The Academy Awards or Oscars are the most influential of the various film awards. they are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences in the USA. The winning of an Oscar can have a large impact the commercial success of a film. However as will all such awards there is always disagreement over the nominations and the winner. This page lists best actress winners and nominations for 1980 to 1989.
| Year | Winner of Best Actress | Nominations for Best Actress |
| 1989 | Jessica Tandy: Driving Miss Daisy | Isabelle Adjani: Camille Claudel |
| Pauline Collins: Shirley Valentine | ||
| Jessica Lange: Music Box | ||
| Michelle Pfeiffer: The Fabulous Baker Boys | ||
| 1988 | Jodie Foster: The Accused | Glenn Close: Dangerous Liaisons |
| Melanie Griffith: Working Girl | ||
| Meryl Streep: A Cry in the Dark | ||
| Sigourney Weaver: Gorillas in the Mist | ||
| 1987 | Cher: Moonstruck | Glenn Close: Fatal Attraction |
| Holly Hunter: Broadcast News | ||
| Sally Kirkland: Anna | ||
| Meryl Streep: Ironweed | ||
| 1986 | Marlee Matlin: Children Of A Lesser God | Jane Fonda: The Morning After |
| Sissy Spacek: Crimes of the Heart | ||
| Kathleen Turner: Peggy Sue Got Married | ||
| Sigourney Weaver: Aliens | ||
| 1985 | Geraldine Page: The Trip To Bountiful | Anne Bancroft: Agnes of God |
| Whoopi Goldberg: The Color Purple | ||
| Jessica Lange: Sweet Dreams | ||
| Meryl Streep: Out Of Africa | ||
| 1984 | Sally Field: Places: In The Heart | Judy Davis: A Passage to India |
| Jessica Lange: Country | ||
| Vanessa Redgrave: The Bostonians | ||
| Sissy Spacek: The River | ||
| 1983 | Shirley MacLaine: Terms Of Endearment | Jane Alexander: Testament |
| Meryl Streep: Silkwood | ||
| Julie Walters: Educating Rita | ||
| Debra Winger: Terms of Endearment | ||
| 1982 | Meryl Streep: Sophie's Choice | Julie Andrews: Victor/Victoria |
| Jessica Lange: Frances | ||
| Sissy Spacek: Missing | ||
| Debra Winger: An Officer and a Gentleman | ||
| 1981 | Katherine Hepburn: On Golden Pond | Diane Keaton: Reds |
| Marsha Mason: Only When I Laugh | ||
| Susan Sarandon: Atlantic City | ||
| Meryl Streep: The French Lieutenant's Woman | ||
| 1980 | Sissy Spacek: Coal Miner's Daughter | Ellen Burstyn: Resurrection |
| Goldie Hawn: Private Benjamin | ||
| Mary Tyler Moore: Ordinary People | ||
| Gena Rowlands: Gloria |