Every Jewish Best Actress Winner in Oscars History

From Norma Shearer to Mikey Madison, Jewish actresses have been shining brightly for nearly a century of Academy Awards history.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 8:20pm

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This article explores the history of Jewish actresses who have won the Academy Award for Best Actress, from Norma Shearer in 1930 to the most recent winner, Mikey Madison in 2025. It highlights how these boundary-pushing figures embodied feminine stereotypes while also serving as powerful cultural barometers of their time.

Why it matters

The stories of these Jewish Best Actress winners provide insight into the evolving representation of Jewish women in Hollywood and the industry's complex relationship with antisemitism, misogyny, and marginalized identities. Their victories reflect broader societal shifts around gender, religion, and the portrayal of traditionally stigmatized communities on the silver screen.

The details

The article chronicles the Best Actress wins of Norma Shearer, Luise Rainer, Judy Holliday, Elizabeth Taylor, Simone Signoret, Barbra Streisand, Marlee Matlin, Helen Hunt, Gwyneth Paltrow, Natalie Portman, and the most recent winner, Mikey Madison. It delves into the unique circumstances and challenges faced by each actress, from navigating antisemitism and typecasting to using their platforms to advocate for causes close to their hearts.

  • Norma Shearer won the Best Actress Oscar in 1930 for her role in 'The Divorcee'.
  • Luise Rainer won consecutive Best Actress Oscars in 1936 for 'The Great Ziegfeld' and in 1937 for 'The Good Earth'.
  • Judy Holliday won the Best Actress Oscar in 1951 for 'Born Yesterday'.
  • Elizabeth Taylor won the Best Actress Oscar in 1960 for 'BUtterfield 8' and again in 1966 for 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?'.
  • Simone Signoret won the Best Actress Oscar in 1959 for 'Room at the Top'.
  • Barbra Streisand won the Best Actress Oscar in 1968 for 'Funny Girl'.
  • Marlee Matlin won the Best Actress Oscar in 1986 for 'Children of a Lesser God'.
  • Helen Hunt won the Best Actress Oscar in 1997 for 'As Good as It Gets'.
  • Gwyneth Paltrow won the Best Actress Oscar in 1998 for 'Shakespeare in Love'.
  • Natalie Portman won the Best Actress Oscar in 2010 for 'Black Swan'.
  • Mikey Madison won the Best Actress Oscar in 2025 for 'Anora'.

The players

Norma Shearer

The first-ever Jewish Best Actress winner, who received her statuette at the 3rd Academy Awards in 1930 for her role in 'The Divorcee.' Born in Montreal, Shearer dreamed of the stage and screen from a young age and eventually caught the attention of MGM's chief producer, Irving G. Thalberg, whom she later married in a Jewish ceremony.

Luise Rainer

A German-born Jewish actress who won two consecutive Best Actress Oscars, first in 1936 for 'The Great Ziegfeld' and then in 1937 for 'The Good Earth.' She rebranded herself as 'Viennese' in Hollywood to avoid rising anti-German sentiment and went on to become the first performer to win two consecutive acting Oscars.

Judy Holliday

A Jewish actress born Judith Tuvim in Queens, New York, who won the Best Actress Oscar in 1951 for her role in 'Born Yesterday.' Her story exemplifies Hollywood's systemic antisemitic misogyny, as she was pressured to assimilate and mask her Jewishness through an Americanized stage name.

Elizabeth Taylor

A legendary actress who converted to Judaism a year before winning her first Best Actress Oscar for 'BUtterfield 8' in 1960. She later won a second Oscar for 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?' in 1966 and remained a committed supporter of Israel until her death in 2011.

Mikey Madison

The most recent Jewish Best Actress winner, who took home the Oscar in 2025 for her role as a sex worker in the film 'Anora.' Her victory signaled a shift in Hollywood's portrayal of marginalized communities and was one of the night's biggest surprises, beating out veteran actress Demi Moore.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

The stories of these Jewish Best Actress winners reflect the evolving representation of Jewish women in Hollywood and the industry's complex relationship with antisemitism, misogyny, and marginalized identities. Their victories serve as powerful cultural barometers, providing insight into broader societal shifts around gender, religion, and the portrayal of traditionally stigmatized communities on the silver screen.