Despite the fact that the videogame industry is larger than its film, television, music, and sports counterparts, and will boast an estimated three billion gamers worldwide by 2023, some still downplay the burgeoning medium as an inferior form of entertainment in comparison to its more respected competitors in the media landscape.
However, despite the aspersions of the ever-shrinking number naysayers, many of the biggest names in Hollywood are increasingly embracing videogames as a valuable medium to tell stories and perform their craft. In fact, some of those who have attained acting immortality by winning Academy Awards for their work in film have begun lending their talents to videogames. This article will highlight Oscar-winning actresses, who have performed or voice acted in videogames listed alphabetically, including the games they worked on and the years/films in which they received Academy Awards. Note: This article will not include actresses who only appeared in videogames through archival voice acting and footage.
Cher
Academy Award: Best Actress (1987) – Moonstruck
Videogame Performance: 9: The Last Resort
Laura Dern
Academy Award: Best Supporting Actress (2019) – Marriage Story
Videogame Performances: Jurassic World Evolution, Jurassic World Evolution 2
Judi Dench
Academy Award: Best Supporting Actress (1998) – Shakespeare in Love
Videogame Performances: James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing, GoldenEye: Rogue Agent, 007: Quantum of Solace, GoldenEye 007, James Bond 007: Blood Stone, 007 Legends
Linda Hunt
Academy Award: Best Supporting Actress (1983) – The Year of Living Dangerously
Videogame Performances: God of War, God of War II, God of War III, God of War: Ascension, God of War: Chains of Olympus, God of War: Ghost of Sparta
Holly Hunter
Academy Award: Best Actress (1993) – The Piano
Videogame Performances: Disney Infinity, Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes, Disney Infinity 3.0
Brie Larson
Academy Award: Best Actress (2015) – Room
Videogame Performance: Fortnite
Julianne Moore
Academy Award: Best Actress (2014) – Still Alice
Videogame Performance: Chaos Island: The Lost World
Related: Best Movies Based on Videogames – According to Critics
Lupita Nyong’o
Academy Award: Best Supporting Actress (2013) – 12 Years a Slave
Videogame Performance: Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Susan Sarandon
Academy Award: Best Actress (1995) – Dead Man Walking
Videogame Performance: Dishonored
Maggie Smith
Academy Award: Best Actress (1969) – The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Best Supporting Actress (1978) – California Suite
Videogame Performance: Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
Related: How to Get Free Energy in Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
Emma Stone
Academy Award: Best Actress (2016) – La La Land
Videogame Performance: Sleeping Dogs (including motion capture)
Tilda Swinton
Academy Award: Best Supporting Actress (2007) – Michael Clayton
Videogame Performance: Constantine
Charlize Theron
Academy Award: Best Actress (2003) – Monster
Videogame Performance: Aeon Flux
Kate Winslet
Academy Award: Best Actress (2008) – The Reader
Videogame Performance: Insurgent: Shatter Reality
Reese Witherspoon
Academy Award: Best Actress (2006) – Walk the Line
Videogame Performance: Monsters vs. Aliens (the game)
