Previously I highlighted the Top 10 Actors that Never Won an Oscar so now it is time to give Actresses their turn. It is well established that it’s much harder for woman to sustain a career in Hollywood than men. Movie studios tend to shut the door a lot quicker on an aging actress than an aging actor. Some are able to buck that trend and maintain long and lucrative careers. This list consists of some of today’s best talent along with some of Tinseltown’s greatest legends. When creating this list I considered the longevity, the number of deserving performances, and the overall influence the actress had. Narrowing this list down to ten was a challenge and there are many deserving candidates that I left off the list. If I left off one of your favorites feel free to sound off in the comment section below.
10. Michelle Pfeiffer
Oscar Nominations: 3
Notable Performances: Scarface, Dangerous Liaisons, and Batman Returns
Why She’s Deserving: Michelle Pfeiffer’s career right now may not be at its highest point, but it wasn’t too long ago when she was on top of her game. She never got her just due as an actress and was looked at as just of a movie star with good looks and sex appeal. When looking back at her career she has given some really solid performances that were better than people realize.
9. Barbara Stanwyck
Oscar Nominations: 4
Notable Performances: Double Indemnity, Lady Eve, Sorry, Wrong Number
Why She’s Deserving: Barbara Stanwyck had quite a career in both Television and Movies. While she did have an illustrious life and even won three Emmy’s and a Golden Globe she was never awarded that prestigious Oscar. She played a multitude of strong characters, and wasn’t afraid to dabble as the femme fatale in some of greatest noir classics. She was a risk taker who was never properly rewarded.
8. Michelle Williams
Oscar Nominations: 3
Notable Performances: My Week with Marilyn, Take This Waltz, Blue Valentine
Why She’s Deserving: Michelle Williams has come quite a long way since her days on Dawson’s Creek. She has blossomed into one of today’s best actresses, and she continues to get better and better. She takes on challenging roles, and picks characters that tend to have a deep moral conflict. Looking at everyone on this list I feel she is most likely to walk away with the award some day.
7. Marilyn Monroe
Oscar Nominations: 0
Notable Performances: Some Like it Hot, The Seven Year Itch, and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Why She’s Deserving: I know when people think of Marilyn Monroe her acting career may not be on top of the list. She was the world’s biggest sex icon and still may be to this day. We have seen countless amounts of people attempt to emulate what she did and most never come close. When Marilyn Monroe was giving her all in a film there was no one that could captivate an audience quite like her, and there was more to it than just the way she looked. Hollywood is full of beautiful women, but there will only ever be one Marilyn Monroe.
6. Angela Lansbury
Oscar Nominations: 3
Notable Performances: The Manchurian Candidate, Beauty and the Beast, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Why She’s Deserving: Before she was America’s favorite Crime Novelist/Murder Detective Angela Lansbury had a pretty extraordinary acting career. Though she defines what it means to be a sweet old lady she played one of the greatest movie villains of all time with her performance in The Manchurian Candidate. She knew how to find solace with the audience, and then take that security and use it against them.
5. Sigourney Weaver
Oscar Nominations: 3
Notable Performances: Alien, Working Girl, and Gorillas in the Mist
Why She’s Deserving: If geeks ran the Oscars Sigourney Weaver would have won more awards than Meryl Streep has nominations. Unfortunately the Academy typically does not recognize a great performance in a genre film nearly as highly as one in a serious drama. Even without an Oscar Sigourney Weaver managed to have one of the influential careers of her time. During a time when action was mostly a man’s game she showed that woman had a place too. She also showed range as in actress in smaller films like Gorillas in the Mist where she played legendary naturalist Dian Fossy.
4. Julianne Moore
Oscar Nominations: 4
Notable Performances: Boogie Nights, The Kids are All Right, and The Hours
Why She’s Deserving: Julianne Moore is someone I personally underappreciated until recently. Watching her performance in The Kids are All Right was an awakening to how dynamic she is as an actress. She can take a multi faceted character and add even more layers. She is also willing to take chances and take roles others would not dare. Whether she is replacing Jodi Foster in Hannibal or playing a porn star in Boogie Nights she proudly represents for all the gingers all across the globe.
3. Judy Garland
Oscar Nominations: 2
Notable Performances: A Star is Born, The Wizard of Oz, and Meet Me in St. Louis
Why She’s Deserving: When Fred Astaire calls you “the greatest entertainer who ever lived” you know your resume is strong. Judy Garland was and in many ways still is America’s sweetheart. Her pleasant demeanor and childlike wonderment made her everyone’s darling. Her personal struggles have been well documented, and it only frustrates you further when you consider how much the studio system at the time ruined her life and career. To her credit she battle through tragedy time and time again. When she finally returned to Hollywood after a hiatus she gave a marvelous performance in A Star Was Born, and was primed and ready to finally win that illustrious Oscar. As history tells us it didn’t happen and still remains one of the biggest upsets of Oscar history.
2. Deborah Kerr
Oscar Nominations: 6
Notable Performances: From Here to Eternity, The King and I, and Edward, My Son
Why She’s Deserving: When people speak of Hollywood legends one name that doesn’t come up nearly as much as it should is Deborah Kerr. She does have the honor of being the first ever Bond girl. Long before Sean Connery was given a license to kill she starred in the America TV version of Casino Royale at the ripe age of 46, making her the oldest Bond girl to this day. Above and beyond that distinction she was an artist of impeccable talent that was nominated for a record tying 6 Oscars. She defined what it meant to be graceful and also represented herself with the utmost dignity.
1. Glenn Close
Oscar Nominations: 6
Best Performances: Albert Nobbs, The Big Chill, and Dangerous Liaisons
Why She’s Deserving: Glenn Close is the ultimate representation of what this list is about. She has had a remarkable consistent career that is well respected by her peers and fans, yet her name has yet to appear inside that notorious envelope on Oscar night. It’s been over thirty years since she burst onto the scenes in The World According to Garp and after her Oscar nomination last year it doesn’t look like her career is slowing down any time soon. Whether she is acting on stage, on television, or on the big screen she is guaranteed to provide an outstanding performance.
