AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role

AACTA Award
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Country Australia
Presented by Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA)
First awarded 1971
Currently held by Rose Byrne, The Turning (2013)
Official website http://www.aacta.org

The AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role is an award presented by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA), a non-profit organisation whose aim is to "identify, award, promote and celebrate Australia's greatest achievements in film and television."[1] The award is presented at the annual AACTA Awards, which hand out accolades for achievements in feature film, television, documentaries and short films.[2] From 1971–2010, the category was presented by the Australian Film Institute (AFI), the Academy's parent organisation, at the annual Australian Film Institute Awards (known as the AFI Awards).[3] When the AFI launched the Academy in 2011, it changed the annual ceremony to the AACTA Awards, with the current award being a continuum of the AFI Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.[3]

It was presented as a special award, from 1971–1975, and accompanied with a cash prize, before it became a competitive award from 1976, onwards.[4][5] Judy Davis is the most nominated actress in this category, with five wins from eight nominations, most recently for her role in The Eye of the Storm (2011).

Candidates for this award must be human and female, and cannot be nominated for the same role in the supporting actress category.[6]

Winners and nominees

In the following table, the years listed correspond to the year of film release; the ceremonies are usually held the same year.[A] The actress in bold and in dark blue background have received a special award; those in bold and in yellow background have won a regular competitive award. Those that are neither highlighted nor in bold are the nominees. When sorted chronologically, the table always lists the winning actress first and then the other nominees.[7][8]

Contents
AFI Awards (1971–2010)
AACTA Awards (2011–present)
1970s  1980s  1990s  2000s  2010s
  Winner of a special prize (1971–1975)
  Winner of a competitive award (1976–present)
Judy Davis is the most awarded and nominated actress in this category.
Year Actor Film Character(s)
AFI Awards
1970s
1971
(13th)
Monica Maughan A City's Child Woman
1972
(14th)
Jacki Weaver Stork Anna
1973
(15th)
Judy Morris Libido: The Child Sybil
1974–75
(16th and
17th)
Julie Dawson Who Killed Jenny Langby Jenny Langby
1976
(18th)
Helen Morse Caddie Caddie Marsh
1976
(18th)
Briony Behets The Trespassers Penny
1976
(18th)
Helen Morse Picnic at Hanging Rock Mlle. de Poitiers
1976
(18th)
Judy Morris The Trespassers Dee
1977
(19th)
Pat Bishop Don's Party Jenny
1977
(19th)
Jeanie Drynan Don's Party Kath Henderson
1977
(19th)
Sara Kestelman Break of Day Alice
1977
(19th)
Robyn Nevin The Fourth Wish Connie
1978
(20th)
Angela Punch McGregor The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith Gilda Marshall
1978
(20th)
Geraldine Fitzgerald The Mango Tree Grandma Carr
1978
(20th)
Wendy Hughes Newsfront Amy Mackenzie
1978
(20th)
Kim Krejus Mouth to Mouth Carrie
1979
(21st)
Michele Fawdon Cathy's Child Cathy
1979
(21st)
Ruth Cracknell The Night the Prowler Doris Bannister
1979
(21st)
Judy Davis My Brilliant Career Sybylla Melvyn
1979
(21st)
Sigrid Thornton Snapshot Angela
1980s
1980
(22nd)
Tracy Mann Hard Knocks Samantha
1980
(22nd)
Carmen Duncan Harlequin Sandra Rast
1980
(22nd)
Judy Morris ...Maybe This Time Fran
1980
(22nd)
Mawuyul Yanthalawuy Manganinnie Manganinnie
1981
(23rd)
Judy Davis Winter of Our Dreams Lou
1981
(23rd)
Jenny Agutter The Survivor Hobbs
1981
(23rd)
Lorraine Bayly Fatty Finn Maggie McGrath
1981
(23rd)
Noni Hazlehurst Fatty Finn Myrtle Finn
1982
(24th)
Noni Hazlehurst Monkey Grip Nora
1982
(24th)
Wendy Hughes Lonely Hearts Patricia Curnow
1982
(24th)
Carol Kane Norman Loves Rose Rose
1982
(24th)
Angela Punch McGregor We of the Never Never Jeannie Gunn
1983
(25th)
Wendy Hughes Careful, He Might Hear You Vanessa
1983
(25th)
Lorna Lesley The Settlement Joycie
1983
(25th)
Kris McQuade Buddies Stella
1983
(25th)
Geneviève Picot Undercover Libby
1984
(26th)
Angela Punch McGregor Annie's Coming Out Jessica Hathaway
1984
(26th)
Carol Burns Strikebound Agnes Doig
1984
(26th)
Gosia Dobrowolska Silver City Nina
1984
(26th)
Wendy Hughes My First Wife Helen
1985
(27th)
Noni Hazlehurst Fran Fran
1985
(27th)
Debra Byrne Rebel Kathy McLeod
1985
(27th)
Lynette Curran Bliss Bettina Joy
1985
(27th)
Michele Fawdon Unfinished Business Maureen
1986
(28th)
Judy Davis Kangaroo Harriet Somers
1986
(28th)
Helen Buday For Love Alone Teresa
1986
(28th)
Judy Morris The More Things Change... Connie
1986
(28th)
Justine Saunders The Fringe Dwellers Mollie Comeaway
1987
(29th)
Judy Davis High Tide Lillie
1987
(29th)
Julia Blake Travelling North Frances
1987
(29th)
Loene Carmen The Year My Voice Broke Freya Olson
1987
(29th)
Wendy Hughes Echoes of Paradise Maria
1988
(30th)
Nadine Garner Mull Phoebe Mullens
1988
(30th)
Wendy Hughes Boundaries of the Heart Stella Marsden
1988
(30th)
Rosey Jones Afraid to Dance The Female
1988
(30th)
Jo Kennedy Tender Hooks Mitch
1989
(31st)
Meryl Streep Evil Angels (A Cry in the Dark)[9] Lindy Chamberlain
1989
(31st)
Judy Davis Georgia Nina Bailley and Georgia White
1989
(31st)
Geneviève Lemon Sweetie Dawn (Sweetie)
1989
(31st)
Irini Pappas Island Marquise
1990s
1990
(32nd)
Catherine McClements Weekend with Kate Kate Moir
1990
(32nd)
Kerry Armstrong Hunting Michelle Harris
1990
(32nd)
Rosanna Arquette Wendy Cracked a Walnut Wendy
1990
(32nd)
Claudia Karvan The Big Steal Joanna Johnson
1991
(33rd)
Sheila Florance A Woman's Tale Martha
1991
(33rd)
Eri Ishida Aya Aya
1991
(33rd)
Angie Milliken Act of Necessity Louise Coleman
1991
(33rd)
Geneviève Picot Proof Celia
1992
(34th)
Lisa Harrow The Last Days of Chez Nous Ada McGrath
1992
(34th)
Claudia Karvan Redheads Lucy
1992
(34th)
Tara Morice Strictly Ballroom Fran
1992
(34th)
Miranda Otto Daydream Believer Nell Tiscowitz
1993
(35th)
Holly Hunter The Piano Beth
1993
(35th)
Claudia Karvan Broken Highway Catherine
1993
(35th)
Fiona Ruttelle Say a Little Prayer Angie
1993
(35th)
Jacqueline McKenzie This Won't Hurt A Bit! Vanessa Prescott
1994
(36th)
Toni Collette Muriel's Wedding Muriel Heslop
1994
(36th)
Tara FitzGerald Sirens Estella Campion
1994
(36th)
Kerry Fox Country Life Sally Voysey
1994
(36th)
Victoria Longley Talk Julia Strong
1995
(37th)
Jacqueline McKenzie Angel Baby Kate
1995
(37th)
Caroline Gillmer Hotel Sorrento Hilary Moynihan
1995
(37th)
Caroline Goodall Hotel Sorrento Meg Moynihan
1995
(37th)
Lisa Harrow That Eye, the Sky Alice Flack
1996
(37th)
Judy Davis Children of the Revolution Joan
1996
(38th)
Gia Carides Brilliant Lies Susy Connor
1996
(38th)
Claudia Karvan Dating the Enemy Tash
1996
(38th)
Frances O'Connor Love and Other Catastrophes Mia
1997
(39th)
Pamela Rabe The Well Hester
1997
(39th)
Frances O'Connor Kiss or Kill Nikki Davies
1997
(39th)
Frances O'Connor Thank God He Met Lizzie Jenny
1997
(39th)
Miranda Otto The Well Katherine
1998
(40th)
Deborah Mailman Radiance Nona
1998
(40th)
Cate Blanchett Oscar and Lucinda Lucinda Leplastrier
1998
(40th)
Lynette Curran The Boys Sandra Sprague
1998
(40th)
Rachel Griffiths Amy Tanya Rammus
1999
(41st)
Sacha Horler Praise Cynthia
1999
(41st)
Jeanie Drynan Soft Fruit Patsy
1999
(41st)
Michela Noonan Strange Fits of Passion She
1999
(41st)
Maya Stange In a Savage Land Evelyn Spence
2000s
2000
(42nd)
Pia Miranda Looking for Alibrandi Josephine Alibrandi
2000
(42nd)
Julia Blake Innocence Claire
2000
(42nd)
Rachel Griffiths Me Myself I Pamela Drury
2000
(42nd)
Susie Porter Better Than Sex Cin
2001
(43rd)
Kerry Armstrong Lantana Sonja Zat
2001
(43rd)
Alice Ansara La Spagnola Lucia
2001
(43rd)
Nicole Kidman Moulin Rouge! Satine
2001
(43rd)
Lola Marceli La Spagnola Lola
2002
(44th)
Maria Theodorakis Walking on Water Anna
2002
(44th)
Judy Davis Swimming Upstream Dora Fingleton
2002
(44th)
Rachel Griffiths The Hard Word Carol
2002
(44th)
Dannielle Hall Beneath Clouds Lena
2003
(45th)
Toni Collette Japanese Story Sandy Edwards
2003
(45th)
Helen Buday Alexandra's Project Alexandra
2003
(45th)
Rose Byrne The Rage in Placid Lake Gemma Taylor
2003
(45th)
Susie Porter Teesh and Trude Letitia (Teesh)
2004
(46th)
Abbie Cornish Somersault Heidi
2004
(46th)
Chloe Maxwell Under the Radar Jo
2004
(46th)
Olivia Pigeot A Cold Summer Tia
2004
(46th)
Leeanna Walsman One Perfect Day Alysse
2005
(47th)
Cate Blanchett Little Fish Tracy Louise Heart
2005
(47th)
Saskia Burmeister Hating Alison Ashley "Erk" Erica "Yuk" Yurken
2005
(47th)
Justine Clarke Look Both Ways Meryl Lee
2005
(47th)
Frances O'Connor Three Dollars Tanya
2006
(48th)
Emily Barclay Suburban Mayhem Katrina
2006
(48th)
Abbie Cornish Candy Candy
2006
(48th)
Laura Linney Jindabyne Claire
2006
(48th)
Teresa Palmer 2:37 Melody
2007
(49th)
Joan Chen The Home Song Stories Rose
2007
(49th)
Kerry Armstrong Razzle Dazzle Justine Morgan
2007
(49th)
Brenda Blethyn Clubland Jean Dwight
2007
(49th)
Franka Potente Romulus, My Father Christine
2008
(50th)
Monic Hendrickx Unfinished Sky Tahmeena
2008
(50th)
Noni Hazlehurst Bitter & Twisted Penelope Lombard
2008
(50th)
Emma Lung The Jammed Crystal
2008
(50th)
Veronica Sywak The Jammed Ashley
2009
(51st)
Frances O'Connor Blessed Rhonda
2009
(51st)
Marissa Gibson Samson and Delilah Delilah
2009
(51st)
Sacha Horler My Year Without Sex Natalie
2009
(51st)
Sophie Lowe Beautiful Kate Kate
2010s
2010
(52nd)
Jacki Weaver Animal Kingdom Janine "Smurf" Cody
2010
(52nd)
Abbie Cornish Bright Star Fanny Brawne
2010
(52nd)
Morgana Davies The Tree Simone
2010
(52nd)
Charlotte Gainsbourg The Tree Dawn
AACTA Awards
2011
(1st)
Judy Davis The Eye of the Storm Dorothy de Lascabanes
2011
(1st)
Frances O'Connor The Hunter Lucy Armstrong
2011
(1st)
Charlotte Rampling The Eye of the Storm Elizabeth Hunter
2011
(1st)
Emily Watson Oranges and Sunshine Margaret Humphreys
2012
(2nd)
Deborah Mailman The Sapphires Gail McCrae
2012
(2nd)
Toni Collette Mental Shaz
2012
(2nd)
Felicity Price Wish You Were Here Alice Flannery
2012
(2nd)
Sarah Snook Not Suitable for Children Stevie
2013
(3rd)
Rose Byrne The Turning Raelene
2013
(3rd)
Carey Mulligan The Great Gatsby Daisy Buchanan
2013
(3rd)
Tasma Walton Mystery Road Mary Swan
2013
(3rd)
Naomi Watts Adore Lil
2014
(4th)
Sarah Snook Predestination The unmarried mother
2014
(4th)
Kate Box The Little Death Rowena
2014
(4th)
Essie Davis The Babadook Amelia
2014
(4th)
Mia Wasikowska Tracks Robyn Davidson

Notes

A^ : From 1958–2010, the awards were held during the year of the films release. However, the 1974–75 awards were held in 1975 for films released in 1974 and 1975, and the first AACTA Awards were held in 2012 for films released in 2011.[10][11]

References

  1. "AACTA – The Academy". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  2. "AACTA – The Academy – The Awards". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "AACTA – The Academy – Background". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  4. French, Lisa; Poole, Mark (2009). Shining a Light: 50 Years of the Australian Film Institute. Australian Teachers of Media. p. 27. ISBN 1-876467-20-7.
  5. "IMDb Australian Film Institute Awards". The Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  6. "Part2: Rule 5.6 – Special Conditions for Feature Film; Special Rules for Acting Awards". 2013 AACTA Awards Rule Book. Australian Film Institute. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  7. Winners and nominees by year:
  8. Additional winners and nominees references:
    • French, Lisa; Poole, Mark (2009). Shining a Light: 50 Years of the Australian Film Institute. Australian Teachers of Media. p. 165. ISBN 1-876467-20-7.
    • French, Lisa; Poole, Mark (2009). Shining a Light: 50 Years of the Australian Film Institute. Australian Teachers of Media. p. 166. ISBN 1-876467-20-7.
    • French, Lisa; Poole, Mark (2009). Shining a Light: 50 Years of the Australian Film Institute. Australian Teachers of Media. p. 167. ISBN 1-876467-20-7.
    • French, Lisa; Poole, Mark (2009). Shining a Light: 50 Years of the Australian Film Institute. Australian Teachers of Media. p. 168. ISBN 1-876467-20-7.
  9. "A Cry in the Dark (1988) – Release dates". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  10. "AACTA – Past Winners – 1970–1979 – 1974–1975". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  11. Bodey, Michael (8 November 2011). "Industry academy announces new awards". The Australian (News Limited (News Corporation)). Retrieved 5 June 2012.

External links