Academy Award For Best Supporting Actress Winners & Nominees

Alright, gather 'round, folks. I've got some tales to tell about the Academy Awards' Best Supporting Actress category. It's like the Oscars' version of the cool kid's table at lunch, where you've got your Meryl Streep sitting next to your Octavia Spencer, and they're all dishing out some serious acting chops.

Let's Start at the Very Beginning

We're talking 1936 here, folks. The first-ever Best Supporting Actress Oscar went to Gale Sondergaard for her role in "Anthony Adverse." Now, I don't know about you, but I've never seen that movie, and I'm pretty sure I've never even heard of it. But Sondergaard must've been something else, because she went on to become the first person to receive a second Oscar nomination in this category. Talk about a trailblazer!

Meryl, Meryl, Meryl

Speaking of trailblazers, let's talk about Meryl Streep. This woman is a force to be reckoned with. She's got more Oscar nominations than I've had hot dinners, and she's won three times. Her first win was for "Kramer vs. Kramer" in 1980. She played a mom who was going through a divorce, and let me tell you, she made us all feel her pain. I mean, I was a mess after that movie, and I didn't even have kids yet!

Then, in 1983, she won again for "Sophie's Choice." Now, that's a movie that'll make you reach for the tissues. Streep plays a Polish immigrant in Brooklyn who's haunted by her past. It's intense, folks. I watched it once, and I'm still not over it.

Her third win was for "Iron Lady" in 2012. She played Margaret Thatcher, and she was so convincing, I half expected her to start leading the Conservative Party from my living room. That's some serious acting chops right there.

And Then There Were Others

But Meryl's not the only one who's made a splash in this category. There's Hattie McDaniel, who became the first African American to win an Oscar for her role in "Gone with the Wind" in 1940. She played Mammy, and she was so good, she made us all wish we had a Mammy of our own.

Then there's Whoopi Goldberg, who won for "Ghost" in 1991. She played Oda Mae Brown, a psychic who could hear the ghost of Patrick Swayze. I mean, who among us hasn't wanted to be able to talk to a hunky ghost?

And let's not forget Cate Blanchett, who won for "The Aviator" in 2005. She played Katharine Hepburn, and she was so good, I half expected her to start quoting "The Philadelphia Story" at me.

Some Surprising Facts

Now, here's where things get interesting. Did you know that the youngest winner of this award was Tatum O'Neal? She was just 10 years old when she won for "Paper Moon" in 1974. I mean, I was still learning how to tie my shoes at that age. What was I even doing with my life?

Behind the scenes with the best supporting actress Oscar nominees at

And the oldest winner? That would be Jessica Tandy, who was 80 when she won for "Driving Miss Daisy" in 1990. I mean, if that's not a reason to keep acting until you're 80, I don't know what is.

Also, did you know that there's been a tie in this category? It happened in 1964, when Patty Duke and Helen Hayes both won for "The Miracle Worker" and "The World of Henry Orient," respectively. I mean, can you imagine the awkwardness at the after-party? "Oh, you won too? Well, isn't that... nice?"

And the Nominees Are...

Now, let's talk about some of the nominees who didn't take home the gold. There's Glenn Close, who's been nominated a record-tying seven times and has never won. I mean, the woman's a national treasure, and she's been snubbed more times than I can count. It's enough to make you want to start a petition or something.

And then there's Amy Adams. She's been nominated five times and hasn't won yet. I mean, the woman can sing, she can dance, she can act. What more do you want from her?

But hey, it's not all doom and gloom. There's always next year, right? And who knows? Maybe this year's nominee list will be filled with surprises. I mean, stranger things have happened. Like the time I won my office's Secret Santa gift exchange with a bottle of wine and a bag of chips. I mean, who saw that coming?

So there you have it, folks. The highs, the lows, the surprises, and the snubs of the Best Supporting Actress category. It's a wild ride, and I, for one, wouldn't have it any other way.