1996 - Susan Sarandon

'Thelma and Louise' legend Susan Sarandon's portrayal of Sister Helen Prejean in the 1995 flick 'Dead Man Walking' - also starring Sean Penn as Matthew Poncelet - earned her the Best Actress Oscar.

The other nominees were Elisabeth Shue ('Leaving Las Vegas'), Sharon Stone ('Casino'), Meryl Streep ('The Bridges of Madison County') and Emma Thompson ('Sense and Sensibility').