| Official website oscars.org Category of Academy Awards Instituted 1937 | Currently held by Alicia Vikander Country United States of America | |
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| Awarded for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role First awarded 1937 (for performance in films released during the 1936 film season) Presented by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences People also search for Academy Award for Best Actress Winners & Nominees Viola DavisFences, Viola Davis, Winner, Naomie HarrisMoonlight, Naomie Harris, Nominee, Michelle WilliamsManchester by the Sea, Michelle Williams, Nominee, Octavia SpencerHidden Figures, Octavia Spencer, Nominee, Nicole KidmanLion, Nicole Kidman, Nominee, Alicia VikanderThe Danish Girl, Alicia Vikander, Winner, Rachel McAdamsSpotlight, Rachel McAdams, Nominee, Rooney MaraCarol, Rooney Mara, Nominee, Jennifer Jason LeighThe Hateful Eight, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Nominee, Kate WinsletSteve Jobs, Kate Winslet, Nominee, Patricia ArquetteBoyhood, Patricia Arquette, Winner, Emma StoneBirdman, Emma Stone, Nominee, Meryl StreepInto the Woods, Meryl Streep, Nominee, Laura DernWild, Laura Dern, Nominee, Keira KnightleyThe Imitation Game, Keira Knightley, Nominee, Lupita Nyong'o12 Years a Slave, Lupita Nyong'o, Winner, June SquibbNebraska, June Squibb, Nominee, Sally HawkinsBlue Jasmine, Sally Hawkins, Nominee, Julia RobertsAugust: Osage County, Julia Roberts, Nominee, Jennifer LawrenceAmerican Hustle, Jennifer Lawrence, Nominee, Anne HathawayLes Misérables, Anne Hathaway, Winner, Jacki WeaverSilver Linings Playbook, Jacki Weaver, Nominee, Sally FieldLincoln, Sally Field, Nominee, Helen HuntThe Sessions, Helen Hunt, Nominee, Amy AdamsThe Master, Amy Adams, Nominee | ||
The Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress is an award presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is given in honor of an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance in a supporting role while working within the film industry.
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At the 9th Academy Awards ceremony held in 1937, Gale Sondergaard was the first winner of this award for her role in Anthony Adverse. Initially, winners in both supporting acting categories were awarded plaques instead of statuettes. Beginning with the 16th ceremony held in 1944, however, winners received full-sized statuettes. Currently, nominees are determined by single transferable vote within the actors branch of AMPAS; winners are selected by a plurality vote from the entire eligible voting members of the Academy.
Since its inception, the award has been given to 78 actresses. Dianne Wiest and Shelley Winters have received the most awards in this category with two awards each. Despite winning no awards, Thelma Ritter was nominated on six occasions, more than any other actress. As of the 2017 ceremony, Viola Davis is the most recent winner in this category for her role as Rose Maxson in Fences.
Winners and nominees
In the following table, the years are listed as per Academy convention, and generally correspond to the year of film release in Los Angeles County; the ceremonies are always held the following year.