The only actors to win three or more Academy Awards
Due to American culture’s global impact, the Oscars are generally considered among the highest achievements in the film industry. While there are more coveted accolades like the Palme d’Or, nothing can surpass the Academy Awards’ mainstream popularity. They are simply impossible to ignore. The sheer magnitude of the event is enough to captivate and entice entire populations, but its definitive impact on the cinematic legacy means it quickly becomes the most beloved awards show.
Many artists dedicate their lives to pursuing these awards, but only a select few manage to make their mark on Oscars history. More than any other category, the awards reserved for acting performances generate the most interest among film fans worldwide.
Everyone wants their favourite actor to win an Oscar, but the selection process is notoriously difficult and has been historically biased. Over the years, only a handful of acting talents have been able to win multiple Oscars for their performances. Out of them, a small minority has won three or more Academy Awards. It’s difficult for fans to reconcile the idea of art being qualified in such a way, but so many performers see gaining the small, golden statuettes as the ultimate make of commendation for their careers.
While pioneers such as Daniel Day-Lewis and Ingrid Bergman have three Oscars to their name, only one actor has managed to win four Academy Awards – more than anyone else. That artist is none other than the inimitable Katharine Hepburn, who won her fourth Oscar for her work in the 1981 drama On Golden Bond. It is perhaps the finest achievement of any actor in the modern era, and one which many think will be extremely hard to top.
In an interview, director Mark Rydell recalled that she overcame multiple adversities during the production process to achieve success. He said: “She was so startlingly remarkable, so heroic in many ways. For example, aside from being an extraordinary personality and a brilliant actress, she was also an athlete.”
The latest talent to join this list is Frances McDormand, who won the Academy Award for her performance in Chloé Zhao’s 2020 film Nomadland. McDormand starred as a widow who decides to embark on a cross-country adventure as a nomad.
After the film’s premiere, McDormand declared: “If you could say one consistent thing about what I have done over the last 38 years, it’s that I mostly played American female characters. Although Fern is probably going to be a bit of a punctuation – I am never going to play another American woman again!”
Winning three or more Academy Awards for acting is an extraordinary achievement, a testament to an artist’s unparalleled talent, versatility, and enduring impact on cinema. Few performers ever claim even one Oscar, making multiple wins a near-mythic feat.
The only actors to win three or more Academy Awards:
- Walter Brennan – 3 ‘Best Supporting Actor’
- Frances McDormand – 3 ‘Best Actress’
- Daniel Day-Lewis – 3 ‘Best Actor’
- Ingrid Bergman – 2 ‘Best Actress’ and 1 ‘Best Supporting Actress’
- Jack Nicholson – 2 ‘Best Actor’ and 1 ‘Best Supporting Actor’
- Meryl Streep – 2 ‘Best Actress’ and 1 ‘Best Supporting Actress’
- Katharine Hepburn – 4 ‘Best Actress’
