The Best Actress category has been subjected to some revisionist history in the past due in part to both teenage and post-teenage angst. Rather than re-assess everything all over again, especially in 1996 where I made several changes in the past, I will leave well enough alone. Any award whether awarded by an individual or an organization is rather like a time capsule and re-examination is futile. One always has a chance to make a Best of Decade or Performance in Genre or Subgenre list down the road and then there is the Test of Time, which is the ultimate. In the end when assessing my feelings and making decisions I never take into consideration “What will I think of this film/performer in five or ten years?” and just have to go with my gut.
One more minor note: in listing my nominees annually I have frequently listed Best Actress closer to Best Picture than Best Actor to try as a very minor political statement regarding sexism.
Without any further ado, the Best Actress winners:
2011 Elizabeth Olsen Martha Marcy May Marlene
Elizabeth Olsen and Sarah Paulson in Martha Marcy May Marlene (Fox Searchlight)
2010 Emma Stone Easy A
Emma Stone in Easy A (Screen Gems)
2009 Michelle Monaghan Trucker
Michelle Monaghan in Trucker (Monterey Media)
2008 Marion Cotillard La Vie en Rose (La Môme)
Marion Cotillard in La Vie en Rose (La Môme) (Picturehouse Entertainment)
2007 Cate Blanchett Notes on a Scandal
Cate Blanchett and Judi Dench in Notes on a Scandal (Fox Serchlight Pictures)
2006 Felicity Huffman Transamerica
Kevin Zeger and Felicity Huffman in Transamerica (IFC Films)
2005 Julia Dufvenius Saraband
Julia Dufvenius in Saraband (Sony Pictures Classics)
2004 Heather Smith Unscrewed
Heather Smith in Unscrewed (Kanbar Entertainment)
2003 Nicole Kidman The Hours
Nicole Kidman and Stephen Dillane in The Hours (Miramax)
2002 Isabelle Huppert The Piano Teacher (La Pianiste)
Isabelle Huppert in The Piano Teacher (La Pianiste) (MK2 Diffusion)
2001 Melanie Griffith Cecil B. Demented
Melanie Griffith in Cecil B. Demented (Artisan Enterment)
2000 Jessica Lange Titus
Harry Lennix and Jessica Lange in Titus (Fox Searchlight)
1999 Jessica Lange Cousin Bette
Jessica Lange and Elisabeth Shue in Cousin Bette (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
1998 Fernanda Montenegro Central Station (Central do Brasil)
Fernanda Montenegro and Vinicius de Oliveira in Central Station (Central do Brasil)
1997 Jodie Foster Contact
Jodie Foster in Contact (Warner Bros.)
1996 Reese Witherspoon Freeway
Reese Witherspoon in Freeway (Republic Pictures)
Posted in: BAM Awards, List
April 3rd, 2011 → 10:43 AM
[...] Once again I am sticking to the “Live Era,” here (meaning I made my choices at year’s end). This is the third such article I’ve posted chronicling my choices in my personal awards (here are links to Best Picture and Best Actress). [...]
April 11th, 2011 → 9:00 AM
[...] fact that must be considered that foreign films have won many BAM Awards even in the live era from Best Actress to Best Picture on three occasions and [...]
April 12th, 2011 → 9:50 AM
[...] Monaghan, who I had previously became familiar with through, and honored her for, Trucker, is absolutely perfect in this part. When an actress is given the confine of having to [...]