Since the very first Oscars in 1929, it’s been no secret thatThe Academy Awardsis by far the most prestigious and acclaimed honor anyone working in the film industry can receive. Every year, movie lovers from around the world tune in to this event to see which of their favorite films take home the most Oscars. There are currently 24 different categories at the Oscars, but the four most anticipated are without a doubt Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress. It’s every actors' dream to get nominated for an Academy Award and even the top-working actors in the industry will go their entire career without ever winning the award. From Judy Garland, one of the most beloved actresses of all time, starring in timeless classics likeThe Wizard of Ozand the 1954 version ofA Star is Born, to Glenn Close, who has been nominated for an Oscar eight times, these are extraordinarily gifted and successful actresses who havenever won an Oscardespite being deserving.
The 2000s was an incredible decade for film in terms of the great performances given, which made the already extremely competitive acting categories at the Oscars even more difficult. One of the most exciting parts about some of the winners from the 2000s finally receiving their Oscars is that they are beloved fan-favorite performers whom the public had been rooting for, for years. This emotional investment in an actor makes the win even more monumental. Just a few of these actors include Kate Winslet, Morgan Freeman, and Sean Penn. Here are ten of the most deserved Oscar-winning performances from the 2000s, ranked.
10Marion Cotillard — La Vie En Rose
French actressMarion Cotillardhas been gracing screens since the 1990s and is one of the most engaging and diverse actresses working today. With everyrole and movie Cotillardtakes on, there is a newfound excitement and light that she brings to the character. In 2008, she took home the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Edith Piaf in Olivier Dahan’s musical/dramaLa Vie En Rose. The film tells the story of the iconic singer’s life, from being raised in poverty in a brothel to achieving enormous fame and critical acclaim as a singer while battling drug addiction and managing personal relationships. In 2015, Cotillard was nominated for Best Actress again for her role in the filmTwo Days, One Night.
Related:Best Oscar-Winning Performances of the 90s, Ranked
9Cate Blanchett — The Aviator
Cate Blanchettis undeniably an incredibly powerful actress with such a strong yet calm presence that she is able to bring to her roles. In 2004, she starred in legendary director Martin Scorsese’s dramaThe Aviatoras Katherine Hepburn alongside Leonardo DiCaprio who starred as Howard Hughes. The film as a whole was a huge hit with audiences, critics, and the Academy, earning 11 Oscar nominations in 2005 and winning five. In addition to the film’s win in the category of Best Supporting Actress for Blanchett’s brilliant portrayal,The Aviatoralso took home Best Costume Design, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, and Best Film Editing. In 2014, Blanchett won her second Academy Award for Best Actress for her work on the filmBlue Jasmine.
8Nicole Kidman — The Hours
Out of all the incredible rolesNicole Kidmanhas played, from Satine inMoulin Rouge!to Alice inEye’s Wide Shutand most recently Lucille Ball inBeing the Ricardos, it’s safe to say that her portrayal of Virginia Woolf inThe Hourswas her most memorable and acclaimed. Her physical transformation and overall performance were incredible in the film as she held her own next to legends like Meryl Streep and Julianne Moore. In 2003, she won the Academy Award for Best Actress and, in addition to her win, the actress has a total of four other Oscar nominations for acting.
7Heath Ledger — The Dark Knight
The late and belovedHeath Ledgerwas the highlight of Christopher Nolan’sThe Dark Knightand is, to this day, one of the publics' favorite actors to have ever played the Joker. So many actors have taken on the challenge of portraying the iconic villain including Jack Nicholson, Joaquin Phoenix, Jared Leto, and Mark Hamill, but something about Ledger’s performance is so special and sticks out amongst the rest. In 2009, he took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor,accepted posthumously by his family, and was the only actor in the entireDark Knight Trilogyto take home an Oscar for their work on the film.
6Sean Penn — Milk
Sean Pennis no stranger to the Academy Awards, having won an Oscar twice for Best Actor, once in 2009 forMilkand in 2004 forMystic River, in addition to being nominated a total of five times. The actor is continuously putting out incredible work, but his portrayal of Harvey Milk is arguably his greatest performance to date. The filmMilkfollows the true story of American politician Harvey Milk who, per theNew Yorker, was the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California. Milk’s story is remarkable and Penn did an outstanding job capturing the essence of what the senator stood for.
5Daniel Day-Lewis — There Will Be Blood
Director Paul Thomas Anderson’s 2007 drama/historical filmThere Will Be Bloodwas an enormous success that is still talked about today. In addition to the cinematography and screenplay, one of the film’s strongest aspects is the acting. Everybody knows thatDaniel Day-Lewisis one of the greats after seeing him in films such asGangs of New York, Phantom Thread, and Lincoln,but his portrayal of Daniel Plainview inThere Will Be Bloodis unmatched. This was the actor’s first Oscar after being nominated several times since 1990, which is part of what makes the win so exciting. He won the Oscar for Best Actor again in 2013 for his role in the filmLincoln.
Related:Best Oscar-Winning Performances of the 2010s, Ranked
4Adrien Brody — The Pianist
Adrien Brodyis a truly talented actor and his performance inThe Pianistis so raw and heartbreaking that his Oscar win in 2003 was undeniably deserved. Even though the actor’s portrayal of Wladyslaw Szpilman, the Polish Jewish radio station pianist in Roman Polanski’s war/drama, is his most iconic and acclaimed role Brody has done other impressive work since, especially with director Wes Anderson.The Pianistis a brilliant film and based on the true story of one man’s survival in Warsaw during World War II.
3Hilary Swank — Million Dollar Baby
In 2004,Hilary Swankpartnered up with the legendary Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman to star in the drama/sportMillion Dollar Baby. This film about a passionate and determined woman boxer’s relationship with her stubborn trainer quickly became the most celebrated film of the year. Not only was it Swank’s best performance, but the movie as a whole was so special and touched audiences in a way not many films can. Swank played the fearless Maggie Fitzgerald, a role that would win the actress her second Oscar for Best Actress, after winning in 2000 forBoys Don’t Cry.
2Kate Winslet — The Reader
Kate Winsletis one of the most talented and naturally gifted actresses working today. She is probably best known for her portrayal of Rose DeWitt Bukater in James Cameron’s epic 1997Titanic, but since then has continued to star in films ranging across all genres and with varying budgets, yet has still managed to make each performance stronger than the next. She has been nominated for an Academy Award a total of seven times for her work on films such asTitanic, Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind, Sense and Sensibility,and finally took home the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2009 for her portrayal of Hanna Schmitz inThe Reader. All the iconic work Winslet has done over the years and her immense contribution to cinema history are what makes her win so deserved.
1Morgan Freeman — Million Dollar Baby
Coming in at number one on the list for best Oscar-winning performances of the 2000s is perhaps the most iconic actor working today, the greatMorgan Freeman. The impact Freeman has had on cinema history and the amount of people he has touched with his work are indescribable. In 2005, the actor finally took home his first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Eddie in Clint Eastwood’sMillion Dollar Baby. Before this victory, Freeman was nominated for his work in the filmsDriving Miss Daisy, Street Smart,andThe Shawshank Redemption, which were all just as remarkable as his Oscar-winning performance. Freeman will go down in cinema history and continues to be one of the most beloved actors in Hollywood.
