Top 10 Mother/Daughter Duos Who Were Both Nominated for Oscars
Oscar nominations, Hollywood actresses, mother-daughter actors, Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, Diane Ladd, Laura Dern, Janet Leigh, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ingrid Bergman, Isabella Rossellini, Goldie Hawn, Kate Hudson, Academy Awards, film industry, cinema history, acting dynasties, Hollywood legends, Oscar-nominated actresses, family talent,
Top 10 Mother-Daughter Duos Who Were Both Nominated For Oscars
Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re looking at mothers and daughters who both have Academy Award nominations.
Gaining a reputation as the Mother of the French New Wave, Agnès Varda has also been called “one of the Gods of Cinema” by the likes of Martin Scorsese[c]. Yet, the Academy overlooked her contributions until she was awarded an Honorary Oscar in 2017. At the time, the 89-year-old Agnes was the oldest person to receive this honorary accolade, as well as the first female director. Not long after, she garnered her first competitive Oscar nomination for the documentary “Faces Places,” which explored her friendship with the artist JR against a rural French backdrop. Serving as a producer on the doc, costume designer Rosalie Varda shared the nomination with JR and her mother, who remains one of the oldest individuals to be nominated competitively.
Phoebe Ephron worked as a screenwriter during Hollywood’s Golden Age, often collaborating with her husband Henry. The couple received their only Oscar nominations for co-writing 1963’s “Captain Newman, M.D.” with Richard L. Breen. They raised four daughters, all of whom went on to have writing careers. Eldest Nora Ephron left the most significant impact on cinema, sharing her first Oscar nomination with Alice Arlen for co-writing the drama “Silkwood.” Nora went on to score two more screenwriting nominations for the rom-com classics “When Harry Met Sally…” and “Sleepless in Seattle,” the latter of which she also directed. Nora learned much from her mother, but the most crucial advice Phoebe passed on was “everything is copy,” encouraging her to draw inspiration from personal experiences.
Regularly working alongside Mike Nichols, Elaine May was an actress and comedian before becoming a filmmaker. She’d be nominated twice in the Best Adapted Screenplay category for 1978’s “Heaven Can Wait” and 1998’s “Primary Colors.” She also broke out as a director, although her talents behind the camera went unsung at the Oscars. May directed her daughter Jeannie Berlin to a Best Supporting Actress nomination, though, with 1972’s “The Heartbreak Kid.” Berlin played Lila Kolodny[d], a well-meaning yet obnoxious bride who endures a heartbreaking honeymoon. Discussing her mother in 1973, Berlin said she was “always hard on [her],” yet “had enormous patience.” In 2022, Berlin accompanied her 89-year-old mother to the Ray Dolby Ballroom where May was presented with an overdue Honorary Oscar.
Naomi Foner scribed several screenplays, earning an Oscar nomination for “Running on Empty.” Professionally, Foner called that 1988 coming-of-age drama her proudest achievement in addition to working with The Children’s Television Workshop. With then-husband Stephen Gyllenhaal, Foner had two children who grew up to be Oscar nominees: Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal. Being involved in the industry from a young age, Maggie eventually landed a Best Supporting Actress nomination for playing journalist Jean Craddock in “Crazy Heart.” Like her parents, Maggie added writer and director to her résumé with films like “The Lost Daughter,” getting a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination. Maggie was only the third woman to be nominated for writing and acting after Ruth Gordon and Emma Thompson - a fact her mother pointed out.
While Goldie Hawn had appeared on shows like “Laugh-In,” she was fairly new to cinema when she won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for playing the eccentric Toni Simmons in 1969’s “Cactus Flower.” Hawn regretfully wasn’t present to accept, although she would attend the ceremony over a decade later when she was nominated again for “Private Benjamin.” She also showed up to the 73rd Academy Awards in 2001, but not as a nominee. In addition to presenting a category, Hawn accompanied her daughter Kate Hudson, who was nominated for her supporting performance as Penny Lane in “Almost Famous.” Although Hudson didn’t win like her mother, Kurt Russell had some uplifting words for his long-time partner’s daughter: “Congratulations. You can now go have your career.”
Only two Brazillian women have been nominated Best Actress in Oscar history. A home country isn’t the only thing they have in common. Fernanda Montenegro broke the glass ceiling for her performance as retired schoolteacher Dora Teixeira in 1998’s “Central Station.” Not only was Montenegro the category’s first Brazillian nominee, but also the first from a Portuguese-language film. Fast-forward more than 25 years, Fernanda Torres followed in her mother’s footsteps as the second Brazilian Best Actress nominee. The Oscar nomination came shortly after Torres won a Golden Globe for her devastatingly layered performance as mother/wife/activist Eunice Paiva[h] in “I’m Still Here.” Torres dedicated her Globe to her mother, who also appears in the film as an older Paiva.
One of the most iconic movie stars who ever lived, Ingrid Bergman racked up seven Oscar nominations during her lifetime. She’d win two Best Actress statuettes for “Gaslight” and “Anastasia,” as well as a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for “Murder on the Orient Express.” Of Bergman’s four children, Isabella Rossellini would become the most well-known to audiences, appearing in films like “Blue Velvet” and “Death Becomes Her.” Despite decades of arresting work, Rossellini repeatedly eluded the Academy’s radar. That was until she at long last received a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her brief yet scene-stealing turn as Sister Agnes in “Conclave.” Reacting to the nomination, the 72-year-old Rossellini paid tribute to her parents and her late former partner, David Lynch.
Janet Leigh cemented her cinematic legacy with her Oscar-nominated performance as Marion Crane in “Psycho.” Having already won the Golden Globe, it was something of a surprise when Leigh didn’t take home the Oscar, but her daughter would find herself nominated in the same category nearly 60 years later. By this point, Jamie Lee Curtis had already enjoyed a varied career spanning horror, comedy, and drama. For all the accolades Curtis picked up during that time, the Academy wouldn’t notice her until 2022’s “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” For her surreal, universe-spanning performance as IRS inspector Deirdre Beaubeirdre[k], Curtis won Best Supporting Actress. She paid tribute to her mother and father Tony Curtis, another past Oscar nominee. In Curtis’ eyes, this win wasn’t just her’s.
Diane Ladd is a three-time Oscar nominee, having been recognized for her supporting work in “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore,” “Wild at Heart,” and “Rambling Rose.” The latter was especially notable since her daughter, Laura Dern, was also nominated for Best Actress. This marked the only instance in Academy Awards history where a mother and daughter were both nominated for their performances in the same film. Although neither won that year, Dern has since returned to the Oscars twice as a Best Supporting Actress nominee. After being nominated for playing Cheryl Strayed’s mother in “Wild,” Dern would win for her turn as attorney Nora Fanshaw in “Marriage Story.” Dern naturally thanked her mother, who accompanied her, and her father Bruce Dern, calling them her heroes.
Judy Garland is best remembered as Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz,” which contributed to her Academy Juvenile Award. Garland wouldn’t attain her first competitive Oscar nomination until 1954’s “A Star Is Born,” which some regard as her finest performance. When Garland didn’t win, Groucho Marx called it “the biggest robbery since Brinks.” Garland got one more nomination for “Judgment at Nuremberg” before her tragic death. She didn’t live to see daughter Liza Minnelli obtain her first Best Actress nomination for “The Sterile Cuckoo” or subsequent win for portraying Sally Bowles in “Cabaret.” Minnelli remains the only Oscar winner whose parents also both received statuettes, her father being director Vincente Minnelli[m]. We lost Garland far too soon, but through her daughter, another star was born.
Which mother-daughter duo would you like to see at the Oscars? Let us know in the comments.
[c](scor-SAY-zee)
[d](kuh-LOD-nee)
[e]ny-OH-mee FOH-nuh)
[f](fer-NAN-duh mon-tih-NAYG-roh)
[g](fer-NAN-duh TOR-es)
[h]YOO-nees PIE-vuh)
[i](ING-grid BURG-mun)
[j](iz-uh-BELL-uh ross-uh-LEE-nee)
[k](DEER-druh boh-BEER-druh)
[l](LYE-zuh mih-NELL-ee)
[m](vin-SEN-tay mih-NELL-ee)
Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re looking at mothers and daughters who both have Academy Award nominations.
#10: Agnès Varda[a] & Rosalie Varda[b]
Gaining a reputation as the Mother of the French New Wave, Agnès Varda has also been called “one of the Gods of Cinema” by the likes of Martin Scorsese[c]. Yet, the Academy overlooked her contributions until she was awarded an Honorary Oscar in 2017. At the time, the 89-year-old Agnes was the oldest person to receive this honorary accolade, as well as the first female director. Not long after, she garnered her first competitive Oscar nomination for the documentary “Faces Places,” which explored her friendship with the artist JR against a rural French backdrop. Serving as a producer on the doc, costume designer Rosalie Varda shared the nomination with JR and her mother, who remains one of the oldest individuals to be nominated competitively.
#9: Phoebe Ephron & Nora Ephron
Phoebe Ephron worked as a screenwriter during Hollywood’s Golden Age, often collaborating with her husband Henry. The couple received their only Oscar nominations for co-writing 1963’s “Captain Newman, M.D.” with Richard L. Breen. They raised four daughters, all of whom went on to have writing careers. Eldest Nora Ephron left the most significant impact on cinema, sharing her first Oscar nomination with Alice Arlen for co-writing the drama “Silkwood.” Nora went on to score two more screenwriting nominations for the rom-com classics “When Harry Met Sally…” and “Sleepless in Seattle,” the latter of which she also directed. Nora learned much from her mother, but the most crucial advice Phoebe passed on was “everything is copy,” encouraging her to draw inspiration from personal experiences.
#8: Elaine May & Jeannie Berlin
Regularly working alongside Mike Nichols, Elaine May was an actress and comedian before becoming a filmmaker. She’d be nominated twice in the Best Adapted Screenplay category for 1978’s “Heaven Can Wait” and 1998’s “Primary Colors.” She also broke out as a director, although her talents behind the camera went unsung at the Oscars. May directed her daughter Jeannie Berlin to a Best Supporting Actress nomination, though, with 1972’s “The Heartbreak Kid.” Berlin played Lila Kolodny[d], a well-meaning yet obnoxious bride who endures a heartbreaking honeymoon. Discussing her mother in 1973, Berlin said she was “always hard on [her],” yet “had enormous patience.” In 2022, Berlin accompanied her 89-year-old mother to the Ray Dolby Ballroom where May was presented with an overdue Honorary Oscar.
#7: Naomi Foner Gyllenhaal[e] & Maggie Gyllenhaal
Naomi Foner scribed several screenplays, earning an Oscar nomination for “Running on Empty.” Professionally, Foner called that 1988 coming-of-age drama her proudest achievement in addition to working with The Children’s Television Workshop. With then-husband Stephen Gyllenhaal, Foner had two children who grew up to be Oscar nominees: Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal. Being involved in the industry from a young age, Maggie eventually landed a Best Supporting Actress nomination for playing journalist Jean Craddock in “Crazy Heart.” Like her parents, Maggie added writer and director to her résumé with films like “The Lost Daughter,” getting a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination. Maggie was only the third woman to be nominated for writing and acting after Ruth Gordon and Emma Thompson - a fact her mother pointed out.
#6: Goldie Hawn & Kate Hudson
While Goldie Hawn had appeared on shows like “Laugh-In,” she was fairly new to cinema when she won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for playing the eccentric Toni Simmons in 1969’s “Cactus Flower.” Hawn regretfully wasn’t present to accept, although she would attend the ceremony over a decade later when she was nominated again for “Private Benjamin.” She also showed up to the 73rd Academy Awards in 2001, but not as a nominee. In addition to presenting a category, Hawn accompanied her daughter Kate Hudson, who was nominated for her supporting performance as Penny Lane in “Almost Famous.” Although Hudson didn’t win like her mother, Kurt Russell had some uplifting words for his long-time partner’s daughter: “Congratulations. You can now go have your career.”
#5: Fernanda Montenegro [f]& Fernanda Torres [g]
Only two Brazillian women have been nominated Best Actress in Oscar history. A home country isn’t the only thing they have in common. Fernanda Montenegro broke the glass ceiling for her performance as retired schoolteacher Dora Teixeira in 1998’s “Central Station.” Not only was Montenegro the category’s first Brazillian nominee, but also the first from a Portuguese-language film. Fast-forward more than 25 years, Fernanda Torres followed in her mother’s footsteps as the second Brazilian Best Actress nominee. The Oscar nomination came shortly after Torres won a Golden Globe for her devastatingly layered performance as mother/wife/activist Eunice Paiva[h] in “I’m Still Here.” Torres dedicated her Globe to her mother, who also appears in the film as an older Paiva.
#4: Ingrid Bergman[i] & Isabella Rossellini [j]
One of the most iconic movie stars who ever lived, Ingrid Bergman racked up seven Oscar nominations during her lifetime. She’d win two Best Actress statuettes for “Gaslight” and “Anastasia,” as well as a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for “Murder on the Orient Express.” Of Bergman’s four children, Isabella Rossellini would become the most well-known to audiences, appearing in films like “Blue Velvet” and “Death Becomes Her.” Despite decades of arresting work, Rossellini repeatedly eluded the Academy’s radar. That was until she at long last received a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her brief yet scene-stealing turn as Sister Agnes in “Conclave.” Reacting to the nomination, the 72-year-old Rossellini paid tribute to her parents and her late former partner, David Lynch.
#3: Janet Leigh & Jamie Lee Curtis
Janet Leigh cemented her cinematic legacy with her Oscar-nominated performance as Marion Crane in “Psycho.” Having already won the Golden Globe, it was something of a surprise when Leigh didn’t take home the Oscar, but her daughter would find herself nominated in the same category nearly 60 years later. By this point, Jamie Lee Curtis had already enjoyed a varied career spanning horror, comedy, and drama. For all the accolades Curtis picked up during that time, the Academy wouldn’t notice her until 2022’s “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” For her surreal, universe-spanning performance as IRS inspector Deirdre Beaubeirdre[k], Curtis won Best Supporting Actress. She paid tribute to her mother and father Tony Curtis, another past Oscar nominee. In Curtis’ eyes, this win wasn’t just her’s.
#2: Diane Ladd & Laura Dern
Diane Ladd is a three-time Oscar nominee, having been recognized for her supporting work in “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore,” “Wild at Heart,” and “Rambling Rose.” The latter was especially notable since her daughter, Laura Dern, was also nominated for Best Actress. This marked the only instance in Academy Awards history where a mother and daughter were both nominated for their performances in the same film. Although neither won that year, Dern has since returned to the Oscars twice as a Best Supporting Actress nominee. After being nominated for playing Cheryl Strayed’s mother in “Wild,” Dern would win for her turn as attorney Nora Fanshaw in “Marriage Story.” Dern naturally thanked her mother, who accompanied her, and her father Bruce Dern, calling them her heroes.
#1: Judy Garland & Liza Minnelli[l]
Judy Garland is best remembered as Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz,” which contributed to her Academy Juvenile Award. Garland wouldn’t attain her first competitive Oscar nomination until 1954’s “A Star Is Born,” which some regard as her finest performance. When Garland didn’t win, Groucho Marx called it “the biggest robbery since Brinks.” Garland got one more nomination for “Judgment at Nuremberg” before her tragic death. She didn’t live to see daughter Liza Minnelli obtain her first Best Actress nomination for “The Sterile Cuckoo” or subsequent win for portraying Sally Bowles in “Cabaret.” Minnelli remains the only Oscar winner whose parents also both received statuettes, her father being director Vincente Minnelli[m]. We lost Garland far too soon, but through her daughter, another star was born.
Which mother-daughter duo would you like to see at the Oscars? Let us know in the comments.
[a](ahn-YESS VAR-dah, French)
[b](ROH-zah-lee VAR-dah, French)[c](scor-SAY-zee)
[d](kuh-LOD-nee)
[e]ny-OH-mee FOH-nuh)
[f](fer-NAN-duh mon-tih-NAYG-roh)
[g](fer-NAN-duh TOR-es)
[h]YOO-nees PIE-vuh)
[i](ING-grid BURG-mun)
[j](iz-uh-BELL-uh ross-uh-LEE-nee)
[k](DEER-druh boh-BEER-druh)
[l](LYE-zuh mih-NELL-ee)
[m](vin-SEN-tay mih-NELL-ee)
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