by Ticia

Created on: December 09, 2009   Last Updated: December 31, 2009

“It’s life isn’t it?  You plow ahead and make a hit.  And you plow on and someone passes you.  Then someone passes them.  Time levels”.  Once quoted by the great Katharine Hepburn and still no one has passed her Oscar wins.  She still holds the record for the most Oscar wins in the category of Best Actress. 

Hepburn claimed her first Oscar in the 1933 film for her leading role as "Eve Lovelace in "Morning Glory".  In 1967 she again captivated audiences in her role as Christina Drayton in "Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner" working with the great Spencer Tracey and Sidney Poitier.  The following year, Hepburn succeeded in another Oscar win as Eleanor of Aquitaine in "The Lion in Winter".  Most recently remembered was her last Oscar win in her role as Ethel Thayer in 1968’s "On Golden Pond".  

Other actresses have yet to come close to Hepburn’s wins but there are several that have given us fine performances earning 2 Oscars at most for leading roles.   However, nominations in this category are another success story and  and when looking at the actresses with 2 or more wins and nominations, it is interesting to note that Meryl Streep holds the record for the most nominations. 

Meryl Streep has succeeded in 2 Oscar wins for her leading roles in 1979’s "Kramer vs Kramer" and 1982’s "Sophie’s Choice".  Overall, Streep has received the most nominations in history – and holds a record of 12.

Luise Rainer gave us Oscar winning performances in 1936’s "Ziegfield Follies" and 1937’s "The Good Earth" with an overall of 2 nominations.

Surprisingly, the great Bette Davis has only earned 2 Oscar wins for Best Actress in 1935’s "Dangerous" and 1938’s "Jezebel".  Bette’s overall career has earned her a total of 10 nominations for her roles.

In 1944, Ingrid Bergman gave a fine performance in "Gaslight" earning her a first Oscar.  Her second Oscar was rewarded through her performance in 1956’s "Anastasia".  Total nominations for Bergman over her career were 6. 

Although a short career span, Vivien Leigh earned two Oscar’s in 1939’s classic "Gone With The Wind" and 1951’s "A Streetcar Named Desire".  Leigh was only nominated twice and won both. 

In 1946, Olivia de Havilland gave us a winning performance in her role as Miss Josephine (Jody) Norris in "To

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