Oscar Nomination: Actress Achieves Recognition with Just 2 Minutes of Screen Time 65 Years Ago

Remarkably, The Oscars experienced a historic milestone 65 years ago when an actress received a nomination for merely two minutes of screen time. While the journey to securing an Oscar nomination or victory can vary each year, it is typical for Academy Awards voters to favor performances by lead characters in a film. This trend is particularly evident among Oscar winners noted for their prominent screen time. However, the categories of Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress often present a different challenge, as nominees can shine through only a handful of scenes.

Despite the limited screen presence, some actors have captivated audiences and voters alike, ultimately winning Oscars. Notable examples include Anthony Hopkins for his iconic role in The Silence of the Lambs and Anne Hathaway in Les Misérables, both of whom were on screen for less than 20 minutes. The record for the shortest screen time for an Oscar winner belongs to Beatrice Straight, who won for her five-minute performance in Network. Astonishingly, some have received nominations with even less time on screen, including one actress who appeared for only two minutes.

Hermione Baddeley’s Historic Nomination in 1960

A Loss to Shelley Winters

Prior to 1960, Oscar nominations for brief performances were not uncommon; however, Hermione Baddeley’s nomination for Room at the Top marked a new low in screen time. In Jack Clayton’s adaptation of the titular book, Baddeley played Elspeth, a close friend of the movie’s main character, Alice Aisgill (Simone Signoret).Room at the Top garnered significant acclaim, securing six nominations, including for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay, with Baddeley being one of three acting nominees from the film.

Released in 1959, Room at the Top qualified for the 32nd Academy Awards in 1960. However, despite its strong showing, the film won only one Oscar, awarded to Signoret for her lead role. Baddeley was acknowledged for her outstanding performance, despite only appearing on screen for a mere two minutes, ultimately losing to Shelley Winters for her role in The Diary of Anne Frank. This nomination stands as Baddeley’s sole recognition by the Academy throughout her career, but her achievement remains significant 65 years on.

Baddeley’s Unmatched Record: Shortest Screen Time for an Oscar Nominee

Breaking a 12-Year-Old Record

Hermione Baddeley’s performance reshaped Oscar history by becoming the shortest-ever Oscar-nominated acting role. She surpassed Ethel Barrymore’s previous record from The Paradine Case, where Barrymore was featured for 3 minutes and 52 seconds.Baddeley’s time in Room at the Top clocked in at just 2 minutes and 19 seconds, establishing a notable 1 minute and 33 seconds difference—substantial in the context of film performances.

Actor	Oscar Nominated Category	Screen Time
Hermione Baddeley (Room at the Top)	Best Supporting Actress	2 minutes and 19 seconds
Ethel Barrymore (The Paradine Case)	Best Supporting Actress	3 minutes and 52 seconds
Claire Trevor (Dead End)	Best Supporting Actress	4 minutes and 22 seconds
Maria Ouspenskaya (Dodsworth)	Best Supporting Actress	4 minutes and 57 seconds
Beatrice Straight (Network)	Best Supporting Actress	5 minutes and 2 seconds
Jane Alexander (All the President’s Men)	Best Supporting Actress	5 minutes and 9 seconds
Sylvia Miles (Midnight Cowboy)	Best Supporting Actress	5 minutes and 52 seconds
Ned Beatty (Network)	Best Supporting Actor	6 minutes and 0 seconds
Carolyn Jones (The Bachelor Party)	Best Supporting Actress	6 minutes and 1 second

Since Hermione Baddeley’s remarkable achievement, no other actor has surpassed her record for the shortest screen time in any acting category at the Oscars. Although Beatrice Straight remains the closest with her 5 minutes and 2 seconds of screen time in Network, this record is still significantly longer than Baddeley’s. Breaking this long-standing record would require an extraordinary performance that manages to leave a lasting impact within an exceptionally brief timeframe, making it an impressive feat to contemplate in future Academy Awards.

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