These 20 Actresses Over 50 are Delivering Their Best Performances Yet
With the Oscars 2020 ceremony just around the corner, we think it's due time to admire the amazing leading actresses over 50 that have graced the nomination lists this year. If she's fabulous, inspirational, and talented, she's definitely made our list. Spoiler alert: Jennifer Lopez is one of the acclaimed powerhouses included, despite the Oscars snub she received this awards season. She's joined by an actress who made history upon achieving the Acting Triple Crown title, a five-time Golden Globe winner who's all but set to pick up her first Oscar, and a certain icon who's been nominated for major awards far more years than not. Even though awards shows still have lots of work to do when it comes to giving all these talented women their share of recognition, we are more than ready to honour them today. Find a list of the 20 best actresses over 50 that we can't get enough of below.
First up, the legend herself, Meryl Streep. Streep has won three Oscars, nine Golden Globes, three Emmys, and two BAFTAs. This year, she earned several best supporting actress nominations for her role as Mary Louise Wright in Big Little Lies. One of the most iconic actresses over 50, she'll surely hit another awards podium soon with an unforgettable acceptance speech.
Viola Davis received an Emmy nomination for outstanding lead actress in a drama series for her performance in How to Get Away with Murder. Davis is an actress, producer, activist, and L'Officiel USA cover alum. She also happens to be the first black actor to win the Triple Crown of Acting, a title achieved by winning an Emmy, Tony, and Oscar.
Renée Zellweger first won me over in her hilarious, messy and loving role as Bridget Jones in the Bridget Jones Diary movies. She's a dynamic actress over 50, and this year her talent has earned her Best Actress at the Oscars for her performance in Judy, making it her second Oscar. She's also won four Golden Globes and two BAFTAs.
Nicole Kidman has won one Oscar, four Golden Globes, one Emmy and one BAFTA. This year, she received another Golden Globe nomination for her performance in Big Little Lies. If you haven't seen it yet, do yourself a favour and Binge watch seasons 1 and 2 ASAP.
This year Cate Blanchett was among the actresses over 50 nominated for a Golden Globe, thanks to her performance in Where'd you Go Bernadette. Although she didn't win, she did get to go home to a number of awards she's won over the years for films like Blue Jasmine and The Aviator. They include two Oscars, three Golden Globes, and three BAFTAs.
First she wowed us in her lead role in Hustlers, and then she left us speechless last weekend in her amazing Super Bowl performance. Even though Hustlers didn't get the recognition it deserved, we are sure we'll be celebrating this multi-talented artist (who looks so similar to her younger self that she leaves the world questioning how she's now an actress over 50) for years to come. Excluding her lengthy list of music awards, Jennifer Lopez has been nominated for two Golden Globes. You'll get 'em next time, J.Lo! If no awards this year, at least she won fashion month at Versace.
Laura Dern has won a staggering five Golden Globes, in addition to an Emmy and a BAFTA. Come Sunday, she'll have another shot at winning an Oscar for her role as a bold divorce lawyer in Marriage Story. Dern has been sweeping awards season for this performance, and between that, Little Women, and Big Little Lies, it's been impossible not to obsess over this actress over 50 this past year.
Kathy Bates has been nominated for a 2020 Oscar and a Golden Globe for best actress in a supporting role for the film Richard Jewell. Throughout her career, she has won two Emmys, one Oscar, and two Golden Globes for her performances in Misery and The Late Shift, just to name a few.
Well known for her roles in Sense and Sensibility and Saving Mr. Banks, Emma Thompson was nominated for a Golden Globe this year for best actress in a musical or comedy motion picture for her role in Late Night. Throughout her career she's won an Emmy, two Oscars, and two Golden Globes.
This Queen (and literal dame) has been playing the role of royalty for some time now. This year Mirren was nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance as Queen Catherine in Catherine The Great. She has won five BAFTAs, four Emmys, two Golden Globes and one Oscar, making her a true standout among actresses over 50.
Jennifer Aniston has won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her iconic role as Rachel Green in Friends. This year she got recognition for her role in a newer and less comical tv series, The Morning Show. She was nominated for another Golden Globe for her performance as TV anchor Alex Levy in the series. Aniston just joined the "actresses over 50" club, but with her continued radiance, newfound Instagram expertise, and recent reunion with Brad Pitt, age is really just a number.
Patricia Arquette started 2020 off with a major win: she received the Golden Globe for best supporting actress in a limited series for her performance in The Act. In the show, Arquette starred as Dee Dee Blanchard, a mother with Munchausen syndrome by proxy who convinces her daughter (played by Joey King) that she suffers from a number of illnesses. Arquette has also won two other Golden Globes, two Emmys, and an Oscar.
In roles ranging from Bellatrix in the Harry Potter series to Queen Elizabeth in The King's Speech, Helena Bonham Carter never fails to show her versatility as an actress. She has won a BAFTA for her role in The King's Speech and was recently nominated for a Golden Globe (among others) for her role as Princess Margaret in The Crown this year.
Aunjanue Ellis is best known for her roles in Ray and The Help. But this talented actress over 50 has gone mostly unrecognized by the major awards shows. She received her first Emmy nomination for outstanding lead actress in her role as Sharon Salaam in When They See Us. We hope this is the first of many nominations and even more wins.
Patricia Clarkson was nominated for an Emmy for best supporting actress in Sharp Objects. Earlier in 2019, she won her first Golden Globe for her performance in the same mini-series. Clarkson won two Emmys for her performance in Six Feet Under in 2002 and 2006. Some of her other memorable performances were in The Green Mile and Easy A.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus' eight Emmys speak for themselves. She's funny, talented, and beautiful. Talk about a triple threat and the perfect formula to becoming one of the most acclaimed actresses over 50! From Seinfeld to The New Adventures of Old Christine, she has proven it time and time again. She was nominated for yet another Emmy for the comedy series Veep in 2019.
Laura Linney was nominated for her sixth Emmy in 2019 for outstanding lead actress in a drama series. She's won a total of four, in addition to two Golden Globes for her performances in John Adams and The Big C.
The 53-year-old House of Cards actress has been nominated for a number of awards for the series. Wright's most recent addition was an Emmy nomination for best lead actress in a drama series. While her time as Claire Underwood is over, we see more nominations in her future.
Zhao Shuzhen was nominated for a Critics' Choice Award this year. Although she didn't win, her performance in The Farewell shouldn't go without mention. The film is about a family that throws a fake wedding in order to say goodbye to their dying grandmother who does not know she only has a few weeks left to live. She's an amazing actress over 50 (and actress, period), and if you don't know her work, you should.
Rita Moreno was nominated for a Critics' Choice Award for best supporting actress in a comedy series this year for her role in One Day at a Time. She's won two Emmys, a Golden Globe, and an Oscar, and is best known for her roles in 9 to 5 and West Side Story. A true legend among actresses over 50, she impresses us every time.
