21 actors who won awards for playing icons

Frank OlitoMar 29, 2021, 21:55 IST

Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II.THOMAS COEX/AFP/Getty Images and Pathé Distribution

Multiple Oscar nominees this year played real people, such as Andra Day who played Billie Holiday.
Actors have long been earning award nominations for portraying celebrities and historical figures.
For example, Daniel Day-Lewis portrayed Abraham Lincoln and Meryl Streep played Margaret Thatcher.

In 1969, Barbra Streisand won an Oscar for playing Fanny Brice in "Funny Girl."

Barbra Streisand as Fanny Brice. Silver Screen Collection/ Getty

Sissy Spacek took home an Oscar for her portrayal of Loretta Lynn in the 1980 film "Coal Miner's Daughter."

Sissy Spacek as Loretta Lynn. Bettmann/ Getty

Ben Kingsley won an Oscar for playing Mahatma Gandhi in the 1982 film "Gandhi."

Ben Kingsley as Gandhi. Getty

In 1990, Joe Pesci portrayed Tommy DeSimone in "Goodfellas" and won an Academy Award.

Joe Pesci (on the right) as Tommy DeSimone. Dirck Halstead/ Getty

In 2000's "Erin Brockovich," Julia Roberts gave an award-winning performance.

Julia Roberts as Erin Brockovich. Ronald Siemoneit/ Getty

Jamie Foxx played Ray Charles in the 2004 film "Ray" and won an Oscar for his work.

Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles. Universal

Cate Blanchett stole the show when she played Katharine Hepburn in 2004's "The Aviator" - and won an Oscar in the process.

Cate Blanchett as Katharine Hepburn. Miramax

Reese Witherspoon also stole the show - and earned herself an Oscar - when she played June Carter Cash in 2005's "Walk the Line."

Reese Witherspoon as June Carter Cash. Twentieth Century Fox

Helen Mirren played Queen Elizabeth II in 2006's "The Queen" and earned an Academy Award.

Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth. Pathé Pictures

Sean Penn won an Oscar for playing Harvey Milk in 2008.

Sean Penn as Harvey Milk. Focus Features

Eddie Redmayne portrayed Stephen Hawking in "The Theory of Everything," earning him an Oscar in 2015.

Eddie Redmayne as Stephen Hawking. Focus Features

Colin Firth won an Oscar for his portrayal of King George VI in 2010's "The King's Speech."

Colin Firth as King George VI. Momentum Pictures

In 2011's "The Iron Lady," Meryl Streep gave an Oscar-winning performance in her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher.

Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher. 20th Century Fox

In 2012, Daniel Day-Lewis played Abraham Lincoln and won an Academy Award.

Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln. Sony / Columbia Pictures

Michael Douglas played Liberace in 2013's "Behind the Candelabra" and won a Golden Globe.

Michael Douglas as Liberace. HBO

Sarah Paulson won an Emmy in 2017 for portraying Marcia Clark in the TV series "The People v. O.J.: American Crime Story."

Sarah Paulson as Marcia Clark. FX

In 2018, Darren Criss won an Emmy for his portrayal of Andrew Cunanan in the series "The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story."

Darren Criss as Andrew Cunanan. FX

Rami Malek took home the Academy Award in 2019 after playing Freddie Mercury in "Bohemian Rhapsody."

Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury. 20th Century Fox

In 2020, Renee Zellweger won a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for playing Judy Garland.

Renee Zellweger as Judy Garland. Movieclips trailers/ YouTube

Andra Day took home a Golden Globe in 2021 for her portrayal of Billie Holiday.

Andra Day as Billie Holiday. Hulu

Daniel Kaluuya played Black Panther Fred Hampton in 2021 and earned himself a Golden Globe.

Daniel Kaluuya as Fred Hampton. Warner Bros. Pictures

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