The Saturn Award for Best Actress is one of the annual Saturn Awards given by the American professional organization, the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films. The Saturn Awards are the oldest film-specialized reward of achievements in science fiction, fantasy, and horror (another award, the Hugo Award is older but includes other genres and media). The Saturn Award included the Best Actress category for the first time in the 1974 film year.
The Saturn Award for Best Actress is the oldest prize to reward actresses in science fiction, fantasy, and horror films: other awards such as the Academy and Golden Globe Awards, despite supposedly disregarding the genre, gave little recognition to acting quality at the time. In 1996 the Saturns began to reward both film and television acting, and created the Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television. For the first two years it was awarded there were no nominees announced.
The actresses with the most nominations are Jamie Lee Curtis, Jodie Foster, Natalie Portman, Naomi Watts and Sigourney Weaver, who are all tied with five. Curtis, Foster, Portman, Watts, Sandra Bullock and Demi Moore are the only actresses to have won it twice. Portman and Michelle Yeoh are the only actresses to win both the Saturn Award and the Academy Award for Best Actress for the same film, while Weaver holds the record for most nominations for playing the same character (Ellen Ripley) with four. Foster is the youngest winner in this category, winning her first award in 1977 at age 13.
Winners and nominees Legend:
1970s
Year Actress Film CharacterKatharine RossThe Stepford WivesJoanna EberhartBlythe DannerFutureworldTracy BalladJodie FosterThe Little Girl Who Lives Down the LaneRynn Jacobs Julie Christie Demon Seed Susan Harris Joan Collins Empire of the Ants Marilyn Fryser Melinda Dillon Close Encounters of the Third Kind Jillian Guiler Carrie Fisher Star Wars Princess Leia OrganaMargot KidderSupermanLois Lane Brooke Adams Invasion of the Body Snatchers Elizabeth Driscoll Ann-Margret Magic Peggy Ann Snow Geneviève Bujold Coma Dr. Susan Wheeler Diana Ross The Wiz Dorothy Gale Mary SteenburgenTime After TimeAmy Robbins Susan Saint James Love at First Bite Cindy Sondheim Persis Khambatta Star Trek: The Motion Picture Lt. Ilia Margot Kidder The Amityville Horror Kathy Lutz Sigourney Weaver Alien Ripley
1980s
Year Actress Film Character Angie DickinsonDressed to KillKate Miller Ellen Burstyn Resurrection Edna Jamie Lee Curtis Terror Train Alana Maxwell Louanne Oh, God! Book II Tracy Richards Jane Seymour Somewhere in Time Elise McKenna Karen AllenRaiders of the Lost ArkMarion Ravenwood Jenny Agutter An American Werewolf in London Nurse Alex Price Margot Kidder Superman II Lois Lane Angela Lansbury The Mirror Crack'd Miss Jane Marple Lily Tomlin The Incredible Shrinking Woman Pat Kramer / Judith Beasley Sandahl BergmanConan the BarbarianValeria Susan George The House Where Evil Dwells Laura Fletcher Nastassja Kinski Cat People Irena Gallier JoBeth Williams Poltergeist Diane Freeling Mary Woronov Eating Raoul Mary Bland Louise FletcherBrainstormDr. Lillian Reynolds Bess Armstrong High Road to China Eve "Evie" Tozer Bobbie Bresee Mausoleum Susan Walker Farrell Carrie Fisher Return of the Jedi Princess Leia Organa Ally Sheedy WarGames Jennifer Mack Daryl HannahSplashMadison Karen Allen Starman Jenny Hayden Nancy Allen The Philadelphia Experiment Allison Hayes Linda Hamilton The Terminator Sarah Connor Helen Slater Supergirl Supergirl / Kara Zor-El / Linda Lee Coral BrowneDreamchildAlice Hargreaves Glenn Close Maxie Jan / Maxie Mia Farrow The Purple Rose of Cairo Cecilia Michelle Pfeiffer Ladyhawke Isabeau d'Anjou Jessica Tandy Cocoon Alma Finley Sigourney Weaver AliensEllen Ripley Barbara Crampton From Beyond Dr. Katherine McMichaels Geena Davis The Fly Veronica Quaife Elisabeth Shue Link Jane Chase Kathleen Turner Peggy Sue Got Married Peggy Sue Bodell Jessica Tandy*batteries not includedFaye Riley Nancy Allen RoboCop Officer Anne Lewis Melinda Dillon Harry and the Hendersons Nancy Henderson Lorraine Gary Jaws: The Revenge Ellen Brody Susan Sarandon The Witches of Eastwick Jane Spofford Robin Wright The Princess Bride Buttercup Catherine HicksChild's PlayKaren Barclay Kim Basinger My Stepmother Is an Alien Celeste Martin Amanda Donohoe The Lair of the White Worm Lady Sylvia Marsh Joanna Pacuła The Kiss Felice Dunbar Cassandra Peterson Elvira: Mistress of the Dark Elvira / Aunt Morgana Talbot Jessica Tandy Cocoon: The Return Alma Finley Demi MooreGhostMolly Jensen Julie Carmen Fright Night Part 2 Regine Dandrige Blanca Guerra Santa Sangre Concha Anjelica Huston The Witches Miss Eva Ernst / Grand High Witch Nicole Kidman Dead Calm Rae Ingram Madonna Dick Tracy Breathless Mahoney Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio The Abyss Dr. Lindsey Brigman Ally Sheedy Fear Cayce Bridges Jenny Wright I, Madman Virginia
1990s
Year Actress Film Character Linda HamiltonTerminator 2: Judgment DaySarah Connor Kathy Bates Misery Annie Wilkes Jodie Foster The Silence of the Lambs Clarice Starling Julia Roberts Sleeping with the Enemy Laura Burney Winona Ryder Edward Scissorhands Kim Boggs Meryl Streep Defending Your Life Julia Virginia MadsenCandymanHelen Lyle Rebecca De Mornay The Hand That Rocks the Cradle Peyton Flanders / Mrs. Mott Sheryl Lee Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me Laura Palmer Winona Ryder Bram Stoker's Dracula Mina Harker / Elisabeta Sharon Stone Basic Instinct Catherine Tramell Meryl Streep Death Becomes Her Madeline Ashton Sigourney Weaver Alien 3 Ellen Ripley Andie MacDowellGroundhog DayRita Patricia Arquette True Romance Alabama Whitman Laura Dern Jurassic Park Dr. Ellie Sattler Michelle Forbes Kalifornia Carrie Laughlin Anjelica Huston Addams Family Values Morticia Addams Bette Midler Hocus Pocus Winifred "Winnie" Sanderson Ally Sheedy Man's Best Friend Lori Tanner Sandra BullockSpeedAnnie PorterJamie Lee CurtisTrue LiesHelen Tasker Mädchen Amick Dream Lover Lena Mathers Helena Bonham Carter Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein Elizabeth Frankenstein Penelope Ann Miller The Shadow Margo Lane Michelle Pfeiffer Wolf Laura Alden Angela BassettStrange DaysLornette "Mace" Mason Kathy Bates Dolores Claiborne Dolores Claiborne Nicole Kidman To Die For Suzanne Stone-Maretto Sharon Stone The Quick and the Dead The Lady Madeleine Stowe 12 Monkeys Kathryn Railly Marina Zudina Mute Witness Billy Neve CampbellScreamSidney Prescott Geena Davis The Long Kiss Goodnight Samantha Caine / Charlene Elizabeth "Charly" Baltimore Gina Gershon Bound Corky Helen Hunt Twister Dr. Jo Harding Frances McDormand Fargo Marge Gunderson Penelope Ann Miller The Relic Dr. Margo Green Jodie FosterContactDr. Eleanor "Ellie" Ann Arroway Neve Campbell Scream 2 Sidney Prescott Pam Grier Jackie Brown Jackie Brown Jennifer Lopez Anaconda Terri Flores Mira Sorvino Mimic Dr. Susan Tyler Sigourney Weaver Alien: Resurrection Ellen Ripley Drew BarrymoreEver AfterDanielle de Barbarac / Countess Nicole de Lancret Gillian Anderson The X-Files Dana Scully Jamie Lee Curtis Halloween H20: 20 Years Later Laurie Strode / Keri Tate Meg Ryan City of Angels Maggie Rice Jennifer Tilly Bride of Chucky Tiffany Catherine Zeta-Jones The Mask of Zorro Elena De La Vega Christina RicciSleepy HollowKatrina Van Tassel Heather Graham Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me Felicity Shagwell Catherine Keener Being John Malkovich Maxine Lund Carrie-Anne Moss The Matrix Trinity Sigourney Weaver Galaxy Quest Gwen DeMarco / Lt. Tawny Madison Rachel Weisz The Mummy Evelyn "Evie" Carnahan O'Connell
2000s
Year Actress Film Character Téa LeoniThe Family ManKate Reynolds / Kate Campbell Cate Blanchett The Gift Annabelle "Annie" Wilson Ellen Burstyn Requiem for a Dream Sara Goldfarb Jennifer Lopez The Cell Dr. Catherine Deane Michelle Pfeiffer What Lies Beneath Claire Spencer Michelle Yeoh Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Yu Shu Lien Nicole KidmanThe OthersGrace Stewart Kate Beckinsale Serendipity Sara Thomas Angelina Jolie Lara Croft: Tomb Raider Lara Croft Julianne Moore Hannibal Clarice Starling Frances O'Connor A.I. Artificial Intelligence Monica Swinton Naomi Watts Mulholland Drive Betty Elms Naomi WattsThe RingRachel Keller Kirsten Dunst Spider-Man Mary Jane Watson Jodie Foster Panic Room Meg Altman Milla Jovovich Resident Evil Alice Natascha McElhone Solaris Rheya Natalie Portman Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones Senator Padmé Amidala Uma ThurmanKill Bill: Volume 1The Bride Kate Beckinsale Underworld Selene Jessica Biel The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Erin Hardesty Cate Blanchett The Missing Magdalena "Maggie" Gilkeson Jennifer Connelly Hulk Betty Ross Jamie Lee Curtis Freaky Friday Tess Coleman / Anna Coleman Blanchard RyanOpen WaterSusan Watkins Nicole Kidman Birth Anna Julianne Moore The Forgotten Telly Paretta Uma Thurman Kill Bill: Volume 2 The Bride / Beatrix Kiddo Kate Winslet Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Clementine Kruczynski Zhang Ziyi House of Flying Daggers Mei Naomi WattsKing KongAnn Darrow Jodie Foster Flightplan Kyle Pratt Laura Linney The Exorcism of Emily Rose Erin Christine Bruner Rachel McAdams Red Eye Lisa Reisert Natalie Portman Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith Padmé Amidala Tilda Swinton The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Jadis, the White Witch Natalie PortmanV for VendettaEvey Hammond Kate Bosworth Superman Returns Lois Lane Judi Dench Notes on a Scandal Barbara Covett Maggie Gyllenhaal Stranger than Fiction Ana Pascal Shauna Macdonald The Descent Sarah Carter Renée Zellweger Miss Potter Beatrix Potter Amy AdamsEnchantedPrincess Giselle Helena Bonham Carter Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Mrs. Lovett Ashley Judd Bug Agnes White Belén Rueda The Orphanage Laura Carice van Houten Black Book Rachel Stein / Ellis de Vries Naomi Watts Eastern Promises Anna Khitrova Angelina Jolie ChangelingChristine Collins Cate Blanchett The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Daisy Fuller Maggie Gyllenhaal The Dark Knight Rachel Dawes Julianne Moore Blindness Doctor's Wife Emily Mortimer Transsiberian Jessie Gwyneth Paltrow Iron Man Virginia "Pepper" Potts Zoe SaldañaAvatarNeytiri Catherine Keener Where the Wild Things Are Connie Mélanie Laurent Inglourious Basterds Shoshanna Dreyfus / Emmanuelle Mimieux Alison Lohman Drag Me to Hell Christine Brown Natalie Portman Brothers Grace Cahill Charlize Theron The Burning Plain Sylvia
2010s