Actors With The Most Academy Award Acting Nominations
Spotlights flare, curtains rise, and a select few performers keep stepping back into awards history like they never left.
Decades pass, trends change, yet their names keep showing up where excellence lives. Performance after performance, they built careers that critics could not ignore and audiences could not forget.
Ready to meet the actors whose trophy shelves basically need structural support?
Disclaimer: This article focuses specifically on Academy Award acting nominations based on widely published awards records and reference sources available at the time of writing.
10. Marlon Brando
The calendar reminder glares at you: movie night.
Brando changed acting forever with his raw, natural style that felt real instead of theatrical. He earned 8 Academy Award nominations during his legendary career and won twice for his unforgettable performances.
His method acting approach inspired generations of performers who came after him. Critics and audiences alike recognized his ability to disappear completely into every role he played.
Talk about setting the bar high for everyone else.
9. Al Pacino
Over more than five decades, Al Pacino has delivered intense performances that earned industry-wide respect.
Nine Academy Award nominations followed across a career packed with standout roles.
Whether playing hardened tough guys or deeply layered characters, he brought depth and emotion to every role. Dedication to the craft shows in the way complete transformations happen with each new project.
8. Spencer Tracy
Across Hollywood’s golden age, Spencer Tracy earned nine Academy Award nominations and won twice. Natural acting style made audiences forget they were watching a performance at all.
Opposite the biggest stars of his era, he held his own in every scene.
Directors valued him for making difficult material look effortless while bringing truth to every line he delivered.
7. Paul Newman
Those blue eyes became iconic across decades of cinema. Newman’s charm and talent earned him 10 competitive Academy Award nominations, and he finally won an Oscar after years of being recognized by his peers.
He played rebels, heroes, and ordinary people with extraordinary problems.
Beyond acting, he became known for his philanthropic work and passion for racing cars at high speeds. The kettle clicks off, reminding you that some legends never fade from memory.
6. Denzel Washington
Screen presence from Denzel Washington commands attention every single time he appears. Ten Academy Award nominations under his belt have helped cement his place among the greatest actors of his generation.
Dignity and power define performances that range from historical figures to everyday heroes facing impossible choices.
Impact of his work opened doors for other performers and inspired countless young actors to chase their own ambitions. Enduring skill proves that pure talent never goes out of style.
5. Laurence Olivier
British elegance meets raw talent in this theatrical legend. Olivier collected 10 Academy Award nominations during his extraordinary career that spanned stage and screen.
He brought Shakespeare to life for modern audiences who had never experienced those stories before.
His voice alone could command a room, and his presence made every scene feel important and memorable. The bag by the door holds a collection of his films you borrowed from a friend.
4. Bette Davis
Davis refused to play by Hollywood’s rules and became a legend anyway. She earned 10 Academy Award nominations by choosing bold, complex characters that other actresses avoided completely.
Her fierce independence and powerful performances broke barriers for women in film.
Those expressive eyes could convey more emotion in one glance than pages of dialogue ever could. She proved that talent and determination matter more than following the expected path to stardom.
3. Jack Nicholson
That signature grin comes to mind before you even finish reading his name. Across a remarkable career, Jack Nicholson collected twelve Academy Award nominations and won three times for performances that ranged from terrifying to hilarious.
Unpredictable choices defined his roles, keeping audiences leaning forward and wondering what he might do next.
Many directors sought him out because he elevated every project with his singular energy and total commitment. Very few performers could have played those characters in quite the same unforgettable way.
2. Katharine Hepburn
Independence and talent helped Katharine Hepburn earn twelve Academy Award nominations and four wins. Strong, intelligent women filled her filmography long before Hollywood regularly centered those kinds of roles for actresses.
Distinctive voice paired with an aristocratic bearing made her unforgettable in every single film.
Careful project choices reflected a refusal to compromise personal values for fame or fortune.
Quiet morning hours feel perfect for rewatching one of her classic romantic comedies with a cup of tea.
1. Meryl Streep
Streep stands alone at the top with an astonishing 21 Academy Award nominations.
She has mastered accents, dialects, and character types that seem impossible for any single performer to achieve. From comedy to drama, from historical figures to fictional creations, she disappears into every role completely.
Her dedication to research and preparation has become legendary among directors and fellow actors alike. When people talk about the greatest actor of all time, her name always comes up first in the conversation.
