2026 PERFORMANCE NOMINEES
The Art of Ensemble Performance
The 2026 Best Supporting Actress category celebrates performers who elevate entire films through their mastery of ensemble work. These five actresses demonstrate that supporting roles are not secondary achievements but essential components of cinematic storytelling. From veteran character actors to rising talents, each nominee brings depth, nuance, and complexity to their roles, creating characters that resonate with audiences and demonstrating why supporting performances are fundamental to the collaborative art of filmmaking.
RISING STAR
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ELLE FANNING
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Oscars
1
Nominations
20
Years Career
2026 Oscar-Nominated Performance
"SENTIMENTAL VALUE"
as Rachel, an American Actress
Elle Fanning earns her first Oscar nomination for her role in Joachim Trier's critically
acclaimed Norwegian drama Sentimental Value. The film explores estranged sisters Nora and
Agnes who reunite with their father, prompting emotional confrontations about family,
memory, and reconciliation.
"Fanning delivers a performance of remarkable subtlety and emotional intelligence,
creating a character whose outsider perspective illuminates complex family dynamics."
At 27, the American actress demonstrates sophisticated understanding of ensemble work
in her portrayal of Rachel, an American actress whose presence intersects with and
highlights the complex family dynamics at the film's core. Fanning's performance
balances observational distance with emotional engagement, creating a character who
serves as both witness and catalyst to the family's reconciliation.
Performance Highlights
Nuanced portrayal of outsider perspective in family drama
Masterful emotional restraint and observational acting
Chemistry with ensemble cast enhances family dynamics
Subtle physical choices that reveal character psychology
Career Highlights
The Great (2020-2023)
Teen Spirit (2018)
Maleficent (2014)
First Oscar Nomination • Ensemble Performance
INTERNATIONAL TALENT
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INGA IBSDOTTER LILLEAAS
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Oscars
1
Nominations
15
Years Career
2026 Oscar-Nominated Performance
"SENTIMENTAL VALUE"
as Agnes, Introspective Sister
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas earns her first Oscar nomination for her nuanced performance
in Joachim Trier's Sentimental Value. The Norwegian actress portrays Agnes, the more
introspective sister who returns home with Nora to confront their estranged father,
offering a subtle and emotionally resonant performance.
"Lilleaas delivers a masterclass in understated acting, creating a character whose
quiet intensity reveals deep emotional wounds and resilience."
The 36-year-old Norwegian actress brings authentic Scandinavian acting tradition to
her role, demonstrating remarkable emotional restraint and psychological depth. Her
performance as Agnes deepens the film's exploration of familial bonds, emotional wounds,
and the lingering impact of unresolved relationships. Critics praise her ability to
convey complex interior states through minimal dialogue and expressive subtlety.
Performance Highlights
Masterful emotional restraint and psychological subtlety
Authentic Scandinavian acting style with emotional depth
Nuanced portrayal of sibling dynamics and family history
Physical presence that conveys character's interior world
Norwegian Cinema
The Last King (2016)
Out of Nature (2014)
The Wave (2015)
First Oscar Nomination • International Recognition
CHARACTER ACTOR
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AMY MADIGAN
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Oscars
1
Nominations
45
Years Career
2026 Oscar-Nominated Performance
"WEAPONS"
as Aunt Gladys
Amy Madigan earns her first Oscar nomination for her chilling performance in Zach Cregger's
horror-thriller Weapons. The film follows a small town unsettled by the disappearance
of 17 children and the eerie presence of a mysterious witch, with Madigan's performance
anchoring the film's unsettling atmosphere.
"Madigan delivers a performance of haunting intensity and psychological complexity,
creating a character who embodies both supernatural menace and human tragedy."
At 74, the veteran American actress demonstrates why she remains one of cinema's most
compelling character actors. Her portrayal of Aunt Gladys combines supernatural menace
with deep human pathos, creating a villain who is both terrifying and tragically human.
Critics praise her ability to balance horror genre conventions with nuanced character
work, creating a performance that elevates the entire film.
Performance Highlights
Masterful navigation of horror genre and character depth
Haunting physical presence and vocal control
Nuanced portrayal of supernatural menace with human tragedy
Chemistry with ensemble creates believable small-town dynamics
Career Highlights
Twice in a Lifetime (1985)
Field of Dreams (1989)
Gone Baby Gone (2007)
First Oscar Nomination • Career Recognition
BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE
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WUNMI MOSAKU
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Oscars
1
Nominations
15
Years Career
2026 Oscar-Nominated Performance
"SINNERS"
as Community Member
Wunmi Mosaku earns her first Oscar nomination for her powerful work in Ryan Coogler's
genre-blending supernatural drama Sinners. Set in 1930s Mississippi, the film follows
twin brothers returning home to open a nightclub who must confront a dangerous
supernatural threat while exploring themes of grief, community, and cultural legacy.
"Mosaku delivers a performance of emotional depth and resilient strength,
creating a character who embodies community wisdom and cultural memory."
The British-Nigerian actress brings remarkable presence and emotional authenticity to
her role, anchoring the film's exploration of historical trauma and supernatural horror
with human connection and resilience. Her performance provides emotional grounding to
Coogler's ambitious genre exploration, creating a character who represents both the
community's past struggles and its enduring strength.
Performance Highlights
Emotional authenticity in supernatural and historical contexts
Nuanced portrayal of community wisdom and resilience
Chemistry with ensemble creates believable community dynamics
Physical and vocal presence that anchors film's emotional core
Career Highlights
His House (2020)
Lovecraft Country (2020)
Moses Jones (2009)
First Oscar Nomination • Breakthrough Performance
MULTI-TALENTED PERFORMER
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TEYANA TAYLOR
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Oscars
1
Nominations
15
Years Career
2026 Oscar-Nominated Performance
"ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER"
as Revolutionary Comrade
Teyana Taylor earns her first Oscar nomination for her intense performance in Paul Thomas
Anderson's political thriller One Battle After Another. The film follows a former
revolutionary pulled back into conflict when his past catches up to him, with Taylor's
performance adding texture and intensity to the narrative tapestry of loyalty, upheaval,
and personal conviction.
"Taylor delivers a performance of raw intensity and emotional complexity,
creating a character whose loyalty and conviction drive the film's central conflicts."
The multi-talented American performer demonstrates remarkable dramatic range in her
breakthrough acting role. Her performance combines physical intensity with emotional
depth, creating a revolutionary comrade whose personal convictions and loyalties add
crucial dimensions to the film's exploration of political ideology and personal survival.
Critics praise her ability to hold her own opposite established dramatic actors.
Performance Highlights
Physical intensity combined with emotional depth
Nuanced portrayal of political conviction and personal loyalty
Chemistry with lead actors enhances narrative tension
Dramatic range in breakthrough acting performance
Multi-Disciplinary Career
The Book of Clarence (2023)
Honey: Rise Up and Dance (2018)
Coming 2 America (2021)
First Oscar Nomination • Dramatic Breakthrough
Essential Contributions to Cinematic Storytelling
The 2026 Best Supporting Actress category demonstrates that supporting performances are fundamental achievements in cinematic storytelling. From veteran character actors to rising talents, from international stars to multi-disciplinary performers, these five nominees represent the diverse ways in which supporting roles enrich and elevate films. Their work reminds us that great cinema is built on ensembles where every performance matters, every character contributes to narrative depth, and every actor brings essential elements to creating worlds that feel authentic, complex, and emotionally resonant. In recognizing these performances, we celebrate the collaborative nature of filmmaking and the essential contributions that supporting actors make to cinematic excellence.
Who Will Take Home the Oscar?
The Foundation of Cinematic Excellence in 2026