Question: who has the most oscar nominations in history
Answer: ) Most awards for leading actor Daniel Day - Lewis with 3 awards ( 1989 , 2007 , 2012 ) Most awards for supporting actor Walter Brennan with 3 awards ( 1936 , 1938 , 1940 ) Most consecutive leading actress nominations Two actresses have been nominated 5 years in a row : Bette Davis ( 1938 -- 1942 ) Greer Garson ( 1941 -- 1945 ) Most consecutive leading actor nominations Marlon Brando with four nominations ( 1951 to 1954 ) Actress with most total nominations for acting Meryl Streep with 21 nominations Actor with most total nominations for acting Jack Nicholson with 12 nominations Most acting nominations without an award Peter O'Toole with 8 nominations ( He received an Honorary Award in 2002 ) Most nominations for an actor performing in a foreign language Marcello Mastroianni with 3 nominations .