Stars and Movies That Made History at the Oscars: From Meryl Streep to Halle Berry

Credit: Matt Baron/Shutterstock

Stars and Movies That Made History at the Oscars: From Meryl Streep to Halle Berry

For the record books! Meryl Streep, Halle Berry and Jordan Peele are among the stars who made history at the Oscars throughout the prestigious awards show’s vast history. From the youngest winner to the most nominations, actors and films have made their mark on the Academy Awards in more ways than one. Berry became the first African American woman to win best actress in 2002 for her role in Monster’s Ball. She gave a moving speech while accepting her award. “This moment is so much bigger than me,” she told the audience. “This moment is for Dorothy Dandridge, Lena Horne, Diahann Carroll. It’s for the women that stand beside me: Jada Pinkett, Angela Bassett, Vivica Fox. And it’s for every nameless, faceless woman of color that now has a chance because this door tonight has been opened.” Fifteen years later, the Die Another Day star reflected on the accomplishment amid the #OscarsSoWhite controversy. “I sat there and I really thought, ‘Wow, that moment really meant nothing,’” she told Teen Vogue in June 2017. “It meant nothing. I thought it meant something, but I think it meant nothing.” Berry called the revelation one of her “lowest moments,” adding: “It’s troubling, to say the least.” [jwplayer OCTF8dFP-zhNYySv2] Streep, for her part, long ago surpassed the record for most Oscar nominations earned by an actor. Therefore, when she received her 20th nod in 2017 for Florence Foster Jenkins, she reacted with a GIF of herself dancing. Films have made just as much history as individuals at the Academy Awards. Parasite became the first South Korean movie to be nominated for Best Picture in 2020 — and later the first foreign-language film to win in the evening’s top category. Bong Joon-ho, who also won for Best Director, expressed his desire for his work to open up a world of possibilities for similar projects. “Korean cinema has a long history,” he told Variety in November 2019. “There are many masters that have yet to be introduced to the Western audience. It would be great if people take more interest in Korean cinema due to my nomination.” Scroll to revisit the most noteworthy record-breakers in the history of the Oscars.

Credit: Rob Latour/Shutterstock

Michelle Yeoh

She became the first Asian-identifying performer to win Best Actress when she took home the trophy for Everything Everywhere All At Once in March 2023. “For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight, this is a beacon of hope and possibilities,” she said in her acceptance speech. “This is proof that dreams — dream big, and dreams do come true. And ladies, don’t let anybody tell you you are ever past your prime. Never give up.”

Credit: AP/Shutterstock

Tatum O’Neal

The then-10-year-old became the youngest Academy Award winner ever when she picked up the Best Supporting Actress statue in 1974 for Paper Moon.

Credit: A Rodriguez/BEI/Shutterstock

Halle Berry and Denzel Washington

The A-listers were the first African American duo to win best actress and best actor during the same Oscars ceremony in 2002. She took home gold for Monster’s Ball, while he did the same for Training Day.

Credit: Mark J Terrill/AP/Shutterstock

Kathryn Bigelow

Bigelow bested a group of men when she won Best Director in 2010 for The Hurt Locker. The moment marked the first time a woman dominated the category.

Credit: Mark J Terrill/AP/Shutterstock

Christopher Plummer

The Sound of Music star became the oldest actor to win an Oscar when he conquered the Best Supporting Actor category in 2012 for Beginners.

Credit: Joel Ryan/AP/Shutterstock

Meryl Streep

The veteran star holds the record for most Academy Award nominations in the acting categories: 21 in total. She previously won Best Supporting Actress for Kramer vs. Kramer in 1980, Best Actress for Sophie’s Choice in 1983 and Best Actress for The Iron Lady in 2012.

Credit: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP/Shutterstock

Jordan Peele

The director became the first African-American to win Best Original Screenplay in 2018 for Get Out.

Credit: CJ Entertainment

'Parasite'

In 2020, the thriller was the first South Korean film to be nominated for Best Picture in the Oscars' 92-year history. When it won that February, it became the first-ever non-English-language movie to take home a trophy in the prestigious category.

Credit: ABC/AMPAS

Chloe Zhao

The Nomadland filmmaker became the first woman of color to win the Oscar for best director in 2021. She was only the second woman to ever win the category. Katheryn Bigelow, who won for The Hurt Locker in 2010, was the first. 

Credit: Reed Saxon/AP/Shutterstock

Ann Roth

At age 89, the Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom costume designer is the oldest woman to win an Oscar, taking home the trophy in 2021.

Credit: ABC

Yuh-Jung Youn

The Minari actress is the first Korean woman to win in an acting category at the Oscars. She won best supporting actress in 2021, making her only the second Asian woman to ever win a trophy for acting.

Credit: Matt Baron/Shutterstock

Anthony Hopkins

At 83, Hopkins became the oldest actor to win an Oscar when he took home the award for Actor in a Leading Role for his part in The Father. The record was previously held by the late Christopher Plummer, who won in 2012 at age 82.

Credit: Jordan Strauss/AP/Shutterstock

Ariana DeBose

The West Side Story actress won the Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her part in Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of the movie musical in March 2022. Her win marked the first time an openly queer woman of color was nominated — and won — in the category.

“Oh, my word, what is this? Now you see why that Anita says, ‘I want to be in America,’ because even in this weary world that we live in, dreams do come true,” she gushed in her acceptance speech at the time. “And that’s really a heartening thing right now. … It was the summer of a lifetime [filming this movie] and I am the most grateful to have spent it with all of you.”

She continued: “Imagine this little girl in the backseat of a white Ford Focus, look into her eyes. You see an openly queer woman of color, Afro-Latina who found her strength in life through art and that’s what I believe we’re here to celebrate.”

Credit: Matt Baron/Shutterstock

Troy Kotsur

The CODA star won the March 2022 trophy for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, making him the first deaf man to take home an Oscar. He’s the second deaf actor to win a statue after his CODA costar Marlee Matlin previously won in 1986.