A celebration of the diverse and powerful women who have defined Hollywood over the last 25 years.
Some of the Academy's favorites might be shocked to see where they landed on the 'worst to best' scale.
Rolling Stone published the ranking on Feb. 16, 2026, covering every Best Actress winner since the year 2000.
The Academy’s taste is subjective, but this list proves the enduring power of the Best Actress category.
Rolling Stone just dropped a SHOCKING ranking of every Best Actress Oscar winner from the 21st century. The Academy’s female winners are sorted by stardom, from royalty to legends — and some of Hollywood’s biggest names might surprise you. We’re talking 25 years of Oscar history, ranked worst to best. Whether you agree with the placements or not, this definitive snapshot proves the enduring power of the Best Actress category.
