The Unstoppable Reign: Emma Stone's Shocking Second Win And The 5 Fiercest Contenders For Best Actress Oscar 2025

The Academy Award for Best Actress is arguably the most prestigious and fiercely contested prize in cinema, a single golden statue that can solidify a career, elevate a film, and etch an actress's name into history. As of the current date in December 2025, the film world is still buzzing from the 96th Academy Awards, where Emma Stone secured her second win, while simultaneously, the early predictions for the 97th Academy Awards are pointing toward one of the most controversial and historic races in decades, centered around the musical crime drama *Emilia Pérez*. The journey to the podium is a grueling, year-long marathon of critical acclaim, box office success, and industry campaigning. From the record-holders of the past like Katharine Hepburn and Meryl Streep to the new guard defining the future of Hollywood, understanding the Best Actress category is to understand the evolution of cinema itself, where the best female performances are celebrated and intensely debated.

Emma Stone: The 2024 Winner and Her Complete Biography

The 96th Academy Awards saw Emma Stone claim her second Best Actress Oscar for her transformative and fearless portrayal of Bella Baxter in Yorgos Lanthimos’s surrealist masterpiece, *Poor Things*. The win was a tight race against Lily Gladstone for *Killers of the Flower Moon*, whose performance was also highly lauded, making Stone’s victory a major talking point in the industry.

Full Biography and Career Profile:

• Born: Emily Jean Stone, November 6, 1988, in Scottsdale, Arizona.
• Career Start: Began acting in local theater before moving to Los Angeles at age 15.
• Breakthrough Role: Her performance as the sarcastic, quick-witted Olive Penderghast in the teen comedy *Easy A* (2010) earned her a Golden Globe nomination and established her as a leading comedic talent.
• First Oscar Win: She won her first Best Actress Academy Award for the musical *La La Land* (2016), solidifying her status as one of Hollywood's elite.
• Other Notable Roles: Her filmography includes acclaimed performances in *The Help*, *Birdman* (for which she received a Best Supporting Actress nomination), and the Disney villain origin story *Cruella*.
• 2024 Winning Role: Bella Baxter in *Poor Things*, a role demanding extreme physical and emotional commitment, tracing a woman's journey from an infant-like state to a fully evolved, independent woman.
• Current Status: Stone is now one of the few actresses with multiple Best Actress wins, placing her alongside legends like Jane Fonda and Sally Field.

The Fierce 2025 Race: 5 Early Best Actress Oscar Contenders

The 97th Academy Awards are already generating intense buzz, with several powerful performances emerging from the festival circuit and early releases. The race is currently dominated by a controversial and historic nomination for a Spanish-language musical.

1. Karla Sofía Gascón - *Emilia Pérez*

The undeniable frontrunner is Karla Sofía Gascón for her dual role in Jacques Audiard’s musical crime drama *Emilia Pérez*. Gascón, an openly trans actress, delivers a performance as a notorious Mexican cartel boss who undergoes gender-affirming surgery to become Emilia Pérez. Her win at the Cannes Film Festival for Best Actress (shared with her co-stars) immediately catapulted her to the top of the Oscar predictions list. This nomination is historic, marking the first time an openly transgender actor has been nominated in an acting category at the Academy Awards. The film itself has generated both immense praise and some controversy due to its subject matter and casting, making Gascón's potential win a moment of significant cultural impact.

2. Zoe Saldaña - *Emilia Pérez*

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Gascón's co-star, Zoe Saldaña, is also a powerful contender for her role as Rita Mora Castro, the resourceful lawyer who assists the cartel boss. Saldaña, known primarily for blockbuster franchises like *Avatar* and *Guardians of the Galaxy*, delivers a career-defining performance that showcases her dramatic and musical range. The possibility of two actresses from the same film being nominated in the lead category is rare, but the structure of *Emilia Pérez* makes it a strong possibility, reminiscent of the *Thelma & Louise* nominations.

3. Cynthia Erivo - *Wicked*

The long-awaited film adaptation of the Broadway sensation *Wicked* is predicted to be a major awards player, and Cynthia Erivo is the central figure. Erivo, already an Oscar nominee for *Harriet*, takes on the iconic role of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West. Musical performances often fare well in the Best Actress category, and Erivo's powerful vocals and dramatic presence are expected to draw significant attention from Academy voters, especially if the film is a commercial and critical success.

4. Monica Barbaro - *A Complete Unknown*

Monica Barbaro is gaining traction for her role in the Bob Dylan biopic *A Complete Unknown*. Biopics are a traditional strength in the Academy Awards, and if the film resonates, Barbaro's performance could easily secure a nomination. The buzz suggests a breakout, transformative role that the Academy often rewards.

5. Fernanda Torres - *I'm Still Here*

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The Brazilian actress Fernanda Torres is an international dark horse for her role in *I’m Still Here*. Foreign-language performances have become increasingly recognized by the Academy in recent years, following wins for Marion Cotillard and nominations for Yalitza Aparicio. Torres's performance is being hailed as a masterclass in subtlety and emotional depth, giving her a strong, critically-backed campaign.

The Unbreakable Records and Controversial Moments in Best Actress History

The Academy Award for Best Actress is not just a list of winners; it is a tapestry woven with groundbreaking records, shocking snubs, and moments of high controversy that continue to shape Hollywood’s legacy.

The All-Time Records: The Unstoppable Legends

The ultimate benchmark for success in this category is the number of wins, a record that has stood for decades.

• Most Wins (4): Katharine Hepburn. Her four wins—for *Morning Glory*, *Guess Who's Coming to Dinner*, *The Lion in Winter* (a tie), and *On Golden Pond*—make her the most awarded performer in Academy history. She was nominated a total of 12 times in the category.
• Most Nominations (17): Meryl Streep. With 17 nominations for Best Actress (and 21 total acting nominations), Streep holds the record for the most nominated performer in any category, winning twice for Best Actress (*Sophie's Choice* and *The Iron Lady*).
• Three-Time Winners: Only Frances McDormand has joined Hepburn in the three-win club for Best Actress (*Fargo*, *Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri*, and *Nomadland*).
• The First Winner: The inaugural winner in 1929 was Janet Gaynor for a combination of three roles in *7th Heaven*, *Street Angel*, and *Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans*.

Moments of Controversy and Historical Significance

The category is also known for its dramatic and often contentious moments, reflecting cultural shifts and industry politics.

• The Tie of 1968: One of the most famous moments was the tie between Katharine Hepburn for *The Lion in Winter* and Barbra Streisand for *Funny Girl*. Streisand famously quipped, "Hello, gorgeous," upon accepting her award.
• The Longest Speech: Greer Garson holds the record for the longest acceptance speech, clocking in at around five minutes for her win for *Mrs. Miniver* (1942), an event that ultimately led to the implementation of strict time limits for acceptance speeches.
• The Snubs and Shockers: Every year features a perceived snub. A notable example is the ongoing debate around the 2011 win for Natalie Portman in *Black Swan*, which some critics argued was a less deserving choice compared to other nominees, highlighting the often-subjective nature of the voting process.
• The Historic Win: Hattie McDaniel's win for Best Supporting Actress for *Gone with the Wind* in 1940, while not the lead category, was a watershed moment as the first Black actor to win an Oscar, a moment often discussed in the context of the Academy's history with diversity.

The Best Actress Oscar remains a powerful barometer of cinematic excellence and cultural conversation. From Emma Stone’s complex, second win to the potentially groundbreaking victory of Karla Sofía Gascón, the award continues to generate intense scrutiny, celebration, and debate, ensuring its place as one of the most compelling categories in the annual awards season.