1 / 38 photos Oscar-Winning Portrayals

President Abraham Lincoln, portrayed by Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln (2012). Whether on or off set, Day-Lewis never broke character when playing Lincoln in the film, a technique that he has adapted for several of his films. When accepting the 2013 Oscar, he thanked his wife for being the "perfect companion" to all the strange men that he's brought into their home over the years. (Photo by Jennifer Graylock/FilmMagic)

Henry VII, portrayed by Charles Laughton in The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933). The film recounts the relationships of the King with each of his wives.  It was the first British film to receive an Academy Award.

Queen Elizabeth I, portrayed by Judi Dench in Shakespeare in Love (1998). Dench won her award for Supporting Actress with only eight minutes of screen time.  The same year, Cate Blanchett was nominated for Best Actress for playing Queen Elizabeth I in Elizabeth, but lost to Dench’s costar Gwyneth Paltrow.

Fanny Brice, portrayed by Barbara Streisand in Funny Girl (1968). In the film, Streisand performs Brice’s signature song from the Ziegfeld Follies, “My Man.” Streisand has become synonymous with the role of Brice.

Louis Pasteur, portrayed by Paul Muni in The Story of Louis Pasteur (1936). Shortly after the film's release, a man told Paul Muni that his 9-year old son wanted a microscope after seeing Muni’s performance as scientist Louis Pasteur. Muni later said that this compliment was even better than winning the Oscar.

Paul Gauguin, portrayed by Anthony Quinn in Lust for Life (1956). Anthony Quinn claimed to hear the voice of artist Paul Gauguin speaking to him on the set, coaching him after scenes by saying things like, “don’t do that, because I’d never do that.”

Alvin C. York, portrayed by Gary Cooper in Sergeant York (1941). Playing in theaters at the same time as the attack on Pearl Harbor helped the film’s depiction of a war hero’s bravery connect with audiences and Oscar voters.

Katharine Hepburn, portrayed by Cate Blanchett in The Aviator (2004).  Blanchett took only cold showers during filming and had freckles painted all over her body to feel like the real Hepburn. Her Supporting Actress win made her the first to win an Oscar for playing an Oscar Winner.

Ray Charles, portrayed by Jamie Foxx in Ray (1994).  Jamie Foxx took classes at the Braille Institute and wore prosthetics that made him blind while shooting in order to play Ray Charles.

George M. Cohan, portrayed by James Cagney in Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942). Cohan selected Cagney to play him, while Cagney chose to do such a patriotic film in order to change his reputation as a political radical.

Erin Brockovich, portrayed by Julia Roberts in Erin Brockovich (2000). Julia Roberts famously forgot to thank the real Erin Brockovich in her Best Actress acceptance speech and issued an apology afterward.

Cyrano de Bergerac, portrayed by Jose Ferrer in Cyrano de Bergerac (1950).  The film, as well as Jose Ferrer’s portrayal, took major dramatic liberties with the life of the real Cyrano.

Sir Thomas More, portrayed by Paul Scofield in A Man for All Seasons (1966). Scofield had previously earned acclaim for playing More on Broadway and in London’s West End.

General George S. Patton, portrayed by George C. Scott in Patton (1970). Upon winning, Scott became the first actor to refuse his Oscar.

Robert De Niro portrayed boxer Jake La Motta in Raging Bull (1980). De Niro trained for three months as a boxer to get in shape, then gained 60 pounds to play the older La Motta in later scenes.

Antonio Salieri, portrayed by F. Murray Abraham in Amadeus (1984). While the film explores composer Salieri’s jealousy toward Mozart’s success, Abraham won Best Actor for his portrayal, beating out his costar Tom Hulce, who played Mozart.

Claus von Bulow, portrayed by Jeremy Irons in Reversal of Fortune (1990).  Years after the film's release, Irons finally met Claus von Bulow, a man accused of attempting to murder his heiress wife, Sunny von Bulow, with an overdose of insulin. Irons, who’d researched the role thoroughly, said that von Bulow didn’t tell him anything surprising about the case.

King George VI, portrayed by Colin Firth in The King’s Speech (2010). Firth worked with his sister, Kate Firth, and professional voice coaches in order to accurately depict George VI’s stammer.

Truman Capote, portrayed by Philip Seymour Hoffman in Capote (2005). Hoffman prepared for his role by watching Truman Capote interviews.  During an interview with Johnny Carson, Capote said "all actors are stupid." While on set, Hoffman consistently thought to himself "the guy i'm playing thinks i'm stupid" to get into character.

Saint Bernadette Soubirous, portrayed by Jennifer Jones in The Song of Bernadette (1943). Jennifer Jones fought hard for the role of Bernadette, who claimed to have 18 visions of the Virgin Mary.

Anastasia/Anna Anderson, portrayed by Ingrid Bergman in Anastasia (1956). Bergman performed as Anna Anderson, a woman claiming to be the Grand Duchess Anastasia, who had been murdered during the October Revolution. Though ultimately an imposter, Anna Anderson’s handwriting, as well as her ear, were found to be almost identical to the real Anastasia’s.

Anne Sullivan, portrayed by Anne Bancroft in The Miracle Worker (1962). Even though she had already won a Tony Award for playing Sullivan on Broadway, Anne Bancroft was originally passed over for Elizabeth Taylor for the film version. The studio ultimately allowed her to play Helen Keller's famous teacher on screen.

Eleanor of Aquitane, portrayed by Katharine Hepburn in The Lion in Winter (1968). Katharine Hepburn is a descendant of Queen Eleanor along numerous lineages, and did tremendous amounts of reading to prepare for the role of one of history’s greatest schemers.

King Mongkut of Siam, portrayed by Yul Brynner in The King and I (1956). Brynner had previously won the Tony Award for playing the role on Broadway.

Lee Krasner, portrayed by Marcia Gay Harden in Pollock (2000). Marcia Gay Harden was a surprise winner for Supporting Actress as Jackson Pollock’s artistic companion and long-suffering wife.

Aileen Wuornos, portrayed by Charlize Theron in Monster (2003). Theron completely transformed herself to play serial killer Wuornos, and won her Oscar on February 29, which was Wuornos’ birthday.

Loretta Lynn, portrayed by Sissy Spacek in Coal Miner’s Daughter (1980). Lynn handpicked Sissy Spacek for the role, which Spacek played so well she earned a Grammy nomination for her version of Lynn’s song “Coal Miner’s Daughter.”

June Carter Cash, portrayed by Reese Witherspoon in Walk the Line (2005). Reese Witherspoon did all of her own singing in the film, and watched hours of footage in order accurately replicate Cash’s chipper and friendly voice.

Queen Elizabeth II, portrayed by Helen Mirren in The Queen (2006).  Helen Mirren said her grey wig and glasses helped her transform into her role.

Virginia Woolf, portrayed by Nicole Kidman in The Hours (2002). To play iconic writer Virginia Woolf, Nicole Kidman wore a large prosthetic nose, which was considered unnecessary and garish by many critics.  Ultimately, Kidman was still able to capture Woolf’s perfect English and commanding presence.

Edith Piaf, portrayed by Marion Cotillard in La Vie en rose (2007).  Cotillared shaved off her eyebrows and penciled hers in to look more like Piaf.

Patty Duke portrayed Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker (1962). Patty Duke played the young Helen Keller with such physicality that she had to wear padding under her costume to prevent injury.

Ben Bradlee, portrayed by Jason Robards in All the President’s Men (1976). Robards was the first and only choice to play Ben Bradlee, the editor of the Washington Post that oversaw the publishing of stories documenting the Watergate scandal.

Dashiell Hammett, portrayed by Jason Robards in Julia (1977).

Emma Goldman, portrayed by Maureen Stapleton in Reds (1981). Mauren Stapleton plays anarchist Emma Goldman as a fearless woman willing to do anything for what she believes.

Sandra Bullock portrayed Leigh Anne Tuohy in The Blind Side (2009). Sandra Bullock initially didn’t want to play such a devout Christian, but changed her mind after meeting the real-life Leigh Anne Tuohy.

Mahatma Gandhi, portrayed by Ben Kingsley in Gandhi (1982). Ben Kingsley’s physical transformation into Gandhi made many walking by the production believe they were seeing Gandhi’s ghost.

Idi Amin, portrayed by Forest Whitaker in The Last King of Scotland (2006). Whitaker stayed in character between takes to keep up the anger and intensity required to play the erratic dictator Idi Amin.