RATINGS: Cast & Crew

DOB: November 5, 1960

Background: Swinton is a British actress from a family that can trace its lineage back to the High Middle Ages. She graduated from Cambridge University with a degree in Social and Political Sciences in 1983 and while enrolled joined the Communist Party of Great Britain.

Filmography: Her best known early role was in "Orlando," adapted from Virginia Woolf's novel, which allowed Swinton to explore androgyny. She appeared in other art house films including "Edward II" (1991), "Female Perversions" (1996), and "The War Zone" (1999). She achieved mainstream success with the American thriller "The Deep End" (2001), in which she played a mother protecting her son from suspicion of murder. Afterwards she appeared in "Vanilla Sky," "Adaptation," and "Thumbsucker." She played the angel Gabriel in "Constantine" (2005) and the White Witch in "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" (2005) before playing a desperate lawyer in "Michael Clayton" (2007), for which she won an Oscar. She then appeared in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (2008), played a desperate alcoholic in "Julia" (2008) and played an unhappy wife in "I Am Love" (2010), in which she spoke Italian with a Russian accent. This year she will appear in the drama "We Need to Talk About Kevin," which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.

Academy Awards: Win - Best Supporting Actress ("Michael Clayton," 2008)

Golden Globe Awards:

Best Film Drama Actress Nominations
"We Need to Talk About Kevin" (2012); lost to Meryl Streep ("The Iron Lady")
"The Deep End" (2002); lost to Sissy Spacek ("In the Bedroom")

Best Film Supporting Actress Nomination
"Michael Clayton" (2008); lost to Cate Blanchett ("I'm Not There")

SAG Awards:

Best Film Ensemble Nominations
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (2009); lost to "Slumdog Millionaire"
"Adaptation" (2003); lost to "Chicago"

Best Film Actress Nomination
"We Need to Talk About Kevin" (2012); lost to Viola Davis ("The Help")

Best Film Supporting Actress Nomination
"Michael Clayton" (2008); lost to Ruby Dee ("American Gangster")