In this article, we list the celebrated female actors who were nominated for (and won) an Academy Award for the movies made between 1927 and 1949.
Did your favourite actors miss out on an Oscar? Let us know in the comments below.
1st Academy Awards
Best Actress: Films of 1927 and 1928
Nominated Actresses
Gloria Swanson – Sadie Thompson
Janet Gaynor – 7th Heaven
Louise Dresser – A Ship Comes In
Best Actress Winner
Janet Gaynor – 7th Heaven
2nd Academy Awards
Best Actress: Films of 1928 and 1929
Nominated Actresses
Bessie Love – The Broadway Melody
Betty Compson – The Barker
Corrine Griffith – The Divine Lady
Jeanne Eagels – The Letter
Mary Pickford – Coquette
Ruth Chatterton – Madame X
Best Actress Winner
Mary Pickford – Coquette
3rd Academy Awards
Best Actress: Films of 1929 and 1930
Nominated Actresses
Gloria Swanson – The Trespasser
Greta Garbo – Anna Christie
Nancy Carroll – The Devil’s Holiday
Norma Shearer – The Divorcee/Their Own Desire
Ruth Chatterton – Sarah and Son
Best Actress Winner
Norma Shearer – The Divorcee
4th Academy Awards
Best Actress: Films of 1930 and 1931
Nominated Actresses
Ann Harding – Holiday
Irene Dunn – Cimarron
Marie Dressler – Min and Bill
Marlene Dietrich – Morocco
Norma Shearer – A Free Soul
Best Actress Winner
Marie Dressler – Min and Bill
5th Academy Awards
Best Actress: Films of 1931 and 1932
Nominated Actresses
Helen Hayes – The Sin of Madelon Claudet
Lynne Fontanne – The Guardsman
Marie Dressler – Emma
Best Actress Winner
Helen Hayes – The Sin of Madelon Claudet
6th Academy Awards
Best Actress: Films of 1932 and 1933
Nominated Actresses
Diana Wynyard – Cavalcade
Katherine Hepburn – Morning Glory
May Robson – Lady for a Day
Best Actress Winner
Katherine Hepburn – Morning Glory
7th Academy Awards
Best Actress: Films of 1934
Nominated Actresses
Bette Davis – Of Human Bondage
Claudette Colbert – It Happened One Night
Grace Moore – One Night of Love
Norma Shearer – The Barretts of Wimpole Street
Best Actress Winner
Claudette Colbert – It Happened One Night
8th Academy Awards
Best Actress: Films of 1935
Nominated Actresses
Bette Davies – Dangerous
Claudette Colbert – Private Worlds
Elisabeth Bergner – Escape Me Never
Katherine Hepburn – Alice Adams
Merle Oberon – The Dark Angel
Miriam Hopkins – Becky Sharp
Best Actress Winner
Bette Davies – Dangerous
9th Academy Awards
Best Actress: Films of 1936
Nominated Actresses
Carole Lombard – My Man Godfrey
Gladys George – Valiant Is the Word for Carrie
Irene Dunne – Theodora Goes Wild
Luise Rainer – The Great Ziegfield
Norma Shearer – Romeo and Juliet
Best Actress Winner
Luise Rainer – The Great Ziegfield
10th Academy Awards
Best Actress: Films of 1937
Nominated Actresses
Barbara Stanwyck – Stella Dallas
Greta Garbo – Camille
Irene Dunne – The Awful Truth
Janet Gaynor – A Star Is Born
Luise Rainer – The Good Earth
Best Actress Winner
Luise Rainer – The Good Earth
11th Academy Awards
Best Actress: Films of 1938
Nominated Actresses
Bette Davis – Jezebel
Fay Bainter – White Banners
Margaret Sullavan – Three Comrades
Norma Shearer – Marie Antoinette
Wendy Hiller – Pygmalion
Best Actress Winner
Bette Davis – Jezebel
12th Academy Awards
Best Actress: Films of 1939
Nominated Actresses
Bette Davis – Dark Victory
Irene Dunne – Love Affair
Greer Garson – Goodbye, Mr Chips
Greta Garbo – Ninotchka
Vivian Leigh – Gone with the Wind
Best Actress Winner
Vivian Leigh – Gone with the Wind
13th Academy Awards
Best Actress: Films of 1940
Nominated Actresses
Bette Davis – The Letter
Ginger Rogers – Kitty Foyle
Katharine Hepburn – The Philadelphia Story
Joan Fontaine – Rebecca
Martha Scott – Our Town
Best Actress Winner
Ginger Rogers – Kitty Foyle
14th Academy Awards
Best Actress: Films of 1941
Nominated Actresses
Barbara Stanwyck – Ball of Fire
Bette Davis – The Little Foxes
Greer Garson – Blossoms in the Dust
Joan Fontaine – Suspicion
Olivia De Havilland – Hold Back the Dawn
Best Actress Winner
Joan Fontaine – Suspicion
15th Academy Awards
Best Actress: Films of 1942
Nominated Actresses
Bette Davis – Now, Voyager
Greer Garson – Mrs. Miniver
Katharine Hepburn – Woman of the Year
Rosalind Russell – My Sister Eileen
Teresa Wright – The Pride of the Yankees
Best Actress Winner
Greer Garson – Mrs. Miniver
16th Academy Awards
Best Actress: Films of 1943
Nominated Actresses
Greer Garson – Madame Curie
Ingrid Bergman – For Whom the Bell Tolls
Jean Arthur – The More the Merrier
Jennifer Jones – The Song of Bernadette
Joan Fontaine – The Constant Nymph
Best Actress Winner
Jennifer Jones – The Song of Bernadette
17th Academy Awards
Best Actress: Films of 1944
Nominated Actresses
Barbara Stanwyck – Double Indemnity
Bette Davis – Mr. Skeffington
Claudette Colbert – Since You Went Away
Greer Garson – Mrs. Parkington
Ingrid Bergman – Gaslight
Best Actress Winner
Ingrid Bergman – Gaslight
18th Academy Awards
Best Actress: Films of 1945
Nominated Actresses
Gene Tierney – Leave Her to Heaven
Greer Garson – The Valley of Decision
Ingrid Bergman – The Bells of St. Mary’s
Jennifer Jones – Love Letters
Joan Crawford – Mildred Pierce
Best Actress Winner
Joan Crawford – Mildred Pierce
19th Academy Awards
Best Actress: Films of 1946
Nominated Actresses
Celia Johnson – Brief Encounter
Jane Wyman – The Yearling
Jennifer Jones – Duel in the Sun
Olivia de Havilland – To Each His Own
Rosalind Russell – Sister Kenny
Best Actress Winner
Olivia de Havilland – To Each His Own
20th Academy Awards
Best Actress: Films of 1947
Nominated Actresses
Dorothy McGuire – Gentleman’s Agreement
Joan Crawford – Possessed
Loretta Young – The Farmer’s Daughter
Rosalind Russell – Mourning Becomes Electra
Susan Hayward – Smash Up, the Story of a Woman
Best Actress Winner
Loretta Young – The Farmer’s Daughter
21st Academy Awards
Best Actress: Films of 1948
Nominated Actresses
Barbara Stanwyck – Sorry, Wrong Number
Ingrid Bergman – Joan of Arc
Irene Dunne – I Remember Mama
Jane Wyman – Johnny Belinda
Oliva de Havilland – The Snake Pit
Best Actress Winner
Jane Wyman – Johnny Belinda
22nd Academy Awards
Best Actress: Films of 1949
Nominated Actresses
Deborah Kerr – Edward, My Son
Jeanne Crain – Pinky
Loretta Young – Come to the Stable
Olivia de Havilland – The Heiress
Susan Hayward – My Foolish Heart
Best Actress Winner
Olivia de Havilland – The Heiress
How many of these movies have you seen? Let us know in the comments below.