Actresses with the Most Oscar Nominations Without a Win

The Academy Awards track decades of performances, and the nomination rolls tell their own story about careers that consistently impressed voters. This roundup highlights actresses who have earned the most nominations but have not taken home a competitive Oscar, focusing on performers with four or more nods across leading and supporting categories.

Each entry lists total nominations and the exact films recognized, so you can see the scope of work the Academy cited. Honorary awards are noted where applicable, since those do not count as competitive wins under Academy rules.

Glenn Close

Glenn Close has eight Oscar nominations without a win, spanning both leading and supporting categories. Her nominations cover drama and period pieces as well as contemporary character work, reflecting a long record of Academy recognition across genres.

Her nominated roles were for ‘The World According to Garp’, ‘The Big Chill’, ‘The Natural’, ‘Fatal Attraction’, ‘Dangerous Liaisons’, ‘Albert Nobbs’, ‘The Wife’, and ‘Hillbilly Elegy’.

Deborah Kerr

Deborah Kerr received six nominations for Best Actress without a competitive win. The Academy later recognized her career with an Honorary Award, which is separate from competitive categories.

Her nominated performances were in ‘Edward, My Son’, ‘From Here to Eternity’, ‘The King and I’, ‘Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison’, ‘Separate Tables’, and ‘The Sundowners’.

Thelma Ritter

Thelma Ritter earned six nominations, all in the Best Supporting Actress category, without a win. Her total remains one of the highest tallies for a performer in supporting roles.

Her nominated films were ‘All About Eve’, ‘The Mating Season’, ‘With a Song in My Heart’, ‘Pickup on South Street’, ‘Pillow Talk’, and ‘Birdman of Alcatraz’.

Amy Adams

Amy Adams has six nominations without a win, split between supporting and leading categories. Her recognition includes work with multiple notable directors and a range of character types.

Her nominated roles were in ‘Junebug’, ‘Doubt’, ‘The Fighter’, ‘The Master’, ‘American Hustle’, and ‘Vice’.

Irene Dunne

Irene Dunne received five nominations for Best Actress without a win. Her nominations span drama and comedy, reflecting the Academy’s acknowledgment of her versatility.

Her nominated performances were in ‘Cimarron’, ‘Theodora Goes Wild’, ‘The Awful Truth’, ‘Love Affair’, and ‘I Remember Mama’.

Annette Bening

Annette Bening has five nominations without a win across categories. One of those is a Best Supporting Actress nomination for ‘The Grifters’, while the others are Best Actress citations for leading roles.

Her nominated roles were for ‘The Grifters’, ‘American Beauty’, ‘Being Julia’, ‘The Kids Are All Right’, and ‘Nyad’.

Michelle Williams

Michelle Williams has five nominations without a win across both leading and supporting categories. Her nominations reflect sustained recognition for biographical portrayals and original characters.

Her nominated performances were in ‘Brokeback Mountain’, ‘Blue Valentine’, ‘My Week with Marilyn’, ‘Manchester by the Sea’, and ‘The Fabelmans’.

Barbara Stanwyck

Barbara Stanwyck earned four Best Actress nominations without a competitive win. The Academy later presented her with an Honorary Award for career achievement.

Her nominated turns were in ‘Stella Dallas’, ‘Ball of Fire’, ‘Double Indemnity’, and ‘Sorry, Wrong Number’.

Greta Garbo

Greta Garbo received four Best Actress nominations without a competitive win. She was subsequently honored with an Honorary Award for her body of work.

Her nominated performances were in ‘Anna Christie’, ‘Romance’, ‘Camille’, and ‘Ninotchka’.

Saoirse Ronan

Saoirse Ronan has four nominations without a win, including both supporting and leading citations. Her nominations began at a young age, marking one of the earliest recognitions for a first-time nominee in her cohort.

Her nominated roles were in ‘Atonement’, ‘Brooklyn’, ‘Lady Bird’, and ‘Little Women’.

Marsha Mason

Marsha Mason received four Best Actress nominations without a win. Her citations reflect repeated recognition for contemporary character-driven roles.

Her nominated performances were in ‘Cinderella Liberty’, ‘The Goodbye Girl’, ‘Chapter Two’, and ‘Only When I Laugh’.

Jane Alexander

Jane Alexander has four nominations without a win across leading and supporting categories. Her nominations include portrayals drawn from both historical subjects and contemporary stories.

Her nominated films were ‘The Great White Hope’, ‘All the President’s Men’, ‘Kramer vs. Kramer’, and ‘Testament’.

Rosalind Russell

Rosalind Russell earned four Best Actress nominations without a competitive win. She later received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy.

Her nominated performances were in ‘My Sister Eileen’, ‘Sister Kenny’, ‘Mourning Becomes Electra’, and ‘Auntie Mame’.

Agnes Moorehead

Agnes Moorehead received four nominations, all in the Best Supporting Actress category, without a win. Her cited work spans period drama and contemporary melodrama, tracking a long career in film alongside extensive stage and radio credits.

Her nominated performances were in ‘The Magnificent Ambersons’, ‘Mrs. Parkington’, ‘Johnny Belinda’, and ‘Hush…Hush, Sweet Charlotte’.

Share which performances you think the Academy recognized most memorably in the comments.