Gaslight. Bergman plays a woman who becomes suspicious of goings-on in her home but is manipulated by her husband into doubting herself which leads her to question her own perceptions and behaviours; which we colourfully refer to these days as ‘gaslighting.’ I think her biggest competition this year came down to Claudette Colbert or Barbara Stanwyck. Stanwyck never won a competitive Oscar but Colbert had. Perhaps Stanwyck was the bigger competition. Each film was very enjoyable minus Mrs. Parkington. Of all the Garson performances this is not one of my fav’s. Who do you think should have won?

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Josh Murray as they discuss.

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The year is 1954 and the nominees are:

Audrey Hepburn - Roman Holiday
Leslie Caron - Lili
Ava Gardner - Mogambo
Deborah Kerr - From Here to Eternity
Maggie McNamara - The Moon is Blue

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In 1954 Audrey Hepburn won the Oscar for Best Actress playing a princess going from ‘riches to rags for a day’ in the classic film, Roman Holiday. I’ve always wondered why she won the Oscar for this film and not for something like Breakfast at Tiffany’s or The Nun’s Story. Now having seen the other nominated performances, I get it. I wouldn’t say this was a weak year necessarily but I would say there were some odd choices of nominees. Deborah Kerr was incredible in From Here to Eternity but I don’t think we saw enough of her to warrant a win. Leslie Caron gets so many brownie points for having to sell those scene with those creepy ass puppets in Lili. Ava Gardner in Mogambo is the most confusing nominee in this category, as we discuss at length this episode. Who do you think should have won?

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Cathryn Naiker as they discuss.

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The year is 2015 and the nominees are:

Marion Cotillard - Two Days, One Night
Felicity Jones - The Theory of Everything
Julianne Moore - Still Alice
Rosamund Pike - Gone Girl
Reese Witherspoon - Wild

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In 2015 Julianne Moore finally won her Oscar after her fifth nomination for arguably one of the most heartbreaking performances put to screen as a woman suffering from early on set Alzheimer’s disease. An incredibly powerful performance that won her the Golden Globe, SAG, Critics Choice, BAFTA, and Oscar - the “quintuple crown.” This year was nothing short of amazing performances from each nominee. Felicity Jones absolutely slays as Steven Hawkins life partner and caretaker in another heartbreaking performance in The Theory of Everything. Marion Cotillard received her second Oscar nomination playing a woman struggling with depression fighting for her job. Rosamund Pike delivers a ‘she’s fabulous but she’s evil’ performance in Gone Girl. Finally Reese Witherspoon gives one of her grossest (in the best possible way) performances of her career in Wild. Who do you think should have won?

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Robert Watson as they discuss.

[ For full episode catalogue please subscribe to our Patreon at Patreon.com/BestActress ] The year is 1956 and the nominees are:

Anna Magnani - The Rose Tattoo
Susan Hayward - I'll Cry Tomorrow
Katharine Hepburn - Summertime
Jennifer Jones - Love Is a Many Splendored Thing
Eleanor Parker - Interrupted Melody
Please note: My mic wasn't working and by default used my laptop mic to record. Apologies for sound quality - will be fixed for future episodes. In 1956 Anna Magnani became the first Italian - and first non-English speaking woman - to win an Oscar. Tennessee Williams became an admirer of her acting and wrote The Rose Tattoo specifically for her to star in. This was a very strong year of course for the exception of Jennifer Jones in full yellowface portraying a Chinese/European doctor in China. Who do you think should have won? Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Glenn Sumi as they discuss.

[ For full episode catalogue please subscribe to our Patreon at Patreon.com/BestActress ] The year is 1946 and the nominees are:

Joan Crawford - Mildred Pierce
Ingrid Bergman - The Bells of St. Mary's
Greer Garson - The Valley of Decision
Jennifer Jones - Love Letters
Gene Tierney - Leave Her to Heaven
In 1946 Joan Crawford won the Best Actress Oscar for Mildred Pierce in one of the greatest Hollywood comeback stories of all time. After being dropped by MGM Crawford signed with Warner Studios. She didn't work for years because she spent her time studying and learning what made a good script. Along comes Mildred Pierce and the rest is history. Some hits and misses this year. Really enjoyed Gene Tierney and Greer Garson in their respective films. Bergman is always a delight to watch but TBOSM isn't exactly a high stakes plot. Jennifer Jones was perhaps my least favourite of the group. These are just my thoughts! Tune in to this week's episode to hear more! Who do you think should have won?

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Josh Murray as they discuss.

[ For full episode catalogue please subscribe to our Patreon at Patreon.com/BestActress ] The year is 1976 and the nominees are:

Isabelle Adjani - The Story of Adele H. Ann-Margret - Tommy Louise Fletcher - One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest Glenda Jackson - Hedda Carol Kane - Hester Street - In 1976 Louise Fletcher won Best Actress for playing one of the most iconic movie villains of all time, Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. This film became the first in 41 years to sweep the major categories of Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, and Screenplay. I would say Adjani was likely Fletcher’s biggest competition as she became the youngest nominee for Best Actress at that time at the age of 20. She won the National Board of Review, National Society of Film Critics, and the New York Film Critics Circle awards for her work in The Story of Adele H. If you have never seen the movie musical Tommy, do yourself a favour, take some bong hits and enjoy. Ann-Margret’s performance as Nora is honestly one of the strangest (in a good way) things I have ever witnessed on this podcast. Who do you think should have won?

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Bryan Hatt as they discuss.

[ For full episode catalogue please subscribe to our Patreon at Patreon.com/BestActress ] The year is 1966 and the nominees are: Julie Andrews - The Sound of Music Julie Christie - Darling Samantha Eggar - The Collector Elizabeth Hartman - A Patch of Blue Simone Signoret - Ship of Fools - In 1966 Julie Christie won Best Actress for Darling playing a young London model who sleeps her way to the top (good for you girl). She famously beat Julie Andrews in what is considered her best work in The Sound of Music. Andrews had won the award for Best Actress the year prior so it made her win unlikely. However many feel if Andrews should have an Oscar, it should have been for this film. Ultimately this year comes down to Julie vs. Julie and it didn't disappoint. A lot of really interesting films and performances. Join host Kyle Brownrigg and he discusses with guest host Joe Arsenal.

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The year is 1967 and the nominees are:

1) Elizabeth Taylor - Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf 2) Anouk Aimée - A Man and a Woman 3) Ida Kaminska - The Shop on Main Street 4) Lynn Redgrave - Georgy Girl 5) Vanessa Redgrave - Morgan!

- In 1967 Elizabeth Taylor won her second Oscar in a role that is regarded as one of the greatest screen performances ever in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf. Siblings Lynn and Vanessa Redgrave were also nominated (last time this happened was when Joan Fontaine and Olivia de Havilland were nominated in 1942). There were also two foreign language film performances nominated each respectively for Ida Kaminska and Anouk Aimée. I have to say, one of the strangest Best Actress years we've done on this podcast. Tune in on this week's episode to find out why!

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Cathryn Naiker as they discuss.

[ For full episode catalogue please subscribe to our Patreon at Patreon.com/BestActress ] NEW EPISODE ALERT

The year is 1963 and the nominees are:

Anne Bancroft - The Miracle Worker Bette Davis - Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? Katharine Hepburn - Long Day’s Journey into Night Geraldine Page - Sweet Bird of Youth Lee Remick - Days of Wine and Roses - In 1963 Bette Davis was odds on favourite to win her third Oscar and become the first actor to have three for her performance in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane. However on Oscar night Davis famously lost to Anne Bancroft for her physically demanding role playing Annie Sullivan in The Miracle Worker. To add salt in the wounds her on-screen (and allegedly off-screen) enemy Joan Crawford took to the podium to accept the award on Bancroft’s behalf. It was viewed as a petty act of revenge toward Davis and to the Academy for not being nominated for Jane. Crawford also allegedly actively campaigned against Davis to ensure her loss. This was definitively a juicy year! You can’t really talk about Bancroft’s win without talking about the infamous feud between Davis and Crawford. Others nominated were Katharine Hepburn, Geraldine Page, and Lee Remick. This year really came down to Davis vs. Bancroft in our opinion. Listen to our new episode as we discuss!

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Viza Decline as they discuss.

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The year is 1942 and the nominees are:

Joan Fontaine - Suspicion
Bette Davis - The Little Foxes
Olivia de Havilland - Hold Back the Dawn
Greer Garson - Blossoms in the Dust
Barbara Stanwyck - Ball of Fire

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In 1942 Joan Fontaine won Best Actress for Alfred Hitchcock’s Suspicion (a movie title he allegedly hated). Many pundits think she won because she did not win the previous year when she was nominated for Rebecca (1940 (Ginger Rogers won FYI (deservedly))). There is a little bit of classic Hollywood drama this year as Olivia de Havilland (Fontaine’s sister) was also nominated and lost. Not a feud of Bette Davis and Joan Crawford proportions but one that is worth researching. Plenty of YouTube docs available on this subject! Bette Davis received her fourth Oscar nomination in a row for The Little Foxes. Greer Garson gives one of her best performances in Blossoms in the Dust. Finally Barbara Stanwyck gives a hilarious performance in Ball of Fire, a sort of Snow White & the Seven Dwarves meets the Big Bang Theory sort of film. A truly enjoyable year! Who do you think should have won?

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Bobby Knauff as they discuss.

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The year is 1962 and the nominees are:

Sophia Loren - Two Women
Audrey Hepburn - Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Piper Laurie - The Hustler
Geraldine Page - Summer and Smoke
Natalie Wood - Splendour in the Grass

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In 1962 Sophia Loren became the first Best Actress winner to win for a performance in a foreign language film playing Cesira in Two Women. Two Women is the story of a widow (Loren) and her lonely daughter seeking distance between them and the horror of WWII. This was a very stacked year. Audrey Hepburn’s performance in Breakfast at Tiffany’s is arguably one of the most iconic films in movie history. Piper Laurie gives a devastating performance playing opposite Paul Newman in The Husler as an alcoholic struggling with mental health issues. Geraldine Page plays the very-conservative-girl-next-door in Summer and Smoke. Finally Natalie Wood is “obsessed” with Warren Beatty and her “urges” that eventually cause her to go insane (was a bit confused by this) in Splendor in the Grass. Wood gives a fine performance I just found the ultra-conservative plot/circumstance a bit confusing. Either way! Amazing year with amazing performances! Who do you think should have won?

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Selena Vyle as they discuss.

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The year is 1934 and the nominees are:

Katharine Hepburn - Morning Glory
Diana Wynard - Cavalcade
May Robson - Lady for a Day

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In 1934 Katharine Hepburn won her first of four Oscars playing Eva Lovelace, an aspiring actress who faces various career setbacks but ultimately makes it in show business. At this time in history there were only 3 nominees per category and there were was no category for supporting actor/actress. That did not happen until 1937 when Walter Brennan won for Come and Get It and Gale Sondergaard won for Anthony Adverse for supporting actor and actress (respectively). Diana Wynard and May Robson each give fantastic performances and frankly with 3 nominees it makes the Oscar race much more competitive. Frankly I think you could make an argument for any of these performances to win. I don’t think there was a clear front runner. Have you seen these films? If so who do you think should have won?

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Dan Dillabough as they discuss.

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The year is 1952 and the nominees are:

Kathryn Hepburn - The African Queen
Vivien Leigh - A Streetcar Named Desire
Eleanor Parker - Detective Story
Shelley Winters - A Place in the Sun
Jane Wyman - The Blue Veil

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In 1952 Vivien Leigh won her second Oscar for A Streetcar Named Desire. This film swept the acting categories with Best Supporting Actress going to Kim Hunter, Best Supporting Actor going to Karl Malden, but a surprise loss in Lead Actor for Marlon Brando (he was truly robbed). Parker and Winters gave fine performances in their respective films but they were very brief and one could argue category fraud for supporting. Who do you think should have won?

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Cathryn Naiker as they discuss.

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NEW EPISODE ALERT

The year is 1969 and the nominees are:

Katharine Hepburn - The Lion in Winter
Barbra Streisand - Funny Girl
Patricia Neal - The Subject Was Roses
Vanessa Redgrave - Isadora
Joanne Woodward - Rachel, Rachel

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In 1969 Ingrid Bergman presented the Oscar for Best Actress and was stunned when she opened the envelope revealing a tie for Barbra Streisand and Katharine Hepburn. Up until this point in Academy history there had only ever been a tie twice. First in 1932 for Best Actor and a second in 1950 for Best Documentary Short Subject. In those days you could tie with a margin of difference of 3 votes. However in 1969 both Hepburn and Streisand had to have equal number of votes to win, and they did (allegedly (technically no way to prove they didn’t))! Two fantastic performances were rewarded that night but we don’t believe in ties on Best Actress Podcast! Tune in to find out who we think the Oscar should have gone to in 1969!

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Fiona O’Brien as they discuss.

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The year is 1940 and the nominees are:

Vivien Leigh - Gone with the Wind
Bette Davis - Dark Victory
Irene Dunne - Love Affair
Greta Garbo - Ninotchka
Greer Garson - Goodbye, Mr. Chips

In 1940 Vivien Leigh won the Oscar for Best Actress and is regarded, by some, as the greatest Best Actress Oscar win of all time. A role which Bette Davis admitted as being furious for not being cast in. If you’ve seen ‘Feud’ they make a few funny jokes about this. Although Davis did not play Scarlett, she still was a nominee that year for Dark Victory, playing a woman with a terminal brain tumour. Irene Dunne and Greta Garbo give really fun rom-com performances in Love Affair and Ninotchka (you can watch these films on YouTube). Greer Garson became a first time nominee in a brief, but memorable, performance in Goodbye, Mr. Chips. It’s hard to imagine anyone but Leigh winning this Oscar but it’s fun watching these performances. Who do you think should have won?

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Joe Arsenal as they discuss.

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The year is 2021 and the nominees are:

Andra Day - The United States vs. Billie Holiday
Vanessa Kirby - Pieces of a Woman
Carey Mulligan - Promising Young Woman
Viola Davis - Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Frances McDormand - Nomadland

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In 2021 Frances McDormand won her third Best Actress Oscar for Nomadland. McDormand currently has the second most Best Actress Oscars won to date with three (Katharine Hepburn has four). Nomadland stars McDormand as Fern, a woman who packs her van and sets off on the road exploring a life outside of conventional society as a modern-day nomad. Vanessa Kirby plays a woman who loses her child in a home birth. She has some amazing scenes with Ellen Burstyn (really thought she should have been nominated for Best Supporting Actress). Carey Mulligan received her second Best Actress nomination for Pieces of a Woman (first for An Education). Andra Day made her screen debut in The US vs. Billie Holiday delivering an exceptional performance with incredible vocals. She could have won this Oscar but the movie/script really fails her. Viola Davis stars as Ma Rainey, famous blues singer, in a very well acted but terribly boring film (sorry not sorry) Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Ted Morris as they discuss.

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The year is 2022 and the nominees are:

Nicole Kidman - Being the Ricardos
Penélope Cruz - Parallel Mothers
Kristen Stewart - Spencer
Jessica Chastain - The Eyes of Tammy Faye
Olivia Colman - The Lost Daughter

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In 2022 Jessica Chastain won her Oscar (finally) for portraying the iconic televangelist, Tammy Faye. Chastain has incredible range and she certainly does not disappoint in this larger than life role. Was it my personal fav performance of hers? You’ll have to listen to the episode to find out! Frankly, you could make an argument for any one of these performances as winsome. I think it was time to reward Chastain for her incredible body of work. Maybe the spoiler would have been Cruz or Kidman; I think many thought this was going to happen. Colman was semi-fresh off her recent win for The Favourite so a win was not likely. I was so happy to see Stewart get a nomination (finally) and it stands as a victory for so many reasons. Who do you think should have won?

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Jesse Reynolds as they discuss.

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The year is 1965 and the nominees are:

Kim Stanley - Seance on a Wet Afternoon
Debbie Reynolds - The Unsinkable Molly Brown
Sophia Loren - Marriage Italian Style
Anne Bancroft - The Pumpkin Eater
Julie Andrews - Mary Poppins

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In 1965 Julie Andrews victoriously won the Best Actress Oscar for her iconic role as Mary Poppins. It was a bit of a musical vs musical of Mary Poppins vs My Fair Lady in the Best Picture category and was a snub for Audrey Hepburn in the best actress category. Andrews made Eliza Doolittle famous on Broadway and was the expected choice for the role but when Jack Warner wanted a more bankable star and gave it to Hepburn the public sunk their teeth into the drama. The win for Poppins was seen as a consolation prize for this ‘injustice’ to Andrews. This made Julie Andrews insecure about the win for decades and left her Oscar in her attic. She has since seen the win for what it is, a true accomplishment (I mean MP was her first movie EVER), and Oscar is now proudly displayed on her mantle for all to see. Each performance nominated this year is so different and was a very interesting one to dissect.

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Robert Watson as they discuss.

The year is 2014 and the nominees are:

Meryl Streep - August: Osage County
Cate Blanchett - Blue Jasmine
Sandra Bullock - Gravity
Judi Dench - Philomena
Amy Adams - American Hustle

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In 2014 Cate Blanchett won the Oscar for her haunting performance in Blue Jasmine playing a New York socialite whose privileged life has come crashing down around her after her husband’s disgraced business dealings lands him in jail and eventually leads to his suicide. In Sophia Loren’s memoir “Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow: My Life”, the screen legend reveals that she still absorbs inspiration from other actors to enhance her own acting, saying, “Recently, I was struck by the last scene in Blue Jasmine, where Cate B has an expression on her face I’d never seen before. That expression crept inside me, and it lies there waiting to germinate a new plant, a new flower” - high praise. Also nominated was Meryl Streep playing a verbally abusive, drug addicted matriarch dying of cancer. Always love when Streep plays someone truly vile. Sandra Bullock was nominated for the panic attack known as Gravity. For many fans this nomination was a redemption for the controversial/lack lustre win for ’The Blind Side’ and it does not disappoint. Judi Dench delivers a heart breaking performance in Philomena searching for her son after Irish nuns sold him with her consent in the early 1950’s. Finally, Amy Adams becomes a first time nominee in the lead category playing a foxy con artist who uses her sexuality and wits to get what she wants in American Hustle.

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Cathryn Naiker as they discuss.

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NEW EPISODE ALERT

The year is 1971 and the nominees are:

Glenda Jackson - Women in Love
Jane Alexander - The Great White Hope
Ali MacGraw - Love Story
Sarah Miles - Ryan’s Daughter
Carrie Snodgress - Diary of a Mad Housewife

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In 1971 Glenda Jackson won her first Oscar for Women in Love, a film that was very controversial for the time. It was banned in many countries due to its nudity and male on male naked wrestling (oh my). Jackson was not present at the ceremony as she believed, for both her Oscar wins, that she did not deserve the award. You have a lot of very different performances here and it’s tricky picking which was truly the ‘best.’ Sarah Miles in Ryan’s Daughter was an amazing performance but the movie was borderline hated by critics. This was Jane Alexander’s film debut reprising her Tony winning role in The Great White Hope. Not bad for your first film! Ali MacGraw starred opposite Ryan O’Neal in Love Story playing a tragic Romeo & Juliet figure. Finally Carrie Snodgress was nominated for Diary of a Mad Housewife, a drama/comedy film that was insane for all the right and wrong reasons.

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Bryan Hatt as they discuss.

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The year is 1975 and the nominees are:

Valerie Perrine - Lenny
Faye Dunaway - Chinatown
Gena Rowlands - A Woman Under the Influence
Ellen Burstyn - Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore
Diahann Carroll - Claudine

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In 1975 Ellen Burstyn won the Best Actress Oscar for Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. This was arguably one of the most competitive years in Best Actress history. Each one of these nominees could have easily walked away with the award. In fact, they each won other ‘Best Actress’ awards for their respected roles leading up to the Oscars. I think for me personally it just comes down to personal taste. One of the best years to discuss!

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Josh Murray as they discuss.

[ For full episode catalogue please subscribe to our Patreon at Patreon.com/BestActress ]

The year is 2012 and the nominees are:

Michelle Williams - My Week with Marilyn
Viola Davis - The Help
Rooney Mara - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep - The Iron Lady
Glenn Close - Albert Nobbs

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In 2012 Meryl Streep won her third Oscar (second for Lead Actress) playing Margaret Thatcher in The Iron lady. She swept award season with this performance. Weinstein’s angle during the campaign season was that Meryl hadn’t won since Sophie’s Choice- she was over due. This award seemed to be in the bag for Streep until Viola Davis showed up to the table with her incredible performance as Aibileen in The Help. A role she would later express regret toward due to the film’s white saviour narrative. White saviour narrative aside - it’s a heartbreaking performance and a real contender for this Oscar. Rooney Mara made her Oscar debut in the Hollywood version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. The original role was played by Noomi Rapace. Michelle Williams played Marilyn Monroe in My Week with Marilyn; which she won the Golden Globe for. Glenn Close received her 6th Oscar nomination for playing Albert Nobbs, a woman disguised as a man trying to survive in 19th century Ireland. Very strong year!

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Fiona O’Brien as they discuss.

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The year is 1970 and the nominees are:

Maggie Smith - The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
Genevieve Bujold - Anne of the Thousand Days
Jane Fonda - They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?
Liza Minnelli - The Sterile Cuckoo
Jean Simmons - The Happy Ending
In 1970 Maggie Smith won her first of two Oscars for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. Smith plays an eccentric schoolteacher in a conservative school during the 1930’s in Edinburgh, Scotland. She had won the BAFTA for Best Lead Actress but odds on favourite at the Oscars was Jane Fonda in They Shoot Horses, Don’t They. Many speculated she (Fonda) lost this Oscar due to an arrest on Fort Hood military reservation as well as rumours of drug use and adultery had cost her the award. Remember! It was the late 1960’s/70’s. However Smith delivers an amazing performance in TPOMJB. Liza Minnelli became a first time nominee in The Sterile Cuckoo. A role Judy Garland urged her not to play worried it would make her seem unattractive. I don’t agree! Pookie (the character Minnelli plays) is obnoxiously charming! Genevieve Bujold plays Anne Boleyn in Anne of the Thousand Days. A fantastic performance and I would recommend if you enjoy period pieces. Finally, Jean Simmons was nominated for The Happy Ending - a hilarious camp film about a woman who walks out on her family (inexplicably) and struggles with drug and alcohol addiction.

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Luke McFarlane as they discuss.

The year is 2005 and the nominees are:

Sophie Okonedo - Hotel Rwanda
Natalie Portman - Closer
Laura Linney - Kinsey
Cate Blanchett - The Aviator
Virginia Madsen - Sideways
In 2005 Cate Blanchett won her first Oscar for best actress in a supporting role portraying Katharine Hepburn in The Aviator. This race really came down to her and Natalie Portman for Closer. Portman won the Golden Globe and was likely her (Blanchett) biggest competition. A very diverse group of nominees in terms of roles. It’s difficult comparing Virginia Madsen in Sideways to Sophie Okonedo in Hotel Rwanda trying to discuss who was the better actress. How can you compare apples to oranges?

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Bobby Knauff as they discuss.

The year is 1972 and the nominees are:

Glenda Jackson - Sunday Bloody Sunday
Jane Fonda - Klute
Janet Suzman - Nicholas and Alexandra
Vanessa Redgrave - Mary, Queen of Scots
Julie Christie - McCabe & Mrs. Miller
In 1972 Jane Fonda won her first Oscar for playing Bree Daniels, a New York prostitute, in the iconic thriller Klute (still don’t understand why it’s called Klute). This was a very interesting year in that there was a very clear winner. I generally find doing this podcast each batch of nominees has strong competition but, sadly, I didn’t feel that this episode. Glenda Jackson was likely her biggest competition but having won Best Actress the year prior, it was unlikely. Also I feel her performance as Queen Elizabeth in Mary, Queen of Scots was more interesting and more deserving of a nomination. Venessa Redgrave as Mary was a wonderful performance but I felt Jackson stole the show. Julie Christie in McCabe & Mrs. Miller had such presence but it left me wanting more. Finally, Janet Suzman in her screen debut portrayed Alexandra of the Romanov dynasty gave a fine performance but the historical inaccuracies and confusing plot points distracted from the performance. Listen to the episode for all of our thoughts!

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Cathryn Naiker as they discuss.

The year is 2014 and the nominees are:

Lupita Nyong’o - 12 Years a Slave
June Squibb - Nebraska
Sally Hawkins - Blue Jasmine
Julia Roberts - August Osage County
Jennifer Lawrence - American Hustle

In 2014 Lupita Nyong’o walked away with an Oscar for her debut film role playing Patsy in Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave. It was a bit of a nail biter that evening as Lawrence had won almost every supporting trophy leading up to that night. Jennifer Lawrence had previously won for lead actress the previous year so it would make her win unlikely. Still! She had a solid shot at this award. Julia Roberts was also a strong competitor in this category for her iconic screaming-at-Meryl-Streep-scenes in August Osage County. Sally Hawkins and June Squibb became first time nominees for their respective work in Blue Jasmine and Nebraska. Amazing performances by all however I personally believe the top three to be Nyong’o, Lawrence, and Roberts. Who do you think should have won?

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Rob Browne as they discuss.

The year is 1993 and the nominees are:

Susan Sarandon - Lorenzo’s Oil
Emma Thompson - Howards End
Michelle Pfeiffer - Love Field
Catherine Deneuve - Indochine
Mary McDonnell - Passion Fish
In 1993 Emma Thompson was nominated for, and won, every single competitive acting award for Howards End. If you’ve listened to this podcast before you know how much this movie bored me. This will shock and amaze you but I have become a Howards End enthusiast after this episode. Other nominees included Michelle Pfeiffer in Love Field and Catherine Deneuve in Indochine. They were unlikely to take home the prize that evening. Thompson’s biggest competition was likely Susan Sarandon in Lorenzo’s Oil and Mary McDonnell in Passion Fish. This was a fun episode to discuss!

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Josh Murray as they discuss.

The year is 2017 and the nominees are:

Isabelle Huppert - Elle
Emma Stone - La La Land
Ruth Negga - Loving
Natalie Portman - Jackie
Meryl Streep - Florence Foster Jenkins

In 2017 Emma Stone took home the Oscar for Moonlight-sorry-La La Land! It was a pretty stacked year with very heavy performances. Natalie Portman played Jackie O navigating the emotional trauma of watching her husband be murdered right in front of her. Isabelle Huppert plays a rape victim while also trying to outlive the trauma of her childhood. Ruth Negga plays Mildred Loving who changed the constitution of America allowing people of different races to marry. Meryl Streep plays a terrible opera singer based on the real life Florence Foster Jenkins. Who do you think should have won?

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Ted Morris as they discuss.

The year is 1982 and the nominees are:

Katharine Hepburn - On Golden Pond
Susan Sarandon - Atlantic City
Marsha Mason - Only When I Laugh
Diane Keaton - Reds
Meryl Streep - The French Lieutenant’s Woman
In 1982 Katharine Hepburn became the first (and still only) actor to have 4 Academy Awards for a performance by an actor in a lead role. As Ethel in On Golden Pond she plays the wife/mother of the Fondas (Henry and Jane) in an emotional driven story about family and relationships, new and old. Hepburn was not present for the ceremony to receive her Oscar (as was her style) though neither was Henry Fonda or Sir John Gielgud (who won Supporting for Arthur). Susan Sarandon became a first time nominee in Atlantic City in a gritty gangster drama playing opposite Burt Lancaster. Marsha Mason became a four time nominee (still no wins) for Only When I Laugh playing a Broadway actress returning home from rehab. Meryl Streep received her first Best Actress in a leading role nomination for The French Lieutenant’s Woman, a role which she describes as her least favourite (but it’s still pretty impressive). Finally Diane Keaton plays Louise Bryant in Reds demonstrating her range and proving she can handle a historic drama. Very interesting year! Who do you think should have won?

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Glenn Sumi as they discuss.

The year is 1986 and the nominees are:

Whoopi Goldberg - The Color Purple
Meryl Streep - Out of Africa
Jessica Lange - Sweet Dreams
Geraldine Page - The Trip to Bountiful
Anne Bancroft - Agnes of God
In 1986 Geraldine Page finally won her Oscar after being nominated 8 times over the course of 3 decades (similar to Glenn Close - 8 nominations over the course of 4 decades). When she won she was met with thunderous applause and a standing ovation. The industry felt she was overdue and wanted to celebrate her big moment, which is great, but was she the best actress that year? The Color Purple was nominated for 11 Oscars and won 0 and Steven Spielberg was even snubbed as Best Director. Many people thought Whoopi should have won for playing Celie -a black southern woman who struggles to find her identity after suffering abuse from her father and others over four decades. You also have Meryl Streep at her finest in the cinematic epic (and best Picture Winner) Out of Africa. This is a very stacked year. Jessica Lange gave an amazing performance as country singer Patsy Cline. Anne Bancroft played Mother Miriam Ruth in Agnes of God defending the possibility of an immaculate conception of one of her nuns (a role which Geraldine Page originated on Broadway and was nominated for a Tony). Much to discuss on this episode!

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Mayce Galoni as they discuss.

The year is 2004 and the nominees are:

Keisha Castle-Hughes - Whale Rider
Naomi Watts - 21 Grams
Diane Keaton - Something’s Gotta Give
Charlize Theron - Monster
Samantha Morton - In America
In 2004 Charlize Theron received her first Oscar nomination and win for playing Aileen Wuornos who was a prostitute and serial killer. This haunting performance remains one of the best in Oscar history (IMO). This was a very strong year with very diverse performances each brilliant in their own way. Naomi Watts gave a devastating performance in the movie 21 Grams playing a woman who loses her children and husband in a hit and run accident. Samantha Morton plays an Irish immigrant trying to make it in America while trying to overcome the loss of her son. Diane Keaton plays in a much more light hearted rom-com defying age in a brave (and funny) performance in Something’s Gotta Give. Finally Keisha Castle-Hughes gives a captivating performance in Whale Rider becoming (at the time) the youngest Best Actress nominee at 13. The current record is held by Quvenzhané Wallis who was nominated at 9.

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Jesse Reynolds as they discuss. . . . . . . . . . . . .

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The year is 2003 and the nominees are:

Salma Hayek - Frida
Nicole Kidman - The Hours
Renée Zellweger - Chicago
Julianne Moore - Far from Heaven
Diane Lane - Unfaithful
In 2003 Nicole Kidman won her Oscar “…by a nose” for playing Virginia Woolf in The Hours. With only 28 minutes of screen time Kidman had the least amount of time in front of the camera compared to her costars (Streep had 42 min and Moore had 33 min) but Miramax wanted to put her forward as lead as to not compete with Moore in a supporting category. Frankly I’m not mad at this but it probably effected Salma Hayek’s chances to win as Miramax now had two of their actresses competing for a lead Oscar. Hayek gave a career best in Frida portraying iconic artist, Frida Kahlo. Renée Zellweger gave a triple threat performance in Chicago playing Roxie Hart in a world where corruption and deceit is rewarded. Julianne Moore was double nominated in 2003 for The Hours and Far from Heaven. Far from Heaven tells the story of Cathy a perfect 1950’s housewife whose life and belief system comes crashing down after her husband (Dennis Quaid) comes to terms with the fact that he’s gay. Definitely one of Moore’s best! And finally we have Diane Lane in the steamiest performance of her career in Unfaithful. Let it be known I saw this movie for the first time when it came out with my grandmother (LOL). Unfaithful is a very divisive topic among movie fans - they either love it, or hate it. I LOVE it - FIGHT ME!

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Cathryn Naiker as they discuss.

The year is 2009 and the nominees are:

Melissa Leo - Frozen River
Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie - Changeling
Meryl Streep - Doubt
Kate Winslet - The Reader
In 2009 Kate Winslet FINALLY won her Oscar for The Reader (I say FINALLY because by the time she won she should have already had at least 1 Oscar (probably for Sense & Sensibility or The Tanic’)). Originally Winslet wanted to go supporting for The Reader and lead for Revolutionary Road but the Academy insisted on doubling down (no nomination for Revolutionary Road) on The Reader in a lead category. This was one of my favourite years to discuss for this podcast, each performance was incredible in its own way. Anne Hathaway became a first time nominee in Rachel Getting Married playing a manic narcissist who insists on always being the centre of attention. Melissa Leo in Frozen River delivers a gritty performance of a woman who smuggles people across the Canadian border in order to make ends meat. Meryl Streep gives another knockout performance in Doubt as the head nun/principal of a catholic school who suspects the priest (Philip Seymour Hoffman) of molesting a student. Angelina Jolie received her first lead nomination in Changeling playing the real life Christine Collins whose child went missing and is replaced by an imposter child by the LAPD.

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Fiona O’Brien (Saint*) as they discuss.

NEW EPISODE ALERT The year is 2015 and the nominees are:

Emma Stone - Birdman
Patricia Arquette - Boyhood
Meryl Streep - Into the Woods
Laura Dern - Wild
Keira Knightley - The Imitation Game

In 2015 Patricia Arquette won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for Boyhood, a coming-of-age drama that the director spent twelve years making. Arquette plays Olivia the mother of Mason (the character whom the story is about) who struggles at various times financially and as a single parent. Arquette won all the major awards for this performance. It’s hard to say who her biggest competition would have been this season. Many fantastic but very different performances. Meryl Streep was offered 3 witch roles after turning 40 and had a rule of ‘no witches’ because she viewed it as ageist. She made an acceptation for Into the Woods after meeting composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim and Rob Marshall. Emma Stone received her first nomination for Birdman playing the daughter of washed up action star Riggan Thomson. Laura Dern received her second nomination since 1991’s Rambling Rose, this time in a supporting role, for Wild playing the mother of Cheryl. Dern receives a terminal diagnosis and Cheryl’s life spins out of control and she eventually embarks on a thousand mile hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. Finally, Keira Knightley was nominated for one of my favourite films The Imitation Game playing Joan Clarke an English cryptanalyst and numismatist known for her code breaking during the Second World War and supporting character to Alan Turing.

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Adrian Cronk as they discuss.

The year is 1994 and the nominees are:

Angela Bassett - What’s Love Got to Do with It
Holly Hunter - The Piano
Emma Thompson - The Remains of the Day
Debra Winger - Shadowlands
Stockard Channing - Six Degrees of Separation

In 1994 Holly Hunter won the Best Actress Oscar for The Piano directed by Jane Campion. This was the first time a female director was nominated for Best Director for directing a Best Picture nominee. Hunter plays a mute Scottish woman who uses her piano to express herself. Hunter actually played all the piano scenes herself. Angela Bassett gave a career best portraying Tina Turner in What’s Love Got to Do with It. Emma Thompson gave a familiar performance in The Remains of the Day playing opposite Anthony Hopkins in a story of unrequited love. Debra Winger was nominated for a similar film to Thompson in Shadowlands playing Joy Gresham wife of emotionally distant CS Lewis (Anthony Hopkins). Stockard Channing reprised her Tony nominated role in Six Degrees of Separation for the big screen.

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Fiona O’Brien as they discuss.

The year is 1960 and the nominees are:

Katherine Hepburn - Suddenly, Last Summer
Elizabeth Taylor - Suddenly, Last Summer
Doris Day - Pillow Talk
Audrey Hepburn - The Nun’s Story
Simone Signoret - Room at the Top

In 1960 Simone Signoret became the second French actress (the first was Claudette Colbert) to win the Academy Award for Best Actress for a British film, Room at the Top. This was one of the first British films to openly depict adultery and suggest sex was enjoyable. It received an ‘X’ rating and, naturally, was a huge box office success. Signoret won best actress at the National Board of Review, Cannes, and BAFTAs. Her competition was absolutely star studded! Katherine Hepburn & Elizabeth Taylor were both nominated for ‘Suddenly, Last Summer’ - an INSANE movie with homophobic undertones and hilarious mental health tropes with amazing performances from both Taylor and Hepburn. Although they had extremely repetitive dialogue, I would recommend giving it a watch if only for it’s campy value and Hepburn’s fabulous elevator entrance(s). Doris Day was nominated for her ‘risqué’ work in Pillow Talk - playing an interior decorator being deceived and manipulated by Rock Hudson for romantic purposes (lol @ the 50’s). Audrey Hepburn was nominated for The Nun’s Story portraying the real life story of Marie-Louise Habets who struggles with her devotion to her vows during crisis, disappointment, and WW2.

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Dan Dillabough as they discuss.

The year is 1995 and the nominees are:

Jodie Foster - Nell
Miranda Richardson - Tom & Viv
Susan Sarandon - The Client
Winona Ryder - Little Women
Jessica Lange - Blue Sky

In 1995 Jessica Lange won her second Oscar for Blue Sky playing the wife of a nuclear engineer living on a military base who eventually becomes part of a cover-up. This year is regarded as one of the most “meh” years in Oscar history for Best Actress - mostly due to the fact that the roles for women at this time weren’t great. It was said by critics that these nominees were great actresses nominated for their careers or body of work rather than an individual performance on screen that year (yikes). I have to admit, I agree. This was a bit of a painful episode but one of my favourites to discuss. Other nominees included Miranda Richardson for Tom & Viv playing the wife of T.S. Eliot and is described as “morally insane” (same girl). Susan Sarandon was nominated for The Client playing a lawyer defending a child who witnesses the suicide of a mafia lawyer. Jodie Foster was nominated for Nell playing a feral woman found in the woods (many argued she should have been supporting, at best). Finally, Winona Ryder plays Jo in Little Women (fantastically so!).

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Bryan Hatt as they discuss.

The year is 1983 and the nominees are:

Julie Andrews - Victor/Victoria
Jessica Lange - Frances
Sissy Spacek - Missing
Meryl Streep - Sophie’s Choice
Debra Winger - An Officer and a Gentleman

In 1983 Meryl Streep won her second Oscar for a performance that is regarded as one of the greatest of all time in Sophie’s Choice. Streep plays a Polish woman who survives the holocaust because she speaks German, French, English, and becomes an asset to the Nazi’s. Her biggest competition this evening was Jessica Lange for the movie Frances playing the late Frances Farmer. For the record, the real Frances Farmer never had a lobotomy. Julie Andrews was nominated for a gender bending role in the very gay friendly musical, Victor/Victoria. Sissy Spacek received her third Oscar notation for ‘Missing’ playing the wife of an idealistic American writer during the Chilean coup d’état in 1973. Debra Winger was nominated for her iconic role in An Officer and a Gentleman. Winger despises this movie and likes to deny she ever had any involvement (fair).

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Cathryn Naiker as they discuss.

The year is 1981 and the nominees are:

Gena Rowlands - Gloria
Goldie Hawn - Private Benjamin
Mary Tyler Moore - Ordinary People
Ellen Burstyn - Resurrection
Sissy Spacek - Coal Miner’s Daughter
In 1981 Sissy Spacek won the Best Actress Academy Award for Coal Miner’s Daughter playing country music legend, Loretta Lynn. This was one of the 4 roles that Meryl Streep was turned down for. Up until this point, it wasn’t common for actors to win Oscars playing real people (as it is today). This win is sort of the gold standard of how an actress should approach playing a real person. Mary Tyler Moore was likely her biggest competition this evening playing an emotionally distant mother mourning the loss of her eldest son. It was a big departure from how the world knew her up until that point because of The Mary Tyler Moore show. Goldie Hawn received her first lead actress nomination for Private Benjamin, an absolute gem. Gena Rowlands was nominated for another film directed by husband John Cassavetes, Gloria. Ellen Burstyn was nominated for Resurrection playing a woman with super natural healing powers. An odd film but worth the watch (if not only for the campy value).

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Christophe Davidson as they discuss.

The year is 2019 and the nominees are:

Lady Gaga - A Star is Born
Melissa McCarthy - Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Olivia Coleman - The Favourite
Yalitza Aparicio
Glenn Close - The Wife
In 2019 Olivia Coleman won the Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role for The Favourite. Glenn-always-so-Close was the favourite to win for The Wife and her campaign narrative was basically, ‘it’s about time we give her her Oscar.’ She was visibly disappointed by Coleman’s win in the telecast (frankly, give her an Oscar just for that reaction) and rightfully so. Coleman even mentioned it in her speech. Very interesting year! Lady Gaga’s star was BORN (this way) with the 4th remake of ASIB. She may not have won for acting but she at least walked away with a statue for the film (Best Original Song). Yalitza Aparicio was nominated for her very first film (the dream) for Roma playing Alfonso Cuarón’s childhood nanny, Cleo. Melissa McCarthy redeemed her career (frankly) with Can You Ever Forgive Me? I feel like the title is asking for forgiveness for her string of terrible films directed by her husband Ben Falcone (Tammy, The Boss, Life of the Party). She even won worst actress at the Razzies for Life of the Party while simultaneously winning the ‘Redeemer Award’ for Can You Ever Forgive Me. As a comedian, I think that’s hilarious. Very interesting year!

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Robert Watson as they discuss.

The year is 1989 and the nominees are:

Sigourney Weaver- Working Girl
Joan Cusack - Working Girl
Frances McDormand - Mississippi Burning
Michelle Pfeiffer - Dangerous Liaisons
Geena Davis - The Accidental Tourist

In 1989 Geena Davis won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for The Accidental Tourist. This film is not as well known as the rest of her work (comparatively speaking). Leading up to the Oscars Davis did not receive nominations from any other award circuit. If you watch the telecast of the win Davis looked visibly shocked when she won (as did some of the other nominees). I love Geena Davis but I find it interesting how she has an Oscar for her least known role (to the average movie goer). Working Girl received two nominations respectively for Weaver and Cusack (and for Cusack’s hair). Michelle Pfeiffer was nominated for Dangerous Liaisons (the original Cruel Intentions) and probably expected to win this award (she won the BAFTA leading up to it). Finally, Frances McDormand received her first nomination for Mississippi Burning playing the wife of a Klan member in the south.

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Ted Morris as they discuss.

The year is 2018 and the nominees are:

Sally Hawkins - The Shape of Water
Meryl Streep - The Post
Frances McDormand - Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Margot Robbie - I, Tonya
Saoirse Ronan - Lady Bird

In 2018 Frances McDormand won her second of three Academy Awards for Best Actress for the film Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. It was her husband Joel Coen who convinced her to take the role. She protested the gig because she felt her character from this socio-economic strata would not wait until 38 to have her first child. Honestly, fair, but I bet she’s glad she accepted the role now! Her fellow nominees included Meryl Streep for The Post - the first time Streep and Spielberg worked together. Sally Hawkins in the Best Picturing winning film, The Shape of Water where she plays a mute woman who falls in love with ‘swamp thing.’ Saoirse Ronan in one of her most critically acclaimed role (oddly not one of my fav films of her’s (though I LOVE Ronan)) in Lady Bird. Finally, Margot Robbie in I, Tonya portraying her version of Tonya Harding’s controversial global figuring skating scandal.

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Rob Browne as they discuss.

The year is 1991 and the nominees are:

Kathy Bates - Misery
Anjelica Huston - The Grifters
Meryl Streep - Postcards from the Edge
Julia Roberts - Pretty Woman
Joanne Woodward - Mr. & Mrs. Bridge

In 1991 Kathy Bathes won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her iconic performance as Annie Wilkes - Steven King’s favourite character he’s ever written. King was so impressed with her performance he wrote Dolores Claiborne with her in mind and re-wrote character Ray Flowers in The Stand to Rae Flowers when Bates expressed interest in playing the character. High praise! Anjelica Huston has since described her work in The Grifters as the most challenging role of her career. Julia Roberts received her second nomination playing the hooker with a heart of gold in the classic film, Pretty Woman. Meryl Streep received her ninth nomination for Postcards from he Edge, a story based on Carrie Fisher’s 1987 semi-autobiographical novel of the same title. Then there’s Joanne Woodward in Mr & Mrs Bridge. That’s all I will say. You’ll have to listen to the episode for our thoughts on that gem.

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Brendan D’Souza as they discuss.

The year is 1941 and the nominees are:

Ginger Rogers - Kitty Foyle
Bette Davis - The Letter
Katharine Hepburn - The Philadelphia Story
Martha Scott - Our Town
Joan Fontaine - Rebecca

In 1941 Ginger Rogers won her first and only Oscar for Kitty Foyle. Up to that point in her career she was known as a musical/rom-com actress and of course dance partner to Fred Astaire. We’ve discussed these types of wins before with Reese Witherspoon and Sandra Bullock. This was a very stacked year. You had Bette Davis at the top of her game in The Letter. Katharine Hepburn in the famous rom-com ‘The Philadelphia Story.’ Joan Fontaine (sister to Olivia De Havilland) for Alfred Hitchcock’s Rebecca (available on YouTube I highly recommend the watch). Martha Scott for Our Town (also on YouTube). Do yourself a favour and look up these classics ( cough minus Our Town cough)!

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Dan Dillabough as they discuss. . . . . . . . . . . . .

bestactress #supporting #oscars #academyawards #hollywood #silverscreen #vintage #gay #queer #lgbtq #canada #losangeles #gaypodcast #robbed #snubbed #film #movie #podcast #supporting #lead #gingerrogers #kittyfoyle #bettedavis #theletter #katharinehepburn #thephiladelphiastory #marthascott #ourtown #joanfontaine #rebecca

The year is 2006 and the nominees are:

Reese Witherspoon - Walk the Line
Felicity Huffman - Transamerica
Charlize Theron - North Country
Judi Dench - Mrs Henderson Presents
Keira Knightley - Pride & Prejudice

In 2006 Reese Witherspoon won the Oscar for Best Actress for playing June Carter-Cash in the Johnny Cash bio pic, Walk the Line. Many people compare this win to Julia Roberts in that they don’t understand how she swept the award circuit for this role. I have seen this film many times and I’ve always loved Reese in it. Is a lead Oscar win? We discuss more on the podcast episode. Felicity Huffman gives one of the best performances in Transamerica. It’s sad to see her movie career didn’t continue to live up to the success of this film. Charlize Theron was nominated for ‘North Country’ a movie about female factory workers in Minnesota and the harassment they endure. Keira Knightley was nominated for Pride & Prejudice and so began her slew of historic film roles. Finally, Judi Dench was nominated in one of the most confusing movies I have ever seen, Mrs Henderson Presents.

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host David Brennan as they discuss.

The year is 1991 and the nominees are: 1. Whoopi Goldberg - Ghost 2. Lorraine Bracco - Goodfellas 3. Annette Bening - The Grifters 4. Mary McDonnell - Dances With Wolves 5. Diane Ladd - Wild at Heart - In 1991 Whoopi Goldberg became the first black woman to win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in nearly 50 years, and the second black woman to win an Academy Award for acting (the first being Hattie McDaniel for Gone with the Wind in 1940). Many argued she should have won for The Colour Purple losing out to Geraldine Page in 1986. In 2002 Whoopi sent her Oscar statue to be replated only to have it intercepted and go missing. It was later found in a trash can in a Los Angeles airport and Whoopi has since said she will never part with Oscar again. Her competition included Lorraine Bracco for Goodfellas who frankly should have been a lead but category fraud means nothing to the Academy (as I’ve learned with this podcast). Annette Bening gave one of her best and funniest performances in The Grifters. Mary McDonnell was in mourning in Dances with Wolves opposite Kevin Costner. Finally, Diane Ladd was nominated for one of the strangest movies I have ever seen, Wild at Heart. A film that I think you either love or you hate.

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Kate Davis as they discuss.

The year is 2007 and the nominees are:

Kate Winslet - Little Children
Penélope Cruz - Volver
Judi Dench - Notes on a Scandal
Meryl Streep - The Devil Wears Prada
Helen Mirren - The Queen

In 2007 Helen Mirren won her Oscar for portraying a sympathetic Queen Elizabeth II, very convincingly. Easily one of her greatest performances and I’ve watched ‘The Queen’ many, many times since its release. This was perhaps one of the toughest years to discuss because each performance was incredible. Such a stacked lineup. I mean for god sakes, Miranda Priestly. Kate Winslet is incredible in Little Children opposite Patrick Wilson (give an Oscar to his butt), Judi Dench is INSANE (in the best way) in Notes on a Scandal, and Penélope Cruz became the first Spanish actress to ever be nominated for Best Actress. SO HARD TO PICK A WINNER! Who do you think should have won?

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Cathryn Naiker as they discuss.

The year is 2010 and the nominees are:

Carey Mulligan - An Education
Helen Mirren - The Last Station
Meryl Streep - Julie & Julia
Gabourey Sidibe - Precious
Sandra Bullock - The Blind Side

In 2010 Sandra Bullock took home the Oscar for Best Actress for The Blind Side. Up until this point in her career she was mostly known for rom-com roles, so this win was significant. Her fellow nominees included Carey Mulligan, a new face, for An Education - a good but creepy movie. Helen Mirren in The Last Station playing the wife of Russian author Leo Tolstoy, Sofya. Meryl Streep playing the flamboyantly eccentric Julia Child. Gabourey Sidibe was nominated for Precious directed by Lee Daniels. Arguably one of the most difficult movies I have ever watched. Very dark. Very interesting year! Who do you think should have won?

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Tim Riel as they discuss. . . . . . . . . . . . .

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The year is 2012 and the nominees are:

Jessica Chastain - The Help
Melissa McCarthy - Bridesmaids
Bérénice Bejo - The Artist
Janet McTeer - Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer - The Help

In 2012 Octavia Spencer won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for The Help. The famous line ‘eat my shit’ is hilariously iconic and makes me laugh to this day. Jessica Chastain was also a first time nominee for The Help (maybe a third time for The Eyes of Tammy Faye?). Janet McTeer gave one of my favourite performances in Albert Nobbs opposite Glenn Close playing, what I would assume, would be described as a trans man in our modern day. Bérénice Bejo was nominated for a recent fav ‘The Artist’ playing a new movie star with the introduction of ‘talkies’ during the early 1930’s. And of course Melissa McCarthy’s performance was nominated for her hilarious work in Bridesmaids (no! Megan no!).

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Rob Browne as they discuss.

The year is 1989 and the nominees are:

Glenn Close - Dangerous Liaisons
Jodie Foster - The Accused
Melanie Griffith - Working Girl
Meryl Streep - A Cry in the Dark
Sigourney Weaver - Gorillas in the Mist
In 1989 Jodie Foster won her first Oscar for The Accused playing Sarah Miller, a young woman who suffers a brutal gang rape in a bar who is determined to bring justice to the perpetrators, including the ones who encouraged and cheered on the attack. She actually thought this performance would ruin her career entirely and prepared for the worst. Her fellow nominees included Meryl Streep for A Cry in the Dark (or Evil Angels depending where you’re from (aka ‘the dingo has my baby)), Melanie Griffith for Working Girl, Sigourney Weaver for Gorillas in the Mist (was also nominated for a supporting role for Working Girl), and Glenn Close for Dangerous Liaisons.

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Fiona O’Brien as they discuss.

The year is 1984 and the nominees are:

Meryl Streep - Silkwood
Jane Alexander - Testament
Julie Walters - Educating Rita
Debra Winger - Terms of Endearment
Shirley MacLaine - Terms of Endearment
In 1984 Shirley MacLaine finally won her Oscar for Terms of Endearment. Many expected her to win for The Apartment in 1961 but famously lost to Elizabeth Taylor’s tracheotomy. Debra Winger was highly criticized for going lead because many speculated if she’d gone supporting, she likely would have won. Julie Walters made her theatrical film debut in the amazing Educating Rita (if you haven’t seen it, I would highly recommend you do). Jane Alexander got a surprise nomination for a made for TV Movie turned theatrical film in Testament. Meryl Streep was nominated for her iconic work (and Cher’s) playing Karen Silkwood in Silkwood.

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Ted Morris as they discuss. . . . . . . . . . . . .

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The year is 1997 and the nominees are: 1. Brenda Blethyn - Secrets & Lies 2. Emily Watson - Breaking the Waves 3. Kristin Scott Thomas - The English Patient 4. Diane Keaton - Marvin’s Room 5. Frances McDormand - Fargo - In 1997 Frances McDormand brought home her first Oscar (current the recipient of 3) for her iconic work as Marge Gunderson in Fargo. Since watching the movie for this podcast I can’t stop speaking in the Minnesota accent (sorry to anyone who has to listen). McDormand definitely had some competition. Brenda Blethyn won the BAFTA and Golden Globe for Secrets & Lies. Emily Watson wow’d audiences with her breakthrough and theatrical screen debut in Breaking the Waves. Diane Keaton was singled out of the star studded cast in Marvin’s Room playing a woman diagnosed with leukaemia. Kristin Scott Thomas was nominated for a sexy affair with Ralph Fiennes in The English Patient.

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Cathryn Naiker as they discuss. . . . . . . . . . . . .

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The year is 2000 and the nominees are: 1. Julianne Moore - The End of The Affair 2. Janet McTeer - Tumbleweeds 3. Hilary Swank - Boys Don’t Cry 4. Meryl Streep - Music of The Heart 5. Annette Bening - American Beauty

In 2000 Hilary Swank received her first nomination and Academy Award for Boys Don’t Cry, the story of Brandon Teena. The fellow nominees were Annette Being for American Beauty, Meryl Streep for Music of the Heart, Julianne Moore for The End of the Affair (where you see a lot of Ralph Fiennes butt and no one is complaining), and Janet McTeer for Tumbleweeds. Frankly this wasn’t one of my favourite years but some very interesting performances.

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Alex Wood as they discuss. . . . . . . . . . . . .

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The year is 2020 and the nominees are:

Saoirse Ronan - Little Women 2. Charlize Theron - Bombshell 3. Renée Zellweger - Judy 4. Cynthia Erivo - Harriet 5. Scarlett Johansson - Marriage Story - In 2020 Renée Zellweger won her second Oscar for portraying Hollywood icon, Judy Garland. This was her first lead actress win as her previous win was for a supporting role in the movie Cold Mountain. Scarlett Johansson became a double nominee for lead and supporting for Marriage Story and Jojo Rabbit. Charlize Theron was nominated for Bombshell for playing Megyn Kelly. Saoirse Ronan received her fourth Oscar nomination for Little Women. Cynthia Erivo became the second actress to be nominated for a leading role as well as best original song (Gaga was the first).

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Fiona O’Brien as they discuss.

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The year is 2016 and the nominees are: 1. Brie Larson - Room 2. Charlotte Rampling - 45 Years 3. Cate Blanchett - Carol 4. Saoirse Ronan - Brooklyn 5. Jennifer Lawrence - Joy - In 2016 Brie Larson won the Best Actress Oscar for Room, the story of a girl and her son held captive for 7 years in a small shed. This was an extremely stacked year. I’ll admit, I had a hard time picking a winner for this episode. The other nominees included Saoirse Ronan for Brooklyn, Cate Blanchett for Carol, Jennifer Lawrence for Joy, and the dark horse of the year, Charlotte Rampling for 45 Years.

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host David Brennan as they discuss. . . . . . . . . . . . .

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The year is 1955 and the nominees are:

Grace Kelly - The Country Girl
Judy Garland - A Star is Born
Audrey Hepburn - Sabrina
Dorothy Dandridge - Carmen Jones
Jane Wyman - Magnificent Obsession

- In 1955 Grace Kelly won her Oscar for The Country Girl shocking audiences around the world as she beat out the expected winner, Judy Garland. Garland was not present for the ceremony as she was giving birth to her third child but had an NBC crew waiting at the hospital to film her acceptance speech. This win for Kelly is regarded as one of the biggest upsets in Oscar history. The other nominees included Audrey Hepburn for Sabrina, Jane Wyman for Magnificent Obsession, and Dorothy Dandridge who became the first black female to be nominated for a leading role for Carmen Jones.

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Dan Dillabough as they discuss. . . . . . . . . . . . .

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The year is 2003 and the nominees are: 1. Kathy Bates - About Schmidt 2. Queen Latifah - Chicago 3. Meryl Streep - Adaptation 4. Julianne Moore - The Hours 5. Catherine Zeta-Jones - Chicago - In 2003 Catherine Zeta-Jones won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her first and only nomination for Chicago. During the Golden Globes she was campaigned as a lead and then later went to supporting for the BAFTA’s and Oscars. This was an interesting year because Adaptation revived Meryl Streep’s career. A lot of people expected Streep or Julianne Moore to be Zeta-Jones’ biggest threat. Queen Latifah was also nominated for Chicago and Kathy Bates was nominated for the famous hot tub scene in About Schmidt.

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Robert Watson as they discuss. . . . . . . . . . . . .

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The year is 2011 and the nominees are:

Annette Bening - The Kids Are All Right
Natalie Portman - Black Swan
Jennifer Lawrence - Winter’s Bone
Michelle Williams - Blue Valentine
Nicole Kidman - Rabbit Hole

To be honest I needed a Zoloft prescription after watching all of these movies which is a credit to these amazing performances. Very depressing, very good. Natalie Portman won her Oscar for her iconic work in Black Swan. Jennifer Lawrence was nominated for her screen/career debut in Winter’s Bone. Michelle Williams was nominated for a very dark episode of Dawson’s Creek in Blue Valentine. Nicole Kidman was nominated for Rabbit Hole a role Cynthia Nixon won a Tony for in 2006. Annette Bening was nominated for her flawless lesbian realness in The Kids Are All Right.

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Sophie Buddle as they discuss. . . . . . . . . . . . .

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The year is 1990 and the nominees are:

Michelle Pfeiffer - The Fabulous Baker Boys
Jessica Lange - Music Box
Isabelle Adjani - Camille Claudel
Jessica Tandy - Driving Miss Daisy
Pauline Collins - Shirley Valentine

In 1990 5 very different but great performances were nominated for Best Actress. Michelle Pfeiffer was nominated for playing an up-and-coming singer ‘Susie Diamond’ in The Fabulous Baker Boys. Jessica Lange was nominated for Music Box, playing a lawyer defending her father who is on trial for war crimes. Isabelle Adjani was nominated for playing real life sculptor Camille Claudel. Jessica Tandy was nominated for her on-screen friendship with Morgan Freeman in Driving Miss Daisy. Pauline Collins was nominated for her Tony Award winning performance in Shirley Valentine. All very different performances. All great!

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Greg Houston as they discuss. . . . . . . . . . . . .

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The year is 1973 and the nominees are: 1. Liv Ullmann - The Emigrants 2. Liza Minnelli - Cabaret 3. Diana Ross - Lady Sings the Blues 4. Cicely Tyson - Sounder 5. Maggie Smith - Travels with My Aunt

1973 was a big year at the Academy Awards. Liza Minnelli won the Oscar for her iconic work in Cabaret. Liv Ullmann was nominated for The Emigrants, the first film to be nominated for Best Picture and Best Foreign Language film in the same year. Maggie Smith was inexplicably nominated for her hilarious, campy work in Travels with My Aunt. Diana Ross was nominated for a very inaccurate biopic of Billie Holiday in Lady Sings the Blues. Cicely Tyson was nominated for Sounder. This was the first time in Oscar history that two women of colour were nominated for Best Actress at the same time. This has only happened once since, in 2021, when Viola Davis and Andra Day were nominated for their respective performances in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and The United States vs. Billie Holiday; giving truth to the arguement, Oscars so white.

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Wilma Fingerdoo as they discuss. . . . . . . . . . . . .

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The year is 1980 and the nominees are:

Jane Alexander - Kramer vs. Kramer
Barbara Barrie - Breaking Away
Candice Bergen - Starting Over
Mariel Hemingway - Manhattan
Meryl Streep - Kramer vs. Kramer

In 1980 Meryl Streep won her very first Oscar for her second nominated performance in Kramer vs. Kramer. She has since gone on to be nominated for a total of 21 times. She is the most nominated actor in the history of The Academy Awards. Her competition that evening included her co-star Jane Alexander from Kramer vs. Kramer. Barbara Barrie was nominated for Breaking Away which was later developed into a television series in which she also stars. Candice Bergen was nominated for her hilarious performance in Starting Over (I can’t get ‘Better Than Ever’ out of my head). And finally Mariel Hemingway was nominated for a performance she described as “uncomfortable” in Manhattan.

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Selena Vyle as they discuss. . . . . . . . . . . . .

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The year is 1998 and the nominees are:. 1. Helena Bonham Carter - The Wings of the Dove 2. Julie Christie - Afterglow 3. Judi Dench - Mrs. Brown 4. Helen Hunt - As Good As It Gets 5. Kate Winslet - Titanic . In 1998 Helen Hunt won the Best Actress Oscar starring opposite Jack Nicholson in As Good As It Gets. It is easily one of the best comedic performances in movie history. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good comedic performance, but her biggest competition was Kate Winslet in a little film called, Titanic (or as I like to call it, The Tanic’). Some argued Judi Dench should have won for Mrs. Brown however she won the following year for playing a different Queen so w/e she’s fine. Helena Bonham Carter was nominated for the first time for The Wings of the Dove. Julie Christie was nominated for an amazing performance in a hot mess of a film, Afterglow (although watch it, it’s hilariously bad in a good way). Who do you think should have won?

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Tim Riel as they discuss. . . . . . . . . . . . .

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The year is 1976 and the nominees are:

Brenda Vaccaro - Once is Not Enough
Sylvia Miles - Farewell, My Lovely
Ronee Blakley - Nashville
Lily Tomlin - Nashville
Lee Grant - Shampoo

In 1976 Lee Grant won the Oscar for Best Supporting actress for her role in Shampoo. This was Grant’s third nomination and first (and only) win. Brenda Vaccaro won the Golden Globe for Once is Not Enough but I suspect she didn’t win because the movie is, in today’s standards, a campy (and incest/creepy) mess (although I highly recommend watching it’s hilarious). Sylvia Miles was nominated for Farewell, My Lovely starring Robert Mitchum for only being on screen for 8 minutes. Ronee Blakley and the iconic Lily Tomlin were both first time nominees for Robert Altman’s Nashville.

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Dan Dillabough as they discuss. . . . . . . . . . . . .

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NEW EPISODE ALERT The year is 1977 and the nominees are:. 1. Marie-Christine Barrault - Cousin Cousine 2. Faye Dunaway - Network 3. Liv Ullmann - Face to Face 4. Talia Shire - Rocky 5. Sissy Spacek - Carrie

In 1977 Faye Dunaway won her first and only Oscar for her incredible performance in Network. Years later she would go on to star in Mommie Dearest and, well, you know the rest… Everyone believed Liv Ullmann’s work in Ingmar Bergman’s Face to Face was the superior performance but ultimately lacked American interest. Sissy Spacek was nominated for her iconic work in Carrie. Talia Shire was somehow nominated for a lead role for Rocky when she maybe had 12 minutes of screen time - 12 great minutes, but lead actress? And Marie-Christine Barrault was nominated for a french film Cousin Cousine.

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Tim Riel as they discuss. . . . . . . . . . . . .

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🚨 NEW EPISODE ALERT 🚨The year is 2013 and the nominees are:. 1. Jane Fonda - The Morning After 2. Kathleen Turner - Peggy Sue Got Married 3. Sissy Spacek - Crimes of the Heart 4. Marlee Matlin - Children of a Lesser God 5. Sigourney Weaver - Aliens . In 1987 Marlee Matlin became, and still is, the youngest recipient of the Best Actress Oscar for her performance in Children of a Lesser God. She is also the only hearing impaired actor to have an Oscar. This was my first time watching this film and if you haven’t seen it, do yourself a favour and give it watch. Sigourney Weaver became the first woman to be nominated for an action film for her iconic work in Aliens. Jane Fonda was nominated for The Morning After, Kathleen Turner for Peggy Sue Got Married, and Sissy Spacek in Crimes of the Heart. . Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Oliver George as they discuss. . . . . . . . . . . . .

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🚨 NEW EPISODE ALERT 🚨The year is 2013 and the nominees are: 1. Jessica Chastain - Zero Dark Thirty 2. Jennifer Lawrence - Silver Linings Playbook 3. Emmanuelle Riva - Amour 4. Quvenzhané Wallis - Beasts of the Southern Wild 5. Naomi Watts - The Impossible

In 2013 the girl on fire herself, Jennifer Lawrence fell walking up the stairs and took home the Academy Award for Best Actress. Up until the Oscar nominations, Lawrence arguably had this one in the bag but when they announced the nominees Emmanuelle Riva and Quvenzhané Wallis were big threats. Jessica Chastain gave an unrelenting performance in Zero Dark Thirty while Naomi Watts gave an emotionally reactionary performance in The Impossible. Many argued that Riva should have won but others disagreed.

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Rob Browne as they discuss. . . . . . . . . . . . .

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🚨 NEW EPISODE ALERT 🚨The year is 2017 and the nominees are:

Viola Davis - Fences
Naomi Harris - Moonlight
Nicole Kidman - Lion
Octavia Spencer - Hidden Figures
Michelle Williams - Manchester by the Sea

In 2017 Viola Davis reprised her Lead Actress Tony winning role in the film adaption of Fences and won Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars. I’m sorry if that phrasing was confusing but many people argued that Davis’ win was category fraud. This is not uncommon at the Oscars. As far as I’m concerned Meryl Streep was a supporting character in The Devil Wears Prada but I don’t made up the rules. Her fellow nominees were Naomi Harris for Moonlight, Nicole Kidman and her Annie wig for Lion, Octavia Spencer for Hidden Figures, and Michelle Williams for Manchester by the Sea.

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Susan Waycik as they discuss.

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🚨 NEW EPISODE ALERT 🚨The year is 1980 and the nominees are:. 1. Sally Field - Norma Rae 2. Jane Fonda - The China Syndrome 3. Jill Clayburgh - Starting Over 4. Marsha Mason - Chapter Two 5. Bette Midler - The Rose

In 1980 Sally Field won her first Oscar for Norma Rae playing a factory worker trying to form a union in a textile factory. At this point the general public mostly knew her for The Flying Nun and television stars were seen as ‘less than’ movie stars. Nowadays movie stars are in every type of TV Show or Netflix series but back in the day, TV meant your career was over. Which is why this win was a big deal and a sign of change in the industry. What’s interesting is Jill Clayburgh, Jane Fonda, and Marsha Mason were all offered the role of Norma Rae but they turned it down. Oops!

Jane Fonda was nominated for The China Syndrome (basically the prequel to Chernobyl) and was FANTASTIC but she won the year before for Coming Home making her win unlikely (but not impossible (Kathryn Hepburn)). Jill Clayburgh was nominated for Starting Over. Marsha Mason was unfortunately disqualified from this race because we were unable to find a copy of the film, Chapter Two. Bette Midler was nominated for a loosely-based-on-Janis-Joplin-A-Star-is-Born-the-later-years-esque role in The Rose.

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Matt Carter as they discuss. . . . . . . . . . . . .

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The year is 1978 and the nominees are:. 1. Anne Bancroft - The Turning Point 2. Jane Fonda - Julia 3. Shirley MacLaine - The Turning Point 4. Marsha Mason - The Goodbye Girl 5. Diane Keaton - Annie Hall

Diane Keaton won for her iconic role in Annie Hall. It’s always great to see comedies winning Oscars. Marsha Mason was also nominated for a comedic performance in The Goodbye Girl. Jane Fonda was resurrecting her career in Julia (aka Meryl Streep’s first movie). Anne Bancroft and Shirley MacLaine were double nominees for The Turning Point, the first film in Oscar history to be nominated for 11 Oscars with 0 wins (The Colour Purple being the second). Who do you think should have won?

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Fiona O’brien as they discuss. . . . . . . . . . . . .

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It’s always insane to me that Susan Sarandon only has one Oscar. She won her Academy Award for Dead Man Walking co-starring Sean Penn. Sarandon plays a real life nun asked to be a spiritual guide to a convicted rapist and murderer on death row. Her competition included Meryl Streep who got the mom juices flowing in The Bridges of Madison Square County, Sharon Stone as Ginger, a no bullshit hustler, in Casino, Elizabeth Shue in Leaving Las Vegas, and Emma Thompson in Sense and Sensibility. This was a very difficult year to pick a winner. We were divided. Who would you pick? . Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host David Brennan as they discuss.

🚨 NEW EPISODE ALERT 🚨That’s all you got lady, two left feet and fucking ugly shoes. Remember when Julia Roberts won an Oscar for playing the iconic Erin Brockovich? OBVIOUSLY. It was like ‘well duh’ that she won but was it? Ellen Burstyn in Requiem for a Dream gave one of the best performances of all time. Juliette Binoche was whipping up some chocolate mom dreams. Joan Allen was the first Kamala Harris and Laura Linney in You Can Count on Me. Who do you think should have won? . Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Dena Jackson as they pick their winner. . . . . . . . . . . . .

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🚨 NEW EPISODE ALERT 🚨When she’s not escaping David Bowie in spandex, Jennifer Connelly is busy being a movie star. I am always surprised when I think about how Jennifer Connelly only has one Oscar nomination and win to her name. In 2002 she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for A Beautiful Mind. I would argue that her role is more of a lead than supporting but I don’t make up the rules. Her fellow nominees included Dame Maggie Smith and Dame Helen Mirren for Gosford Park (dame girl!), Kate Winslet in Iris, and Marisa Tomei for In the Bedroom. This will be the final episode we talk about Marisa Tomei and I can already hear hearts breaking. Who do you think should have won? . Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Bryan Hatt as they pick their winner. . . . . . . . . . . . .

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In 2004 Renée Zellweger went home with a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Cold Mountain, arguably the most overrated mountain in cinema history. Every actress in this category is incredible however the general consensus for this episode was that Renée had Harvey Weinstein on her side and this was likely a career Oscar for her (meaning - “she’s been so incredible in the past, just give it to her”). There were some major contenders here - Shohreh Aghdashloo for House of Sand and Fog (aka Jennifer Connelly as the inconvenienced white woman), Marcia Gay Harden for Mystic River, Patricia Clarkson for Pieces of April, and Holly Hunter for Thirteen.

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Rob Browne as they pick their winner.

‘HALLOWEEN-ish SPECIAL EDITION’ Episode 🎃💀⚰️ - Ok, I know The Silence of the Lambs isn’t technically a horror movie per se but horror is a tricky genre to find Oscar wins in a leading role. Plus I really wanted to watch this movie. Jodie Fodie (or JFo as we call her) won her second Oscar in 1992 for playing the feminist icon, Clarice Starling. Her competitors were Thelma & Louise (Geena Davis & Susan Sarandon), Bette Midler (a Halloween darling) in For the Boys, and Laura Dern for Rambling Rose.

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Dan Dillabough as they pick their winner.

In 1961 Elizabeth Taylor won her first Academy Award for BUtterfield 8 or as Elizabeth referred to it: “piece of shit.” This movie was basically 2 hours of slut shaming Taylor because at the time she had an affair/had married Eddie Fisher aka Debbie Reynolds’ husband, aka Princess Leia’s Dad. Elizabeth Taylor was still under contract with MGM for one more film and she was forced to do this movie about a, well, classy-ish call girl (hooker) and what a lifestyle of sexuality would do to a woman (she dies). Taylor also almost died from an emergency tracheotomy leading up to the awards so she received a lot of sympathy votes. Shirley MacLaine was nominated that year for The Apartment and famously said she lost the Oscar to a tracheotomy.

Also nominated that year was Melina Mercouri for Never on Sunday (another story about a hooker), Greer Garson as Eleanor Roosevelt in Sunrise at Campobello, and Deborah Kerr in The Sundowners. I found this to be a very tough year to select a winner!

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Bil Antoniou as they discuss.

Penélope Cruz won Best Supporting Actress at the 2009 Oscars for Vicky Christina Barcelona. This was her second nomination (she has had 3 in total) but her first and only win. Her fellow nominees included Amy Adams for Doubt, Viola Davis for Doubt, Marisa Tomei for The Wrestler, and Taraji P. Henson for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. My advice for anyone wanting to watch these performances: don’t get stoned and watch. Mama was REALLLL emotional for Benjamin Button and The Wrestler is VERY graphic. A little too intense for a chill buzz ya know?

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Dena Jackson as they discuss.

In 1979 Jane Fonda, aka Hanoi Jane (at the time (or maybe to some still)), took home her second Oscar for Coming Home. This was a monumental win not only for Fonda but also her career. Much of America believed her to be a traitor to her own country due to bad selfie stick moments in Vietnam #oops. As a result, she didn’t work in any major motion pictures for years after the incident and her movie career kind of tanked… I really have so much respect for this woman, not just as an actress but also as a brand reinvigorator. She completely remedied her public image over time and won an Oscar, not bad. Other nominees that year included Geraldine Page for Interiors, Ingrid Bergman in Autumn Sonata, Ellen Burstyn in Same Time, Next Year, and Jill Clayburgh for An Unmarried Woman. Who do you think should have won? Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Dan Dillabough as they discuss.

In 2002 Halle Berry became the first woman of colour to win the Academy Award for Best Actress. To this day, Berry remains the only black woman to do so. In the 92 year history of the ceremony there have only been 12 nominations for black women in a lead category. That means that of all the lead actress nominations, less than 3% of the nominees have been black. Yikes. Other nominees that year included Renée Zellweger for Bridget Jones’s Diary, Sissy Spacek for In the Bedroom, Judi Dench for Iris, and Nicole Kidman for Moulin Rouge! Who do you think should have won?

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Arianne Tong as they discuss this historic Oscar win.

In honour of the late Olivia de Havilland, Best Actress Podcast is dedicating this week’s episode to the legendary actress for her 1947 win for To Each His Own. This was a monumental win for Olivia as this was her return to the big screen after years away from the industry since winning a lawsuit against Jack Warner. Her fellow nominees included Rosalind Russell for Sister Kenny, Celia Johnson for Brief Encounter, Jennifer Jones for Duel in the Sun, and Jane Wyman for The Yearling. Who do YOU think should have won?

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest host Dan Dillabough.

In 1974 Tatum O’Neal became the youngest recipient to win a competitive Academy Award for a Supporting Role in the movie classic, Paper Moon. Frankly I find it confusing she won for supporting as she is very clearly the lead of the film but ANYWAY - Madeline Kahn was rightfully nominated for the correct category but Tatum was victorious. Linda Blair was nominated for a little movie called The Exorcist, perhaps you remember from your childhood nightmares? Sylvia ‘Juno Your Case Worker!’ Sidney was nominated for Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams and Candy Clark for American Graffiti. Who do you think should have won?

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest Bil Antoniou (co-host of Bad Gay Movies Podcast & My Old Addiction Movie Reviews)

This week we have a very special guest, the one, the only, STEFAN BROGREN aka Snake from Degrassi! Join us as we discuss Hilary Swank’s second Oscar win for the hugest downer of all time, Million Dollar Baby. Many argued it was too soon for her to nab her second trophy and with the fellow nominees, it’s not hard to understand why. Imelda Staunton’s moving performance in Vera Drake was definitely a contender and not just because Umbridge was actually a nice person for once. Annette Bening in Being Julia further proves that she’s always a bridesmaid and never a bride. Kate Winslet gave one of her best performances to date in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Jim Carey was snubbed!). And finally, Catalina Sandino Moreno for Maria Full of Grace becoming the first actress in a lead role to be nominated for a fully Spanish speaking role.

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest Stefen Brogren as we discuss who we thought should have won and why.

in 2000 Angelina Jolie won her first, and only, Oscar for Girl, Interrupted and then got super gross with her brother on and off stage. SO! This year had a lot of interesting nominees, Toni Collette, for example, as this is her first and ONLY nomination (WHAT?!). This was also Chloë Sevigny's first and only nomination for Boys Don't Cry which if you've never seen, MAJOR TRIGGER WARNING! Samantha Morton was nominated for playing a mute woman in Sweet and Lowdown and Catherine Keener for Being John Malkovich (should have been Cameron Diaz (huh?)). Who do you think should have won? Tune in to find out! I am joined by my guest host comedian Ryan Dillon.

Marion Cotillard became the first French actress to win an Academy Award for a French language speaking role. She was up against Ellen Page for Juno and Julie Christie for Away From Her; two films with deep Canadian roots. During the award season it mostly came down to Cotillard vs. Christie as Christie won the SAG and The Golden Globe. Other nominees included Cate Blanchett for Elizabeth: The Golden Age, becoming the first female to receive multiple nominations for playing the same role. And, last but not least, Laura Linney for The Savages - her only real recognition for this role as she did not receive a Golden Globe or BAFTA Nomination.

Join host Kyle Brownrigg with guest Daniel Krolik (co-host of Bad Gay Movies podcast) as they discuss who they thought should have won and why.

In 1975, Ingrid Bergman brought home her third Oscar for Murder on the Orient Express in a supporting role. After many years of being away from the silver screen she returned with Oscar gold. A very common theme with this year's batch of nominees was very short performances buried in 2-3.5 hours of film. Ingrid essentially won as a result of one scene that she achieved in a single take. The other nominees included Diane Ladd (Laura Dern's mama) for Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, Madeline Kahn for Blazing Saddles, Talia Shire for The Godfather II, and Valentina Cortese for Day for Night. Who should have won for all of these short, but memorable, performances? Join Kyle Brownrigg and guest host Dan Dillabough as they discuss.

Get your vagina candles ready for this week's Best Actress winner, Gwyneth Paltrow. Many argued that Gwyneth only won because of the unprecedented campaigning schemes by Harvey Weinstein (gross) and that the Oscar should have gone to, well, literally anyone else in this category. This year saw Cate Blanchett's first nomination, the powerhouse of a performance in Elizabeth. Fernanda Montenegro finally received her long awaited Oscar acknowledgement and still remains the only Brazilian nominated for an Oscar to this day (sad). Emily Watson played a woman who dies of MS and Meryl Streep was nominated for a woman dying of cancer. It really begs the question, how did Gwyneth win?

Should she be consciously uncoupled from her trophy? Join Kyle Brownrigg and guest host Liz Doré as they discuss!

Before she played the most unrealistic homeless woman in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Brenda Fricker became the first Irish actress to win an Academy Award for My Left Foot. Her competition included Julia Roberts, Lena Olin, Anjelica Houston, and Dianne Wiest. Join Kyle Brownrigg and co-host Liz de Carle for another episode of Best Actress.

In 1967 guess who was coming to dinner? Give up! It was Sidney Poitier and Katharine Hepburn won an Oscar for it. This marked her second Oscar win after nearly 40 years in the business. Many argued she only won because of a sympathy vote for the loss of her co-star and 'lover' (secret gay best friend) Spencer Tracy. Join host Kyle Brownrigg and guest host Bil Antoniou as we discuss who we think should have won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1968. With nominees such as Audrey Hepburn, Faye Dunaway, Edith Evans, and Anne Bancroft, there's lots to argue.

Before True Blood, before X-Men, even before She's All That, Anna Paquin became the second youngest Oscar winner in history at 11 years old. The Piano was her first official movie credit ever so not a bad first impression... With greats such as Winona Ryder, Rosie Perez, Holly Hunter, and Emma Thompson as her competition it's kind of crazy she won, or is it? Join Kyle Brownrigg with guest Leah Pharo as we discuss who we think should have won.

Cher was crowned Best Actress in 1988 for her iconic role in Moonstruck but was she the BEST? Her competition was stiff including Glenn Close, Holly Hunter, Sally Kirkland, and Meryl freakin’ Streep. We love a great comedic performance but did Hunter deserve the gold for her hilarious work in Broadcast News? Or should Close have taken the statue for her haunting performance in Fatal Attraction? Or Kirkland in— SNAP OUT OF IT! Join host Kyle Brownrigg and guest host Daniel Krolik (co-host of Bad Gay Movies Podcast) as they discuss.

The 1993 Best Supporting Actress Oscar race was a complete toss up with the likes of Judy Davis, Joan Plowright, Miranda Richardson, Vanessa Redgraves, and Marisa…something? Who? Odds were on Redgraves or Richardson and when Jack Palance announced Tomei as the winner it began an Oscar conspiracy theory that has followed Tomei for almost her entire career. Join host Kyle Brownrigg and guest host Arianne Tong (Host of Group Therapy Podcast) as they discuss one of the biggest Oscar upsets of all time.

The very first episode of Best Actress will be diving in to the always debated 1951 Oscar win for Judy Holliday. With Bette Davis and Gloria Swanson in the same category, it was a clash of the titans to see who would walk away with Oscar gold. Should Judy have won? Guest host Bil Antoniou (co-host of Bad Gay Movies Podcast) weighs in on our inaugural debate. Fasten your seatbelts it’s going to be a bumpy night!