The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has had occurrences of actors and actresses nominated for two different Academy Awards in acting categories in a single year, with the first instance in 1938. Provided that they receive enough votes from the Academy in both categories to earn a nomination, there are no restrictions on actors being nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor or actresses being nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress in any given year. The sole rule with regard to multiple nominations is that an actor or actress cannot receive multiple nominations for the same performance. This rule was introduced in 1944 after Barry Fitzgerald received a Best Actor nomination and a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his performance in Going My Way.
As of 2015, 11 actors and actresses have been nominated for two different Academy Awards in the same year. The first of these actors and actresses was Fay Bainter, who received nominations for her performances in White Banners and Jezebel at the 11th Academy Awards. The most recent occurrence was during the 80th Academy Awards, in which Cate Blanchett received nominations for Elizabeth: The Golden Age and I'm Not There. Seven of these actors and actresses received an Academy Award in one of the categories they were nominated in, and none have won two Academy Awards in the same year. Four did not receive an Academy Award in either category: Sigourney Weaver (nominations for Gorillas in the Mist and Working Girl), Emma Thompson (nominations for The Remains of the Day and In the Name of the Father), Julianne Moore (nominations for Far from Heaven and The Hours), and Cate Blanchett (nominations for Elizabeth: The Golden Age and I'm Not There).