While many actors spend hours on screen to deliver an Academy Award-worthy performance, some have managed to clinch an Oscar in just a few short minutes. Here are five notable actors who won Oscars with shockingly brief yet impactful roles.
5. Alan Arkin in Little Miss Sunshine – 14 Minutes
Alan Arkin waited 40 years after his first nomination to win an Oscar for his role as Edwin Hoover, the foul-mouthed but loving grandfather in Little Miss Sunshine. Arkin’s screen time amounted to just 14 minutes, but his memorable performance as a quirky, drug-using grandpa won him the Best Supporting Actor award in 2007. Arkin’s character added both humor and heartfelt moments, particularly his touching relationship with his granddaughter, Olive, which left an indelible impression on audiences and voters alike.
4. Gloria Grahame in The Bad and the Beautiful – 9 Minutes
Gloria Grahame took home the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her nine-minute role in the 1952 drama The Bad and the Beautiful. Grahame’s portrayal of Rosemary, a self-absorbed Southern belle, was a brief yet standout part in the film. Despite appearing late in the movie, her performance captured the complexities of her character and earned her the shortest Oscar-winning performance for over 20 years.
3. Anthony Quinn in Lust for Life – 8 Minutes
In the 1956 biopic Lust for Life, Anthony Quinn delivered a powerful performance as painter Paul Gauguin, despite being on screen for just eight minutes. Quinn’s role in the film, which focused on the life of Vincent van Gogh, earned him his second Best Supporting Actor award. His brief but captivating portrayal was so impactful that it outshone the film’s lead, played by Kirk Douglas, proving that quality of performance often outweighs the quantity of screen time.
2. Judi Dench in Shakespeare in Love – 8 Minutes
Dame Judi Dench won Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I in Shakespeare in Love in 1999. Although Dench’s screen time totaled only eight minutes, her commanding presence and regal performance left a lasting impression. Her role as the iconic monarch contributed to the film’s sweeping success at the Oscars, where it controversially beat Saving Private Ryan for Best Picture.
1. Beatrice Straight in Network – 5 Minutes
The record for the shortest Oscar-winning performance still belongs to Beatrice Straight, who won Best Supporting Actress in 1976 for her role in Network. Straight appeared on screen for just five minutes, yet her powerful emotional monologue after discovering her husband’s affair is one of the film’s most unforgettable moments. Her raw performance in that short span earned her a place in Oscar history, proving that even the briefest roles can make the biggest impact.
These actors demonstrated that even with limited screen time, a deeply resonant and memorable performance can still lead to Hollywood’s highest honor.
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