Which actress won four Academy Awards for Best Actress?

Katharine Hepburn won four Academy Awards for Best Actress, more than any other performer in the history of the Oscars. Her wins stretched across nearly five decades of American film.

Hepburn won her first Oscar for Morning Glory in 1934. She later won for Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner in 1968, The Lion in Winter in 1969, and On Golden Pond in 1982. The latter two victories came in consecutive ceremonies, with The Lion in Winter sharing the award with Barbra Streisand’s performance in Funny Girl.

Her record is often confused with Meryl Streep’s achievements. Streep has received more acting nominations, but Hepburn remains the record-holder for Best Actress wins. Hepburn also earned 12 total Oscar nominations in that category.

Known for her intelligence, independence, and distinctive voice, Hepburn built a career across comedies, dramas, historical films, and literary adaptations. She frequently played unconventional women, helping reshape expectations for leading actresses in Hollywood.