2005 Academy Awards - Actress in a Leading Role WinnerMillion Dollar BabyHilary SwankA determined woman works with a hardened boxing trainer to become a professional.Amazon2005 Academy Awards - Actress in a Leading Role NomineesBeing JuliaAnnette BeningAmazonEternal Sunshine of the Spotless MindKate WinsletAmazonMaria Full of GraceCatalina Sandino MorenoAmazonVera DrakeImelda StauntonAmazon

2004 Academy Awards - Actress in a Leading Role WinnerMonsterCharlize TheronBased on the life of Aileen Wuornos, a Daytona Beach prostitute who became a serial killer.Amazon2004 Academy Awards - Actress in a Leading Role Nominees21 GramsNaomi WattsAmazonIn AmericaSamantha MortonAmazonSomething's Gotta GiveDiane KeatonAmazonWhale RiderKeisha Castle-HughesAmazon

2003 Academy Awards - Actress in a Leading Role WinnerThe HoursNicole KidmanThe story of how the novel "Mrs. Dalloway" affects three generations of women, all of whom, in one way or another, have had to deal with suicide in their lives.Amazon2003 Academy Awards - Actress in a Leading Role NomineesChicagoRenée ZellwegerAmazonFar from HeavenJulianne MooreAmazonFridaSalma HayekAmazonUnfaithfulDiane LaneAmazon

2002 Academy Awards - Actress in a Leading Role WinnerMonster's BallHalle BerryAfter a family tragedy, a racist prison guard re-examines his attitudes while falling in love with the African-American wife of the last prisoner he executed.Amazon2002 Academy Awards - Actress in a Leading Role NomineesBridget Jones's DiaryRenée ZellwegerAmazonIn the BedroomSissy SpacekAmazonIrisJudi DenchAmazonMoulin Rouge!Nicole KidmanAmazon

2001 Academy Awards - Actress in a Leading Role WinnerErin BrockovichJulia RobertsAn unemployed single mother becomes a legal assistant and almost single-handedly brings down a California power company accused of polluting a city's water supply.Amazon2001 Academy Awards - Actress in a Leading Role NomineesChocolatJuliette BinocheAmazonRequiem for a DreamEllen BurstynAmazonThe ContenderJoan AllenAmazonYou Can Count on MeLaura LinneyAmazon

2000 Academy Awards - Actress in a Leading Role WinnerBoys Don't CryHilary SwankA young man named Brandon Teena navigates love, life, and being transgender in rural Nebraska.Amazon2000 Academy Awards - Actress in a Leading Role NomineesAmerican BeautyAnnette BeningAmazonMusic of the HeartMeryl StreepAmazonThe End of the AffairJulianne MooreAmazonTumbleweedsJanet McTeerAmazon

1999 Academy Awards - Actress in a Leading Role WinnerShakespeare in LoveGwyneth PaltrowThe world's greatest ever playwright, William Shakespeare, is young, out of ideas and short of cash, but meets his ideal woman and is inspired to write one of his most famous plays.Amazon1999 Academy Awards - Actress in a Leading Role NomineesCentral StationFernanda MontenegroAmazonElizabethCate BlanchettAmazonHilary and JackieEmily WatsonAmazonOne True ThingMeryl StreepAmazon

1998 Academy Awards - Actress in a Leading Role WinnerAs Good as It GetsHelen HuntA single mother and waitress, a misanthropic author, and a gay artist form an unlikely friendship after the artist is assaulted in a robbery.Amazon1998 Academy Awards - Actress in a Leading Role NomineesAfterglowJulie ChristieAmazonMrs BrownJudi DenchAmazonThe Wings of the DoveHelena Bonham CarterAmazonTitanicKate WinsletAmazon

1997 Academy Awards - Actress in a Leading Role WinnerFargoFrances McDormandJerry Lundegaard's inept crime falls apart due to his and his henchmen's bungling and the persistent police work of the quite pregnant Marge Gunderson.Amazon1997 Academy Awards - Actress in a Leading Role NomineesBreaking the WavesEmily WatsonAmazonMarvin's RoomDiane KeatonAmazonSecrets & LiesBrenda BlethynAmazonThe English PatientKristin Scott ThomasAmazon

1996 Academy Awards - Actress in a Leading Role WinnerDead Man WalkingSusan SarandonA nun, while comforting a convicted killer on death row, empathizes with both the killer and his victim's families.Amazon1996 Academy Awards - Actress in a Leading Role NomineesCasinoSharon StoneAmazonLeaving Las VegasElisabeth ShueAmazonSense and SensibilityEmma ThompsonAmazonThe Bridges of Madison CountyMeryl StreepAmazon