Musicals often go overlooked at the Academy Awards, but there are a handful of career-defining performances in the genre that have received the notable accolade. Chicago is the latest musical to win Best Picture, with recognition for the genre largely coming in the form of wins in the acting categories. Several of these actors play the lead or supporting roles in what's considered to be some of the best musicals of all time. Some of these actors were part of a significant sweep their film had at the Oscars that year, like Rita Moreno in West Side Story.
Others were the only ones to win for their musical film that night. In these roles, celebrated film actors like Anne Hathaway, Jamie Foxx, and Liza Minnelli blew critics and audiences away with their ability to transform into their famous characters, showing a whole new side to them as performers. Additionally, actors who made their film debut with their Oscar-winning roles, like Jennifer Hudson and Barbra Streisand, are equally impressive. What many of the best Oscar-winning musical performances have in common is their years-long impact, leaving audiences in continuous awe.
12 Joel Grey (Cabaret)
Won Best Supporting Actor Amidst Memorable Wins For Cabaret
Though he has a lengthy filmography, working in movies, TV shows, and theater, Joel Grey is most remembered for playing the Master of Ceremonies in Cabaret. Before accompanying Liza Minnelli in the 1972 film, Grey played the character on stage. Grey's equally dark, comedic, and captivating performance earned him a Tony in 1967. Grey played the same character a few years later on the big screen and won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. Grey's win was one of eight for Cabaret during a memorable year for musical recognition at the Oscars. With its eight awards, Cabaret is one of the films to win the most Academy Awards without winning Best Picture.
11 Anne Hathaway (Les Misérables)
Won Best Supporting Actress For A 15-Minute Appearance
In Les Misérables' near-three-hour runtime, Anne Hathaway appears on the screen for approximately 15 minutes. Yet, her physical and emotional commitment to the role of Fantine was enough to secure her an Academy Award nomination and win. In the film, Hathaway deftly captures the breakdown of her character, cutting her hair and singing live on set. Her character's harrowing journey culminates in an unforgettable performance of "I Dreamed a Dream." Singing live on set, Hathaway pushes through tears and heavy sobbing to deliver affecting vocals. Despite her performance being among the shortest to win an Oscar, Hathaway's scenes are what stuck with many audiences and critics after viewing the film.
10 Yul Brynner (The King And I)
Won Best Actor For A Role He Assumed On Stage
Most actors take on their musical roles once or twice and then move on to other projects, but not Yul Brynner. After portraying King Mongkut on stage in The King and I, Brynner took home two Tony Awards, and he found similar success when playing the same character in the 1956 film adaptation of the same name. He starred in the film alongside actors like Deborah Kerr and Rita Moreno, and though Kerr was nominated for her performance as well, Brynner was the only one to win. Though Brynner did play other characters throughout his career, his role as King Mongkut, which he played an impressive 4,625 times on stage, is what he's remembered most for.
9 Reese Witherspoon (Walk The Line)
Won Best Actress For Portraying A Real-Life Country Icon
Considered one of the best musical biopics of all time, James Mangold's Walk the Line sees Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon as the famous Johnny Cash and June Carter. Witherspoon's portrayal of June is full, lively, and moving at times. Though both actors deliver career-best performances, it was Witherspoon who won an Oscar for Best Actress. When watching the film, Witherspoon's ability to transform into the famous figure appears effortless, but she spent months preparing for the role, specifically working on her vocals. All the hard work paid off as the actor was not only awarded an Oscar, but a BAFTA, a Critics Choice Award, a Golden Globe, and a SAG Award as well.
8 Catherine Zeta-Jones (Chicago)
Won Best Supporting Actress In The Last Musical To Win Best Picture
Based on the '70s stage musical of the same name, Chicago earned widespread acclaim from critics and is the most recent musical to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards. The film won six awards in total, including a Best Supporting Actress win for Catherine Zeta-Jones. In the film, Zeta-Jones plays the murderous Velma Kelly, a singer who kills her husband and sister after seeing them in bed together. Chicago is one of Zeta-Jones' best movies, as she exudes an infectious confidence and power within the role. Additionally, Zeta-Jones' musical talent was a surprise to many, and her on-screen chemistry with Renée Zellweger has continued to wow audiences years later.
7 Emma Stone (La La Land)
Won Best Actress In A Recent Musical Hit
La La Land is one of the more recent musicals to catch on and impress a wide range of critics and moviegoers. The film tells the story of two aspiring artists, played by Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, stuck in their attempt to make their dreams come true. In addition to its visual feats and catchy score, La La Land has earned praise for its leading performances. Stone, in particular, is charming on screen and matches energy with Gosling, both comedically and in the emotional bits of their love story. Though the choreography and singing in the film aren't as demanding as other musicals, there's no denying Stone's ability to captivate audiences, making it easy to explain how she won an Oscar.
6 Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls)
Won Best Supporting Actress In Her Film Debut
Inspired by The Supremes, Dreamgirls follows an up-and-coming girl group during the '60s and '70s. As the singers deal with their complicated rise to fame, they also struggle with personal ups and downs, making for some moving scenes and emotionally charged musical performances. The soundtrack and costume and production design have been widely praised by critics, as have the performances by Jennifer Hudson and Eddie Murphy. Though she had been receiving attention for her American Idol performances a few years prior, Dreamgirls was not only Hudson's film debut but her true breakthrough as well. As a result of her remarkable performance, Hudson won for Best Supporting Actress.
5 Liza Minnelli (Cabaret)
Won Best Actress For Her Most Well-Known Film Role
Liza Minnelli has an expansive catalog of work, but it is her most well-known film role that earned her an Academy Award. Based on the stage musical of the same name, Cabaret stars Minnelli as Sally Bowles, a character the actress reinterpreted, drawing inspiration from flapper icon Louise Brooks. Critics throughout the years have described Minnelli's performance as electric, with many considering it to be her breakout role, despite her film, music, and theater work in the years before. Cabaret won several of its Academy Award nominations, including a Best Actress award for Minnelli and a Best Director award for Bob Fosse.
4 Jamie Foxx (Ray)
Won Best Actor The Same Year He Was Nominated For Another Movie
It's not easy to portray iconic figures in biopics, as the well-known mannerisms and personas can feel inauthentic and forcefully put on by the actors portraying them. Therefore, Jamie Foxx's work in Ray is all the more impressive. Though the actor doesn't sing as the legendary musician Ray Charles, Foxx does embody almost every other aspect of the singer in a career-best performance. Ray captures the highs and lows of Charles' career and is largely grounded by Foxx's inhabited performance. Foxx is one of three male actors who have earned two Oscar nominations in acting categories for different movies. Foxx was nominated for Collateral and Ray the same year, taking home the Oscar for the latter.
3 Rita Moreno (West Side Story)
Won Best Supporting Actress In The Musical With The Most Oscars
Known best for her musical roles, Rita Moreno's most celebrated performance is in West Side Story. The film, an adaptation of the 1957 Broadway musical, is inspired by Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and sees two rival gangs in New York City fight for control of the Upper West Side. Moreno's Anita is a supporting character caught up in the conflict, whose most memorable scene is easily the "America" number. During the musical scene, Moreno executes the choreographed movements to perfection as her character sings about the upsides of living in America. West Side Story holds the title of the musical with the most Oscar wins, and Moreno contributes to the honor with her Best Supporting Actress win.
2 Julie Andrews (Mary Poppins)
Won Best Actress In A Classic And Beloved Musical
Featuring a mix of animation and live-action sequences, Mary Poppins is an iconic fantasy film that continues to touch the hearts of audiences today. The film stars Julie Andrews as the titular nanny who visits a family in London and hopes to better their lives. Mary Poppins has an abundance of memorable musical numbers and a palpable magical feel that has yet to fade all these years later. Though she had appeared on TV shows and on stage years before, Mary Poppins was Andrews' film debut, and she proved herself to be quite the star. The film was nominated for numerous Academy Awards and wound up taking home five, one of which was Andrews' for Best Actress.
1 Barbra Streisand (Funny Girl)
Won Best Actress In Her Film Debut
Based on the life of famed comedian Fanny Brice and adapted from the musical of the same name, William Wyler's Funny Girl sees Barbra Streisand in her film debut. Streisand reprises the role of Fanny after playing her on Broadway in 1964. The success of the show propelled Streisand to fame, and though she lost the Tony Award she was nominated for, there was no denying her star power and talent. Streisand fully immerses herself in the role of Fanny, hitting every comedic and musical note with ease. For her work, Streisand took home the only Academy Award for Funny Girl, winning the Best Actress award, and she earned her second Oscar a few years later for the A Star Is Born song "Evergreen."
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