Following in the footsteps of my picks for the Best and Worst Oscar Winners of all time in the Best Picture category, here are my picks for the 10 best Wins of all time. These are a mixture of my favorite performances, iconic roles, and years where clearly the best lady won.

#10) Julie Andrews (Mary Poppins)

it is an iconic role, and a legendary actress. plus, her biggest competition was arguably Sophia Loren who had just won this prize a year before. It just makes sense with how well known Andrews is in this genre, that she would carry home a trophy for this delightful classic. plus, so many of my picks are from darker films and darker performances, it becomes hard to see a light with a spoonful of sugar sometimes. Julie Andrews has been nominated three times, but this is her only win.

#Honorable Mention: Elizabeth Taylor (who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?)

A terrific performance lessened slightly by the fact it wasn’t her first win. She got five nominations, but her first win was one of the weirdest, for the underwhelming Butterfly 8. So it came close, but fell just a little short.

#Honorable Mention: Liza Minnelli (Cabaret)

Another film I’d put just shy of the Top 10. Cabaret was great, and very dominant in its year. it is also an iconic role that has become synonymous with Minnelli. She did deserve it over her competition, though Cicely Tyson would have broken a barrier long before Halley berry, though I’m not sure Sounder was the film to do it with.

#9- Louise Fletcher (One flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest)

Yet another iconic character, and a truly great win. I actually forgot this was a leading performance. I thought she won in supporting. But Nurse ratchet is such a force, that she dominated the field, and there’s no realistic competition that was nominated this year. It’s a great win, and her only win.

#8- Diane Keaton (Annie hall)

She’s the whole movie. Possibly Woody Allen’s best film hinges on her performance, and it is one that also feels like it drove her career. I also wouldn’t pick anyone else nominated this year over her. It’s her only Oscar out of four nominations.

#7- Sally Field (Norma Rae)

I do love this film, and her performance. And once again, two big factors. It is an iconic role, and I wouldn’t have picked anyone else. It’s also the win for Field she deserved the most, even if her other one elicited her most famous line. Yes, we really really like you.

Honorable Mention: Sissy Spacek (Coal miner’s Daughter)

A few people didn’t make the Honorable mentions simply because their competition was quite strong. As solid of a win this is, Spacek had some stiff competition from May Tyler Moore from Ordinary People, and even a comedic Goldie Hawn in Private Benjamin. I wouldn’t change the win, but the gap was certainly more narrow.

Honorable Mention- Katherine Hepburn (On golden pond)

It’s hard to put Hepburn’s fourth Oscar in the top 10, but I also wouldn’t have voted for another performance this year. The right person won. It just is her iconic 4th Academy Award.

#6- Meryl Streep (Sophie’s choice)

A devastating performance, and the right win. Of her three wins, if I could only keep one, it would be this. people use the term “making a Sophie’s Choice”, and I’m pretty sure they haven’t seen the film, or even get the reference. that’s staying power.

Honorable Mention: Marlee Matlin (Children of A Lesser God)

I almost put this in the Top 10, but after watching Matlin’s documentary, and realizing maybe this isn’t the pinnacle of representation, she was also up against Sigourney Weaver for Aliens. I’m not saying I necessarily would change the vote, but it’s enough to slip her to Honorable Mention.

Honorable Mention: Kathy Bates (Misery)

Just like a few other Honorable Mentions, i wouldn’t change the win, but an equally iconic nomination existed. Julia Roberts was up for pretty Woman. They made the right choice, but I don’t think I would be mad if Roberts had won for Pretty Woman.it probably would also be an Honorable Mention.

#5- Jodie Foster (Silence Of The lambs)

Clarice Starling. She tore this role up. Of all the Hannibal films and shows, she only ever played this role once, but it was enough to define it. Of Foster’s two Oscars, this is the better win. yes, she had competition, but good luck choosing between Thelma or Louise. Barring a forced tie, this is certainly a top 10 All-Timer.

Honorable mention- Frances McDormand (Fargo)

she doesn’t really have any major competition. She’s the one I’d pick, and of her three wins, this one is the best. it just missed out on the top 10.

Honorable Mention: Julia Roberts (Erin Brockovich)

it’s hard out here to be a winner. I love her, I love the film, her performance is iconic, and I wouldn’t change the vote. She had some really strong competition, notably from Ellen Burstyn for Requiem For A Dream, but I’m also a fan of Joan Allen in The contender and Laura Linney in you Can count On Me.

#4- Halle berry (Monsters Ball)

contextually, I wouldn’t change a thing. While Matlin’s win was groundbreaking, so was berry, and her strongest competition came from Sissy spacek for In the Bedroom, who had already won an Oscar.

Honorable Mention: Charlize Theron (Monster)

clearly the performance of her career. Like McDormand, it is just tough with 10 spots. I wouldn’t change the vote, but I do really love Diane Keaton in Something’s Gotta Give.

#3- Hillary Swank (Million Dollar Baby)

of her two wins, this is the one I like the best, because honestly, I still would pick Annette Bening in American Beauty. it was Swank’s first nomination, but not Bening, and she has yet to win. But here? yes. I love this performance.

#2- Marion Cotillard (La vie en Rose)

Her breakthrough role, and an inspired win. It felt out of nowhere, because we rarely award International films, and performances not in English, but cotillard in a biopic? It was enough. And honestly, her competition? Elliot Page for Juno? I’m not crazy about some of her nominees this year.

#1- Michelle Yeoh (everything, Everywhere, All At Once)

Not technically the best, but the most recent winner on the list. Yeoh also broke a barrier, and her competition was weak. It was her, or Cate Blanchett for her third win. It’s hard to root for a third win over a groundbreaking choice, for a career talent, in a once in a lifetime film.

Next up… the worst wins in this category.