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While some actors appear in numerous films, and others star in critically acclaimed ones, a select few dominate both categories. Meryl Streep leads this elite group. Starting with her first Academy Award nomination for *The Deer Hunter* in 1978 and continuing through her latest for *The Post* in 2017, Streep has earned an incredible 21 Oscar nominations: four for best supporting actress and an impressive 17 for best actress.
Al Pacino, currently in fourth place with nine nominations, is the most likely candidate to challenge Streep’s record. Other notable figures, such as Paul Newman, Spencer Tracy, Bette Davis, Laurence Olivier, and Katharine Hepburn, have since passed away. Jack Nicholson, the other runner-up, has been absent from the film industry for over ten years. Even if Nicholson were to return, he would need 10 more nominations to surpass Streep—assuming she doesn’t add to her tally in the meantime.
Although Katharine Hepburn trails Streep in nominations, she holds the record for the most Oscar wins. Streep has three wins for *Kramer vs. Kramer* (1979), *Sophie’s Choice* (1982), and *The Iron Lady* (2011). Hepburn, however, secured four Oscars for *Morning Glory* (1933), *Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner* (1967), *The Lion in Winter* (1968), and *On Golden Pond* (1981).
While many of the most-nominated performers have secured at least one Oscar, some, like Peter O’Toole, Richard Burton, and Glenn Close, remain winless. Close, with eight nominations, has a chance to end her streak this year, as she’s nominated for her supporting role in *Hillbilly Elegy* (2020).
This ranking focuses solely on acting nominations (lead and supporting roles), excluding additional nods for directing, producing, or other contributions to films. After exploring the list, prepare for the 93rd Oscars on April 25 by diving into some intriguing trivia about past ceremonies.
1. Meryl Streep // 21 nominations (3 wins) 2. Katharine Hepburn // 12 nominations (4 wins) 2. Jack Nicholson // 12 nominations (3 wins) 3. Bette Davis // 10 nominations (2 wins) 3. Laurence Olivier // 10 nominations (1 win) 4. Al Pacino // 9 nominations (1 win) 4. Paul Newman // 9 nominations (1 win) 4. Spencer Tracy // 9 nominations (2 wins) 5. Marlon Brando // 8 nominations (2 wins) 5. Glenn Close // 8 nominations (0 wins) 5. Jack Lemmon // 8 nominations (2 wins) 5. Peter O’Toole // 8 nominations (0 wins) 5. Geraldine Page // 8 nominations (1 win) 5. Denzel Washington // 8 nominations (2 wins) 6. Ingrid Bergman // 7 nominations (3 wins) 6. Cate Blanchett // 7 nominations (2 wins) 6. Jeff Bridges // 7 nominations (1 win) 6. Richard Burton // 7 nominations (0 wins) 6. Judi Dench // 7 nominations (1 win) 6. Robert De Niro // 7 nominations (2 wins) 6. Robert Duvall // 7 nominations (1 win) 6. Jane Fonda // 7 nominations (2 wins) 6. Greer Garson // 7 nominations (1 win) 6. Dustin Hoffman // 7 nominations (2 wins) 6. Kate Winslet // 7 nominations (1 win)
