The 6 Actors with Three Oscar Wins (& the One They Truly Deserved)

Only a handful of performers have collected three acting Oscars, and each one built that total across landmark roles that defined entire eras of film. This group spans studio-era legends and modern icons, with wins across both lead and supporting categories. For clarity, Katharine Hepburn stands alone with four acting Oscars, so she is not included here.

Below are the six actors with three wins, the films that earned them those statues, and the performance most widely regarded as the defining achievement. Each pick reflects industry consensus through major precursor awards and long-term impact on careers and film history.

Daniel Day-Lewis

Daniel Day-Lewis is the only performer with three Best Actor wins. He earned them for transformational work in ‘My Left Foot’, ‘There Will Be Blood’, and ‘Lincoln’, part of a six-nomination career that also includes ‘In the Name of the Father’, ‘Gangs of New York’, and ‘Phantom Thread’. His wins trace a path from physical immersion to historical embodiment, with a reputation for long preparation and selective role choices.

The win most often held up as the one he truly deserved is ‘There Will Be Blood’. That performance dominated awards season with top prizes from major guilds and academies, and it reshaped how audiences talk about character studies in modern cinema. Its influence is visible in later prestige dramas and in how Day-Lewis is cited as a benchmark for screen acting.

Frances McDormand

Frances McDormand has three Best Actress wins for ‘Fargo’, ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’, and ‘Nomadland’, across seven acting nominations that showcase range from dark comedy to intimate realism. She also earned a producing Oscar for ‘Nomadland’, reflecting her expanding creative footprint behind the camera.

The win most often held up as the one she truly deserved is ‘Fargo’. Her portrayal of Marge Gunderson became a cultural touchstone, backed by significant guild recognition and a sweep of critics’ honors. The role set a template for grounded, empathetic leads in crime stories and remains the performance most frequently associated with her name.

Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep’s three acting Oscars span Best Supporting Actress for ‘Kramer vs. Kramer’ and Best Actress for ‘Sophie’s Choice’ and ‘The Iron Lady’. She holds the all-time record for acting nominations, reflecting decades of sustained excellence across drama, comedy, and biographical roles.

The win most often held up as the one she truly deserved is ‘Sophie’s Choice’. That performance earned her top industry and critics’ awards and became standard curriculum in acting programs. Its technical command and emotional range are frequently cited when her career is summarized, making it the clearest single role that justifies her place in awards history.

Jack Nicholson

Jack Nicholson’s three acting Oscars include Best Actor for ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ and ‘As Good as It Gets’ and Best Supporting Actor for ‘Terms of Endearment’. With a double-digit nomination total, he set the bar for male performers in leading and supporting roles over multiple decades.

The win most often held up as the one he truly deserved is ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’. That turn anchored a Best Picture winner and swept key industry honors, cementing Nicholson’s reputation as the face of 1970s American cinema. The character’s cultural footprint and the film’s ongoing relevance make this the performance most consistently identified as his signature.

Ingrid Bergman

Ingrid Bergman earned three acting Oscars with Best Actress wins for ‘Gaslight’ and ‘Anastasia’ and a Best Supporting Actress win for ‘Murder on the Orient Express’. Her nominations chart a transatlantic career that bridged Hollywood and European cinema while redefining the possibilities for complex female leads.

The win most often held up as the one she truly deserved is ‘Gaslight’. That portrayal drew major critical accolades at the time and remains a textbook example of psychological nuance on screen. It solidified her status as a dramatic powerhouse and continues to be referenced whenever discussions turn to great performances in classic suspense.

Walter Brennan

Walter Brennan became the first performer to collect three acting Oscars, all for Best Supporting Actor, with wins for ‘Come and Get It’, ‘Kentucky’, and ‘The Westerner’. His run established the supporting category as a vital space for character actors who elevate films through scene-stealing turns and textured authenticity.

The win most often held up as the one he truly deserved is ‘The Westerner’. His take on Judge Roy Bean opposite Gary Cooper stands out for shaping the on-screen image of a legendary figure and for its lasting influence on Western character archetypes. The role is routinely singled out as the pinnacle that explains his unprecedented tally.

Tell us in the comments which single performance you would keep for each actor and why it stands out to you.