6 Best Oscar Best Actress Winners of the 1970s

By Vlad Zakh · June 21, 2026

The Academy Award for Best Actress in the 1970s crowned a decade of daring, independent, and fiercely committed leading performances. In Network (1976): A washed-up news anchor’s on-air breakdown is cynically exploited by network executives desperate for ratings. Equally memorable is Annie Hall (1977): A neurotic comedian looks back on the rise and fall of his relationship with an eccentric aspiring singer.

Norma Rae (1979)

TMDB ★ 7.3

A Southern textile mill worker risks her livelihood to organize her exploited coworkers into a union.

Directed by Martin Ritt · 1h 50m · Rated PG

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Annie Hall (1977)

TMDB ★ 7.9

A neurotic comedian looks back on the rise and fall of his relationship with an eccentric aspiring singer.

Directed by Woody Allen · 1h 33m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Network (1976)

IMDb ★ 8.1 RT 90% Metacritic 83

A washed-up news anchor's on-air breakdown is cynically exploited by network executives desperate for ratings.

Directed by Sidney Lumet · 2h 02m · Rated R

Won 4 Oscars20 wins & 27 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974)

TMDB ★ 7.1

A recently widowed woman and her young son set out on the road, chasing her long-abandoned dream of becoming a singer.

Directed by Martin Scorsese · 1h 52m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: Howdy Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

A Touch of Class (1973)

TMDB ★ 6.2

A married businessman's affair with a divorced fashion designer becomes more complicated and meaningful than either expected.

Directed by Melvin Frank · 1h 46m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Women in Love (1969)

TMDB ★ 6.8

Two sisters pursue very different romances with a pair of close friends in industrial England.

Directed by Ken Russell · 2h 11m · Rated R

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix, built to fix a specific annoyance: most recommendation sites are just algorithm-driven noise. Our lists are researched and organized by who's in a film, where it's from, and the mood you're actually in tonight.

6 Best Oscar Best Actress Winners of the 1970s

Norma Rae (1979)

Annie Hall (1977)

Network (1976)

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974)

A Touch of Class (1973)

Women in Love (1969)

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