An Oscar record still held by Bette Davis and Greer Garson

Betta Davis, one of the best actresses everwas nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress 11 times during her career. Some obsessive Oscar historians might say she was only nominated 10 times, as her nomination for 1934's Of Human Bondage was one of very few votes the Academy has ever allowed. Records show that Davis, although not officially nominated by the Academy, finished third that year.

However, Davis only won two Oscars. The first was for her performance in the film Dangerous in 1935, and the second for playing a similar role to Scarth O'Hara in the film Jezebel in 1938. Her performance in “Jezebel,” which Hollywood would eventually find out, was the first of a film nomination streak that would last five years in a row. In 1939, Davis was nominated for her performance in Dark Victory. In 1940, she will be nominated for “The Letter”. In 1941 it was “Little Foxes” and in 1942 it was “Now, Voyager”.

In 1942, Davis (understandably) lost Best Actress to Greer Garson, star of William Wyler's Best Picture winner, Mrs. Miniver.

However, the win marked a parallel Oscar hot streak that Garson also overcame. In 1941, Garson received a Best Actress nomination for “Flowers in the Dust,” and then in 1943, Garson starred in “Marie Curie,” earning another nomination. In 1944, Garson received acclaim for her performance in Mrs. Parkington, and finally, in 1945, Garson received her fifth Best Actress nomination for The Valley of Decision.

In total, Garson received seven best actress nominations in her career. No performer other than Davis and Garson has been nominated for Best Actress five years in a row. They were among the greatest actors of their generation.