1991 Jodie Foster - The Silence of the Lambs as Clarice Starling

1992 Emma Thompson - Howards End as Margaret Wilcox

1993 Holly Hunter - The Piano as Ada McGrath

1994 Jessica Lange - Blue Sky as Carly Marshall

1995 Susan Sarandon - Dead Man Walking as Helen Prejean

1996 Frances McDormand - Faro as Marge Gunderson

1997 Helen Hunt - As Good as It Gets as Carol Connelly

1998 Gwyneth Paltrow - Shakespeare in Love as Viola de Lesseps

1999 Hilary Swank - Boys Don't Cry as Brandon Teena

2000 (73rd) Julia Roberts - Erin Brockovich as Erin Brockovich