Streep, Adams only latest to join "the Sister-hood of nominated nuns"

There's no doubt about it: The Academy has gotten in the -- ahem -- habit of rewarding actresses who play nuns with Oscar nominations.

This year's best actress nomination for Meryl Streep and best supporting actress nomination for Amy Adams -- who portray the fictional nuns Sister Aloysius and Sister James, respectively, at a 1960s-era Catholic school in "Doubt" -- brings the total number to 15 over 80 years. (I'd venture a guess that the only other sorts of characters who have garnered more nods for women are homemakers, prostitutes and/or the physically disabled.)

With Streep looking like a serious threat to become the third of those 15 to actually win, I figured now is as good a time as any to look back at the full membership of what we might call "the Sister-hood of nominated nuns":

• Jennifer Jones ("The Song of Bernadette," 1943) for best actress WON
• Gladys Cooper ("The Song of Bernadette," 1943) for best supporting actress
• Ingrid Bergman ("The Bells of St. Mary's," 1945)
• Loretta Young ("Come to the Stable," 1949) for best actress
• Celeste Holm ("Come to the Stable," 1949) for best supporting actress
• Deborah Kerr ("Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison," 1957) for best actress
• Audrey Hepburn ("The Nun's Story," 1959) for best actress
• Lilia Skala ("Lilies of the Field," 1963) for best supporting actress
• Julie Andrews ("The Sound of Music," 1965) for best actress
• Peggy Wood ("The Sound of Music," 1965) for best supporting actress
• Anne Bancroft ("Agnes of God," 1985) for best actress
• Meg Tilly ("Agnes of God," 1985) for best supporting actress
• Susan Sarandon ("Dead Man Walking," 1995) for best actress WON
• Meryl Streep ("Doubt," 2008) for best actress TBD
• Amy Adams ("Doubt," 2008) for best supporting actress TBD

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Photo: Meryl Streep and Amy Adams in "Doubt."

Credit: Miramax

Comments

[grv]

You forgot Anne Bancroft for best actress in "Agnes of God"!

[Scott Feinberg]

Thanks for catching that "grv"!