“Roma” star Yalitza Aparicio could make history with a Best Actress Oscar win in multiple ways. Not only would she become the first Mexican woman and the first indigenous woman to prevail, but she’d be one of the youngest as well.
The former schoolteacher just celebrated her 25th birthday on Dec. 11 and will be 25 years and 75 days old on the Feb. 24 Oscar ceremony, which would make her the seventh youngest winner in the category. Three 25-year-olds have won Best Actress: Jennifer Jones prevailed on her 25th birthday on March 2, 1944, for “The Song of Bernadette”; “The Country Girl” (1954) star Grace Kelly, whom Aparicio would dethrone, was 25 years and 138 days old; and Hilary Swank was 25 years and 240 days old when she nabbed her first Oscar for “Boys Don’t Cry” (1999).
Then-21-year-old Marlee Matlin holds the record as the youngest champ, for “Children of a Lesser God” (1986).
SEE ‘Roma’ stars Yalitza Aparicio and Marina de Tavira join short list of Latina acting nominees
Unlike with the men, mid-20s is the Oscar sweet spot for Best Actress champs. The entire youngest top 10 were all in their early-to-mid 20s. Oscar likes to “discover” their young women and want to make their men “earn it.” And Aparicio was definitely a discovery, having been plucked from thousands of women by Alfonso Cuaron to star in “Roma.”
The youngest of the nominees, Aparicio is currently in fourth place in our Best Actress odds, behind Glenn Close (“The Wife”), Olivia Colman (“The Favourite”) and Lady Gaga (“A Star Is Born”), and ahead of Melissa McCarthy (“Can You Ever Forgive Me?”). The category is a battle for the ages because Close, 71, would be the third oldest Best Actress winner ever.
Here are the top 10 youngest Best Actress winners.
1. Marlee Matlin, “Children of a Lesser God” (1986): 21 years, 218 days
2. Jennifer Lawrence, “Silver Linings Playbook” (2012): 22 years, 193 days
3. Janet Gaynor, “7th Heaven,” “Street Angel” and “Sunrise” (1927/28): 22 years, 222 days
4. Joan Fontaine, “Suspicion” (1941): 24 years, 127 days
5. Audrey Hepburn, “Roman Holiday” (1953): 24 years, 325 days
6. Jennifer Jones, “The Song of Bernadette” (1943): 25 years, 0 days
7. Grace Kelly, “The Country Girl” (1954): 25 years, 138 days
8. Hilary Swank, “Boys Don’t Cry” (1999): 25 years, 240 days
9. Julie Christie, “Darling” (1965): 26 years, 4 days
10. Vivien Leigh, “Gone with the Wind” (1939): 26 years, 116 days
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