Actresses Over 50 Are Delivering Their Best Performances Yet
In honor of tonight's 2024 Oscars ceremony, from Meryl Streep to Jennifer Lopez, these actresses over 50 have been dominating award ceremonies.
In the lead-up to tonight's 2024 Oscars ceremony, it's due time to admire the amazing leading actresses over 50 that have graced nomination lists in recent years. If she's fabulous, inspirational, and talented, she's definitely made our list. Annette Bening tops our list, as a 2024 Oscars Best Actress nominee, clocking in at age 65. Her performance in Nyad is not to be missed. Last year's Oscars Best Actress Michelle Yeoh is also on our best actresses over 50 list, at 61. Another fashionable fave is Laura Dern, one of the many acclaimed powerhouses included here. She's joined by an actress who made history upon achieving the Acting Triple Crown title, a five-time Golden Globe winner, 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 honor them ahead of the 2024 Oscars. Find a list of the best actresses over 50 that we can't get enough of below.
Now 61, Michelle Yeoh won over hearts during the 2023 award season, winning numerous accolades (including Best Actress at the Oscars) for her lead role in Everything Everywhere All At Once.
Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in her breakout performance in 1990's The Grifters, Bening hasn't stopped since, gaining recognition for works like 1999's American Beauty and Running with Scissors. Now, at 65, she is nominated for the 2024 Oscars for her portrayal of long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad, in 2023's Nyad.
First up, the legend herself, Meryl Streep. Streep has won three Oscars, nine Golden Globes, three Emmys, and two BAFTAs. In recent years, 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 proven herself to be a dynamic actress over 50, and her talent has earned her four Golden Globes, two Academy Awards, and two BAFTAs.
Nicole Kidman has won one Oscar, four Golden Globes, one Emmy, and one BAFTA. In recent years, she received a Golden Globe nomination for her performance in Big Little Lies. If you haven't seen it yet, do yourself a favor and binge-watch Seasons 1 and 2 ASAP.
Cate Blanchett is among the actresses over 50 nominated for a Golden Globe, thanks to her performance in Tár. However, she's already won some accolades over the years for films like Blue Jasmine and The Aviator. They include two Oscars, three Golden Globes, and three BAFTAs.
Laura Dern has won a staggering five Golden Globes, in addition to an Emmy and a BAFTA. In 2020 she took home yet another award— an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in the drama Big Little Lies. Come September, she'll have another shot to continue sweeping awards this season for her various performances. Between her latest roles in Marriage Story and Jurassic World: Domination— it's been impossible not to obsess over this actress.
Kathy Bates has been a Hollywood stand-out for years. Since stepping into the industry, she's won two Emmys, one Oscar, and two Golden Globes for her performances in Misery and The Late Shift, just to name a few. And with as a longstanding nominee for Outstanding Supporting Actress in American Horror Story— will Bates finally take home the award this September?
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's gotten 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 2022 off with the premiere of Severance— a show shaping up to be a serious Emmy contender. In the show, Arquette stars as Harmony Cobel— an icy middle manager. The show is a strikingly unique mix where workplace comedy meets psychological thriller and is well worth the watch. The actress 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 will likely be nominated for an Emmy 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. 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.
In both 2019 and again in 2020, Laura Linney swept the Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series Award Emmy. Now with the hit Netflix series' finale just months prior, the actress looks like she'll be taking home yet another one. She's She's won a total of four, in addition to two Golden Globes for her performances in John Adams and The Big C.
The 56-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 just two years ago. 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.
After nearly seven decades— Rita Moreno is still an industry favorite. As a member of the original 1961 cast, just this past year the actress joined the cast of the revival of the iconic musical West Side Story. 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.
At the 2021 Oscars, Youn Yuh-jung made history as the first Korean woman to win Best Supporting Actress. In her award-winning performance in Minari, the actress plays Soon-ja— the grandmother of a young boy whose family has relocated to rural Arkansas. In a five-decade-long career, she's no stranger to accolades including an Academy Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a British Academy Film Award, an Independent Spirit Award, and a nomination for a Critics' Choice Movie Award. At 75, the best is surely yet to come for this talented woman.
With four Academy Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and one Tony Award— this industry legend is one of the few performers to achieve the "Triple Crown of Acting." Her recent role starring in Nomadland led the film to the coveted Academy Award for Best Picture. With no signs of stopping, this icon is certainly gearing up for another award-winning performance.
Jean Smart took home her fourth Emmy in 2021 for her lead role in Hacks. At age 70, she also won her very first Golden Globe and SAG Award for the same role this year.
