Empire Award for Best Actress

Last updated

Empire Award for Best Actress
Awarded forBest performance by an actress in a leading role
CountryUnited Kingdom
Presented by Empire magazine
First awarded1996
Currently held by Daisy Ridley Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2018)
Empire Awards

The Empire Award for Best Actress was an Empire Award presented annually by the British film magazine Empire to honor an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role, while working within the film industry. The Empire Award for Best Actress was one of five ongoing awards which were first introduced at the 1st Empire Awards ceremony in 1996 (the others being Best Actor, Best Director, Best Film, and Best British Film), with Nicole Kidman receiving the award for her role in To Die For . Winners were chosen by the readers of Empire magazine.

Contents

Since its inception, the award was given to 20 actresses. Nicole Kidman has received the most awards in this category, with two awards. Cate Blanchett and Nicole Kidman were nominated on five occasions, more than any other actress. Daisy Ridley was the most recent winner in this category, for her role in Star Wars: The Last Jedi .

Winners and nominees

In the list below, winners are listed first in the colored row in boldface, followed by the other nominees. The number of the ceremony (1st, 2nd, etc.) appears in parentheses after the awards year, linked to the article (if any) on that ceremony.

Table key
KeyDescription
 Indicates the winner

1990s

YearActressCharacterFilmRef.
1996
(1st)
Nicole Kidman Suzanne Stone-Maretto To Die For [1]
1997
(2nd)
Frances McDormand Marge Gunderson Fargo [2]
1998
(3rd)
Joan Allen Elizabeth Proctor The Crucible [3]
1999
(4th)
Cate Blanchett Queen Elizabeth I Elizabeth [4] [5]
Gwyneth Paltrow Helen Quilley Sliding Doors
Helen Hunt Carol Connelly As Good as It Gets
Jennifer Lopez Karen Sisco Out of Sight
Pam Grier Jackie Brown Jackie Brown

2000s

YearActressCharacterFilmRef.
2000
(5th)
Gwyneth Paltrow Viola de Lesseps Shakespeare in Love [6] [7]
Nicole Kidman Alice Harford Eyes Wide Shut
Rene Russo Catherine Banning The Thomas Crown Affair
Sophie Marceau Elektra King The World Is Not Enough
Toni Collette Lynn Sear The Sixth Sense
2001
(6th)
Connie Nielsen Lucilla Gladiator [8] [9]
Angelina Jolie Lisa Rowe Girl, Interrupted
Hilary Swank Brandon Teena Boys Don't Cry
Julia Roberts Erin Brockovich Erin Brockovich
Kate Winslet Madeleine "Maddy" LeClerc Quills
2002
(7th)
Nicole Kidman Satine Moulin Rouge! [10] [11]

[12]

Audrey Tautou Amélie Poulain Amélie
Frances O'Connor Monica Swinton A.I. Artificial Intelligence
Nicole Kidman Grace Stewart The Others
Renée Zellweger Bridget Jones Bridget Jones's Diary
2003
(8th)
Kirsten Dunst Mary Jane Watson Spider-Man [13]
Halle Berry Giacinta "Jinx" Johnson Die Another Day
Hilary Swank Det. Ellie Burr Insomnia
Jennifer Connelly Alicia Nash A Beautiful Mind
Miranda Otto Éowyn The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
2004
(9th)
Uma Thurman The Bride Kill Bill: Volume 1 [14]
Cate Blanchett Veronica Guerin Veronica Guerin
Julianne Moore Cathy Whitaker Far from Heaven
Maggie Gyllenhaal Lee Holloway Secretary
Nicole Kidman Ada Monroe Cold Mountain
2005
(10th)
Julie Delpy Céline Before Sunset [15]
Bryce Dallas Howard Ivy Elizabeth Walker The Village
Cate Blanchett Katharine Hepburn The Aviator
Kirsten Dunst Mary Jane Watson Spider-Man 2
Uma Thurman The Bride / Beatrix Kiddo Kill Bill: Volume 2
2006
(11th)
Thandiwe Newton Christine Thayer Crash [16] [17]

[18]

Hilary Swank Mary Margaret "Maggie" Fitzgerald Million Dollar Baby
Keira Knightley Elizabeth Bennet Pride & Prejudice
Naomi Watts Ann Darrow King Kong
Renée Zellweger Mae Braddock Cinderella Man
2007
(12th)
Penélope Cruz Raimunda Volver [19]
Helen Mirren Queen Elizabeth II The Queen
Kate Winslet Sarah Pierce Little Children
Keira Knightley Elizabeth Swann Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Reese Witherspoon June Carter Walk the Line
2008
(13th)
Keira Knightley Cecilia Tallis Atonement [20]
Angelina Jolie Mariane Pearl A Mighty Heart
Cate Blanchett Queen Elizabeth I Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Emma Watson Hermione Granger Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Katherine Heigl Alison Scott Knocked Up
2009
(14th)
Helena Bonham Carter Mrs. Lovett Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street [21]
Angelina Jolie Christine Collins Changeling
Elliot Page [lower-alpha 1] Juno MacGuff Juno
Olga Kurylenko Camille Montes Quantum of Solace
Sally Hawkins Pauline "Poppy" Cross Happy-Go-Lucky

2010s

YearActressCharacterFilmRef.
2010
(15th)
Zoe Saldana Neytiri Avatar [23] [24]
Anne-Marie Duff Julia Lennon Nowhere Boy
Carey Mulligan Jenny Mellor An Education
Emily Blunt Queen Victoria The Young Victoria
Mélanie Laurent Shosanna Dreyfus / Emmanuelle Mimieux Inglourious Basterds
2011
(16th)
Noomi Rapace Lisbeth Salander The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo [25] [26]
Emma Watson Hermione Granger Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Helena Bonham Carter Queen Elizabeth The King's Speech
Natalie Portman Nina Sayers / The Swan Queen Black Swan
Olivia Williams Ruth Lang The Ghost Writer
2012
(17th)
Olivia Colman Hannah Tyrannosaur [27]
Carey Mulligan Irene Drive
Meryl Streep Margaret Thatcher The Iron Lady
Michelle Williams Marilyn Monroe My Week with Marilyn
Rooney Mara Lisbeth Salander The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
2013
(18th)
Jennifer Lawrence Katniss Everdeen The Hunger Games [28]
Anne Hathaway Selina Kyle / Catwoman The Dark Knight Rises
Jessica Chastain Maya Zero Dark Thirty
Judi Dench M Skyfall
Naomi Watts Maria Bennett The Impossible
2014
(19th)
Emma Thompson P. L. Travers Saving Mr. Banks [29]
Amy Adams Sydney Prosser American Hustle
Cate Blanchett Jeanette "Jasmine" Francis Blue Jasmine
Jennifer Lawrence Katniss Everdeen The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Sandra Bullock Dr. Ryan Stone Gravity
2015
(20th)
Rosamund Pike Amy Elliott Dunne Gone Girl [30] [31]
Alicia Vikander Ava Ex Machina
Emily Blunt Sergeant Rita Vrataski Edge of Tomorrow
Felicity Jones Jane Hawking The Theory of Everything
Keira Knightley Joan Clarke The Imitation Game
2016
(21st)
Alicia Vikander Gerda Wegener The Danish Girl [32]
Emily Blunt Kate Macer Sicario
Brie Larson Joy "Ma" Newsome Room
Jennifer Lawrence Katniss Everdeen The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2
Charlize Theron Imperator Furiosa Mad Max: Fury Road
2017
(22nd)
Felicity Jones Jyn Erso Rogue One: A Star Wars Story [33] [34]
Emma Stone Mia Dolan La La Land
Ruth Negga Mildred Loving Loving
Natalie Portman Jacqueline "Jackie" Kennedy Jackie
Amy Adams Louise Banks Arrival
2018
(23rd)
Daisy Ridley Rey Star Wars: The Last Jedi [35]
Gal Gadot Diana Prince / Wonder Woman Wonder Woman
Frances McDormand Mildred Hayes Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Tiffany Haddish Dina Girls Trip
Emma Watson Belle Beauty and the Beast

Multiple awards and nominations

Multiple awards

The following individual received two or more Best Actress awards:

AwardsFilm
2 Nicole Kidman

Multiple nominations

The following individuals received two or more Best Actress nominations:

NominationsFilm
5 Cate Blanchett
Nicole Kidman
4 Keira Knightley
3 Angelina Jolie
Emily Blunt
Emma Watson
Hilary Swank
Jennifer Lawrence
2 Alicia Vikander
Amy Adams
Carey Mulligan
Felicity Jones
Frances McDormand
Gwyneth Paltrow
Helena Bonham Carter
Kate Winslet
Kirsten Dunst
Naomi Watts
Natalie Portman
Renée Zellweger
Uma Thurman

Notes

  1. Credited as Ellen Page; Juno was released before Page came out as transgender. [22]

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The Empire Award for Best Film was an Empire Award presented annually by the British film magazine Empire to honor the best film of the previous year. The Empire Award for Best Film was one of five ongoing awards which were first introduced at the 1st Empire Awards ceremony in 1996 with Braveheart receiving the award. Star Wars: The Last Jedi was the most recent winner in this category. Winners were chosen by the readers of Empire magazine.

The Empire Award for Best British Film was an Empire Award presented annually by the British film magazine Empire to honour the best British film of the previous year. The Empire Award for Best British Film was one of five ongoing awards which were first introduced at the 1st Empire Awards ceremony in 1996 with Shallow Grave receiving the award. God's Own Country was the most recent winner in this category. Winners were chosen by the readers of Empire magazine.

The Empire Award for Best Director was an Empire Award presented annually by the British film magazine Empire to honor directors working within the film industry.

The Empire Award for Best British Director was an Empire Award presented annually by the British film magazine Empire to honor a British director working within the film industry. The Empire Award for Best British Director was first introduced at the 2nd Empire Awards ceremony in 1997 with Danny Boyle receiving the award for his direction of Trainspotting and last presented as an annual award at the 6th Empire Awards ceremony in 2001 with it returning for a final time at the 10th Empire Awards ceremony in 2005. It was one of three Best British awards retired that year. Winners were voted by the readers of Empire magazine.

The Empire Award for Best Actor was an Empire Award presented annually by the British film magazine Empire to honor an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role while working within the film industry. The Empire Award for Best Actor was one of five ongoing awards which were first introduced at the 1st Empire Awards ceremony in 1996 with Nigel Hawthorne receiving the award for his role in The Madness of King George. Winners were chosen by the readers of Empire magazine.

The Empire Award for Best British Actor was an Empire Award presented annually by the British film magazine Empire to honor a British actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role while working within the film industry. The Empire Award for Best British Actor was first introduced at the 1st Empire Awards ceremony in 1996 with Ewan McGregor receiving the award for his role in Shallow Grave and last presented at the 10th Empire Awards ceremony in 2005. It was one of three Best British awards retired that year. Winners were voted by the readers of Empire magazine.

The Empire Award for Best British Actress was an Empire Award presented annually by the British film magazine Empire to honor a British actress who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role, while working within the film industry. The Empire Award for Best British Actress was first introduced at the 1st Empire Awards ceremony in 1996, with Kate Winslet receiving the award for her role in Heavenly Creatures, and last presented at the 10th Empire Awards ceremony in 2005. It was one of three Best British awards retired that year. Winners were voted by the readers of Empire magazine.

The Empire Award for Best Comedy is an Empire Award presented annually by the British film magazine Empire to honor the best comedy film of the previous year. The Empire Award for Best Comedy is one of four new Best Film ongoing awards which were first introduced at the 11th Empire Awards ceremony in 2006 with Team America: World Police receiving the award. The Death of Stalin is the most recent winner in this category. Winners are voted by the readers of Empire magazine.

The Empire Award for Best Horror was an Empire Award presented annually by the British film magazine Empire to honor the best horror film of the previous year. The Empire Award for Best Horror was one of four new Best Film ongoing awards which were first introduced at the 11th Empire Awards ceremony in 2006 with The Descent receiving the award. Get Out was the last winner in this category in 2018 event. Winners are voted by the readers of Empire magazine.

The Empire Award for Best Thriller is an Empire Award presented annually by the British film magazine Empire to honor the best thriller film of the previous year. The Empire Award for Best Thriller is one of four new Best Film ongoing awards which were first introduced at the 11th Empire Awards ceremony in 2006 with Kiss Kiss Bang Bang receiving the award. Winners are voted by the readers of Empire magazine.

The Empire Award for Best Newcomer was an Empire Award presented annually by the British film magazine Empire to honor a director with a breakthrough film or an actor who has delivered a breakthrough performance while working within the film industry. The Empire Award for Best Newcomer was first introduced at the 1st Empire Awards ceremony in 1996 with Bryan Singer receiving the award for his direction of The Usual Suspects and last presented at the 16th Empire Awards ceremony in 2011. Winners were voted by the readers of Empire magazine.

The Empire Award for Best Male Newcomer is an Empire Award presented annually by the British film magazine Empire to honor an actor who has delivered a breakthrough performance while working within the film industry. The Empire Award for Best Male Newcomer is one of two ongoing awards which were first introduced at the 17th Empire Awards ceremony in 2012 with Tom Hiddleston receiving the award for his role in Thor. Josh O'Connor is the most recent winner in this category for his role in God's Own Country. Winners are voted by the readers of Empire magazine.

The Empire Award for Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy is an Empire Award presented annually by the British film magazine Empire to honor the best sci-fi, fantasy or superhero film of the previous year. The Empire Award for Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy is one of four new Best Film ongoing awards which were first introduced at the 11th Empire Awards ceremony in 2006 with Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith receiving the award. A Monster Calls is the most recent winner in this category. Winners are voted by the readers of Empire magazine.

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