Join or Sign In

Continue with Facebook Continue with email

By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy.

Joanne Woodward Biography

Birth Name:Joanne Gignilliat Trimmier Woodward

Birth Place:Thomasville, Georgia, United States

Profession Actress, Producer, Soundtrack, Director, Writer

Fast Facts

Became a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College alongside her daughter Clea in 1990
Helped support and found Dancers, a contemporary ballet company
Attended LSU, where she majored in drama
Competed in and won multiple beauty contests as a teenager
Named after actress Joan Crawford due to her mother's love of movies
In her spare time, she has professed to enjoying jazz poetry readings, and raising funding for ballet productions
Began her career balancing appearances on both Broadway and in Hollywood and landed her first Oscar at the age of 27 for "The Three Faces of Eve"
After appearing in more than 15 films with husband Paul Newman throughout the '60s and '70s, she would go on to appear on TV with numerous guest roles on series as well as made-for-television movies
While attending the premiere of "Gone With the Wind" as a child, she ran out into the parade of film stars and jumped into the lap of Sir Laurence Olivier
Married co-star Paul Newman in 1958 after filming "The Long, Hot Summer" together and remained together until his death in 2008

Awards

1957NBR Award-Best Actress: winner
1958Oscar-Best Actress in a Leading Role: winner
1958BAFTA Film Award-Best Foreign Actress: nominated
1958Golden Globe-Best Actress - Drama: winner
1959BAFTA Film Award-Best Foreign Actress: nominated
1959Golden Laurel-Top Female Comedy Performance: nominated
1960Zulueta Prize-Best Actress: winner
1964Golden Globe-Best Actress - Comedy or Musical: nominated
1964Golden Laurel-Top Female Dramatic Performance: nominated
1967Golden Laurel-Female Comedy Performance: nominated
1968KCFCC Award-Best Actress: winner
1968NYFCC Award-Best Actress: winner
1969Oscar-Best Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
1969BAFTA Film Award-Best Actress: nominated
1969Golden Globe-Best Actress - Drama: winner
1969NSFC Award-Best Actress: nominated
1970Golden Laurel-Female Dramatic Performance: nominated
1973Best Actress-: winner
1973Golden Globe-Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
1973KCFCC Award-Best Actress: winner
1973NYFCC Award-Best Actress: winner
1974Oscar-Best Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
1974Golden Globe-Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
1974KCFCC Award-Best Actress: winner
1974NSFC Award-Best Actress: nominated
1975BAFTA Film Award-Best Actress: winner
1977Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama or Comedy Special: nominated
1978Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama or Comedy Special: winner
1981Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Special: nominated
1982Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
1985Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Special: winner
1986Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
1988Independent Spirit Award-Best Female Lead: nominated
1990KCFCC Award-Best Actress: winner
1990LAFCA Award-Best Actress: nominated
1990NYFCC Award-Best Actress: winner
1990Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Informational Special: winner
1990Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Performance in Informational Programming: nominated
1991Oscar-Best Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
1991CFCA Award-Best Actress: nominated
1991David-Best Foreign Actress (Migliore Attrice Straniera): nominated
1991Independent Spirit Award-Best Female Lead: nominated
1991Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
1991NSFC Award-Best Actress: nominated
1993Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Special: nominated
1994Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Special: nominated
1995Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries: winner
1995Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: winner
2005Gold Derby TV Award-TV Movie/Mini Supporting Actress: nominated
2005OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
2005Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
2006Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: nominated
2006Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2006TV Land Award-Blockbuster Movie of the Week: nominated