The Actor Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role in a Motion Picture (formerly Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role) is an award presented annually by the Screen Actors Guild. It has been presented since the 1st Screen Actors Guild Awards in 1995 to a female actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role in a film released that year.
The award has been presented 32 times, and 27 actresses have won the award. Jodie Foster was the award's first winner for Nell (1994). The most recent winner is Jessie Buckley who won for her performance in Hamnet (2025). Frances McDormand, Renée Zellweger, and Viola Davis have all won the award twice. Meryl Streep has the most nominations with ten.
Winners and nominees
+ Table key Indicates the winner Indicates the Academy Award winner 1990s Year Actress Film Role(s) 1994(1st) Jodie Foster Nell Nell Kellty Jessica Lange Blue Sky Carly Marshall Meg Ryan When a Man Loves a Woman Alice Green Susan Sarandon The Client Reggie Love Meryl Streep The River Wild Gail Hartman 1995(2nd) Susan Sarandon Dead Man Walking Sister Helen Prejean Joan Allen Nixon Pat Nixon Elisabeth Shue Leaving Las Vegas Sera Meryl Streep The Bridges of Madison County Francesca Johnson Emma Thompson Sense and Sensibility Elinor Dashwood 1996(3rd) Frances McDormand Fargo Marge Gunderson Brenda Blethyn Secrets & Lies Cynthia Rose Purley Diane Keaton Marvin's Room Bessie Gena Rowlands Unhook the Stars Mildred Hawks Kristin Scott Thomas The English Patient Katharine Clifton 1997(4th) Helen Hunt As Good as It Gets Carol Connelly Helena Bonham Carter The Wings of the Dove Kate Croy Judi Dench Mrs Brown Queen Victoria Pam Grier Jackie Brown Jackie Brown Kate Winslet Titanic Rose DeWitt Bukater Robin Wright She's So Lovely Maureen Murphy Quinn 1998(5th) Gwyneth Paltrow Shakespeare in Love Viola de Lesseps Cate Blanchett Elizabeth Queen Elizabeth I Jane Horrocks Little Voice LV Meryl Streep One True Thing Kate Gulden Emily Watson Hilary and Jackie Jacqueline du Pré 1999(6th) Annette Bening American Beauty Carolyn Burnham Janet McTeer Tumbleweeds Mary Jo Walker Julianne Moore The End of the Affair Sarah Miles Meryl Streep Music of the Heart Roberta Guaspari Hilary Swank Boys Don't Cry Brandon Teena
2000s Year Actress Film Role(s) 2000(7th) Julia Roberts Erin Brockovich Erin Brockovich Joan Allen The Contender Laine Hanson Juliette Binoche Chocolat Vianne Liberato Ellen Burstyn Requiem for a Dream Sara Goldfarb Laura Linney You Can Count on Me Sammy Taylor 2001(8th) Halle Berry Monster's Ball Leticia Musgrove Jennifer Connelly won Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress A Beautiful Mind Alicia Nash Judi Dench Iris Iris Murdoch Sissy Spacek In the Bedroom Ruth Fowler Renée Zellweger Bridget Jones's Diary Bridget Jones 2002(9th) Renée Zellweger Chicago Roxie Hart Salma Hayek Frida Frida Kahlo Nicole Kidman The Hours Virginia Woolf Diane Lane Unfaithful Connie Sumner Julianne Moore Far from Heaven Cathy Whitaker 2003(10th) Charlize Theron Monster Aileen Wuornos Patricia Clarkson The Station Agent Olivia Harris Diane Keaton Something's Gotta Give Erica Barry Naomi Watts 21 Grams Cristina Gallagher Evan Rachel Wood Thirteen Tracy Freeland 2004(11th) Hilary Swank Million Dollar Baby Maggie Fitzgerald Annette Bening Being Julia Julia Lambert Catalina Sandino Moreno Maria Full of Grace Maria Álvarez Imelda Staunton Vera Drake Vera Drake Kate Winslet Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Clemetine Kruczynski 2005(12th) Reese Witherspoon Walk the Line June Carter Cash Judi Dench Mrs Henderson Presents Laura Henderson Felicity Huffman Transamerica Bree Hoffman Charlize Theron North Country Josey Aimes Ziyi Zhang Memoirs of a Geisha Sayuri Takanasja 2006(13th) Helen Mirren The Queen Queen Elizabeth II Penélope Cruz Volver Raimunda Judi Dench Notes on a Scandal Barbara Covett Meryl Streep The Devil Wears Prada Miranda Priestly Kate Winslet Little Children Sarah Pierce 2007(14th) Julie Christie Away from Her Fiona Anderson Cate Blanchett Elizabeth: The Golden Age Queen Elizabeth I Marion Cotillard La Vie en Rose Édith Piaf Angelina Jolie A Mighty Heart Mariane Pearl Elliot Page Juno Juno MacGuff 2008(15th) Meryl Streep Doubt Sister Aloysius Beauvier Anne Hathaway Rachel Getting Married Kym Ryder Angelina Jolie Changeling Christine Collins Melissa Leo Frozen River Ray Eddy Kate Winslet Revolutionary Road April Wheeler 2009(16th) Sandra Bullock The Blind Side Leigh Anne Tuohy Helen Mirren The Last Station Sophia Tolstaya Carey Mulligan An Education Jenny Mellor Gabourey Sidibe Precious Precious Jones Meryl Streep Julie & Julia Julia Child
2010s Year Actress Film Role(s) 2010(17th) Natalie Portman Black Swan Nina Sayers Annette Bening The Kids Are All Right Dr. Nicole "Nic" Allgood Nicole Kidman Rabbit Hole Becca Corbett Jennifer Lawrence Winter's Bone Ree Dolly Hilary Swank Conviction Betty Anne Waters 2011(18th) Viola Davis The Help Aibileen Clark Glenn Close Albert Nobbs Albert Nobbs Meryl Streep The Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher Tilda Swinton We Need to Talk About Kevin Eva Khatchadourian Michelle Williams My Week with Marilyn Marilyn Monroe 2012(19th) Jennifer Lawrence Silver Linings Playbook Tiffany Maxwell Jessica Chastain Zero Dark Thirty Maya Harris Marion Cotillard Rust and Bone Stéphanie Helen Mirren Hitchcock Alma Reville Naomi Watts The Impossible Maria Bennett 2013(20th) Cate Blanchett Blue Jasmine Jeanette "Jasmine" Francis Sandra Bullock Gravity Dr. Ryan Stone Judi Dench Philomena Philomena Lee Meryl Streep August: Osage County Violet Weston Emma Thompson Saving Mr. Banks P. L. Travers 2014(21st) Julianne Moore Still Alice Dr. Alice Howland Jennifer Aniston Cake Claire Bennett Felicity Jones The Theory of Everything Jane Wilde Hawking Rosamund Pike Gone Girl Amy Elliott-Dunne Reese Witherspoon Wild Cheryl Strayed 2015(22nd) Brie Larson Room Joy "Ma" Newsome Cate Blanchett Carol Carol Aird Helen Mirren Woman in Gold Maria Altmann Saoirse Ronan Brooklyn Eilis Lacey Sarah Silverman I Smile Back Elaine "Laney" Brooks 2016(23rd) Emma Stone La La Land Mia Dolan Amy Adams Arrival Dr. Louise Banks Emily Blunt The Girl on the Train Rachel Watson Natalie Portman Jackie Jackie Kennedy Meryl Streep Florence Foster Jenkins Florence Foster Jenkins 2017(24th) Frances McDormand Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri Mildred Hayes Judi Dench Victoria & Abdul Queen Victoria Sally Hawkins The Shape of Water Elisa Esposito Margot Robbie I, Tonya Tonya Harding Saoirse Ronan Lady Bird Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson 2018(25th) Glenn Close The Wife Joan Castleman Emily Blunt Mary Poppins Returns Mary Poppins Olivia Colman The Favourite Queen Anne Lady Gaga A Star Is Born Ally Maine Melissa McCarthy Can You Ever Forgive Me? Lee Israel 2019(26th) Renée Zellweger Judy Judy Garland Cynthia Erivo Harriet Harriet Tubman Scarlett Johansson Marriage Story Nicole Barber Lupita Nyong'o Us Adelaide Wilson / Red Charlize Theron Bombshell Megyn Kelly
2020s Year Actress Film Role(s) 2020(27th) Viola Davis Ma Rainey's Black Bottom Ma Rainey Amy Adams Hillbilly Elegy Beverly "Bev" Vance Vanessa Kirby Pieces of a Woman Martha Weiss Frances McDormand Nomadland Fern Carey Mulligan Promising Young Woman Cassandra "Cassie" Thomas 2021(28th)Jessica Chastain The Eyes of Tammy FayeTammy Faye Bakker Olivia Colman The Lost Daughter Leda Caruso Jennifer Hudson Respect Aretha Franklin Lady Gaga House of Gucci Patrizia Reggiani Nicole Kidman Being the Ricardos Lucille Ball 2022(29th)Michelle Yeoh Everything Everywhere All at OnceEvelyn Quan Wang Cate Blanchett Tár Lydia Tár Viola Davis The Woman King General Nanisca Ana de Armas Blonde Norma Jeane Mortenson / Marilyn Monroe Danielle Deadwyler Till Mamie Till 2023(30th) Lily Gladstone Killers of the Flower Moon Mollie Burkhart Annette Bening Nyad Diana Nyad Carey Mulligan Maestro Felicia Montealegre Margot Robbie Barbie Barbie Emma Stone Poor Things Bella Baxter 2024(31st) Demi Moore The Substance Elisabeth Sparkle Pamela Anderson The Last Showgirl Shelly Gardner Cynthia Erivo Wicked Elphaba Thropp Karla Sofía Gascón Emilia Pérez Emilia Pérez / Juan "Manitas" Del Monte Mikey Madison ‡ Anora Anora "Ani" Mikheeva 2025(32nd) Jessie Buckley Hamnet Agnes Shakespeare Rose Byrne If I Had Legs I'd Kick You Linda Kate Hudson Song Sung Blue Claire Sardina Chase Infiniti One Battle After Another Willa Ferguson Emma Stone Bugonia Michelle Fuller
Superlatives Superlative Leading Actress Supporting Actress Overall Actress with most awards Viola Davis, Frances McDormand, Renée Zellweger 2 Kate Winslet 2 Viola Davis, Renée Zellweger 3 Actress with most nominations Meryl Streep 10 Cate Blanchett 5 Meryl Streep 11 Actress with most nominations without ever winning Judi Dench 6 Amy Adams 4 Amy Adams, Nicole Kidman 6 Film with most nominations — Almost Famous, Babel, Being John Malkovich, Bombshell, Chicago, Doubt, Everything Everywhere All at Once, The Favourite, The Fighter, Forrest Gump, The Help, Up in the Air 2 Bombshell, Chicago, Doubt, Everything Everywhere All at Once, The Favourite,The Help 3 Oldest winner Glenn Close (The Wife, 2019) 71 Gloria Stuart (Titanic, 1998) 87 Gloria Stuart (Titanic, 1998) 87 Oldest nominee Judi Dench (Victoria & Abdul, 2018) 83 Youngest winner Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook, 2013) 22 Kate Winslet (Sense and Sensibility, 1996) 20 Kate Winslet (Sense and Sensibility, 1996) 20 Youngest nominee Evan Rachel Wood (Thirteen, 2004) 16 Dakota Fanning (I Am Sam, 2002) 7 Dakota Fanning (I Am Sam, 2002) 7
Multiple winners 2 wins Viola Davis (The Help (2011), Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)) Frances McDormand (Fargo (1996), Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)) Renée Zellweger (Chicago (2002), Judy (2019))
Multiple nominees Note: Winners are indicated in bold type.
Two nominations Amy Adams (Arrival (2016), Hillbilly Elegy (2020)) Joan Allen (Nixon (1995), The Contender (2000)) Emily Blunt (The Girl On The Train (2016), Mary Poppins Returns (2018)) Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side (2009), Gravity (2013)) Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty (2012), The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2021)) Glenn Close (Albert Nobbs (2011), The Wife (2018)) Olivia Colman (The Favourite (2018), The Lost Daughter (2021)) Marion Cotillard (La Vie en Rose (2007), Rust and Bone (2012)) Cynthia Erivo (Harriet (2019), Wicked (2024)) Lady Gaga (A Star is Born (2018), House of Gucci (2021)) Angelina Jolie (A Mighty Heart (2007), Changeling (2008)) Diane Keaton (Marvin's Room (1996), Something's Gotta Give (2003)) Jennifer Lawrence (Winter's Bone (2010), Silver Linings Playbook (2012)) Natalie Portman (Black Swan (2010), Jackie (2016)) Margot Robbie (I, Tonya (2017), Barbie (2023)) Saoirse Ronan (Brooklyn (2015), Lady Bird (2017)) Susan Sarandon (The Client (1994), Dead Man Walking (1995)) Emma Thompson (Sense and Sensibility (1995), Saving Mr. Banks (2013)) Naomi Watts (21 Grams (2003), The Impossible (2012)) Reese Witherspoon (Walk the Line (2005), Wild (2014))
Three nominations Viola Davis (The Help (2011), Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020), The Woman King (2022)) Nicole Kidman (The Hours (2002), Rabbit Hole (2010), Being the Ricardos (2021)) Frances McDormand (Fargo (1996), Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017), Nomadland (2020)) Julianne Moore (The End of the Affair (1999), Far from Heaven (2002), Still Alice (2014)) Carey Mulligan (An Education (2009), Promising Young Woman (2020), Maestro (2023)) Emma Stone (La La Land (2016), Poor Things (2023), Bugonia (2025)) Hilary Swank (Boys Don't Cry (1999), Million Dollar Baby (2004), Conviction (2010)) Charlize Theron (Monster (2003), North Country (2005), Bombshell (2019)) Renée Zellweger (Bridget Jones's Diary (2001), Chicago (2002), Judy (2019))
Four nominations Annette Bening (American Beauty (1999), Being Julia (2004), The Kids Are All Right (2010), Nyad (2023))