Claim: Nicole Kidman is an actress.

The Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress is an award presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences -LRB- AMPAS -RRB- . It is given in honor of an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance in a supporting role while working within the film industry .   At the 9th Academy Awards ceremony held in 1937 , Gale Sondergaard was the first winner of this award for her role in Anthony Adverse . Initially , winners in both supporting acting categories were awarded plaques instead of statuettes . Beginning with the 16th ceremony held in 1944 , however , winners received full-sized statuettes . Currently , nominees are determined by single transferable vote within the actors branch of AMPAS ; winners are selected by a plurality vote from the entire eligible voting members of the Academy .   Since its inception , the award has been given to 78 actresses . Dianne Wiest and Shelley Winters have received the most awards in this category with two awards each . Despite winning no awards , Thelma Ritter was nominated on six occasions , more than any other actress . As of the 2017 ceremony , Viola Davis is the most recent winner in this category for her role as Rose Maxson in Fences .