The 2022 Academy Awards are just around the corner with plenty of worthy contenders. Many Supporting Actors and Actress nominations across the century have included characters with as little screen time as 5 minutes (Beatrice Straight in 1976’s Network). More often than not, the Leading Role nominations include performances captivating more than an hour of total time.
These titans of industry prove that it’s not about how much time, but about what you can do with it. Owning their roles, the faces behind these memorable characters earned nominations and wins for their minimal time on the silver screen for each respective film.
Viola Davis — 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' (2020)
Stepping into the shoes of Gertrude “Ma” Rainey, Viola Davis embodies the formidable soul of “The Mother of Blues.” No stranger to women characters who command an audience, Davis fills only 26 minutes of the film, a small 28% of the film as the title character. The vocals for the film were provided by another artist for a majority of the musical numbers.
This character earned Davis her second Best Actress in a Leading Role nomination, adding onto her two previous Supporting Actress nods. The costume design and makeup teams for this production would win Oscars in their respective categories for bringing this powerhouse to life.
Anthony Hopkins — 'The Silence of the Lambs' (1991)
Cinema’s favorite cannibal psychiatrist only graces the screen for 24 minutes. Hannibal Lecter’s (Anthony Hopkins) looming presence is felt throughout even though his screen time fills only 21% of the 1 hour and 58-minute runtime. The intense “therapy” sessions with Clarice (Jodie Foster) to solve the Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine) case would leave audiences with chills for decades to come.
Hopkins would go on to win the Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role (his first nomination and win), beating out Robert De Niro, Robin Williams, Nick Nolte, and Warren Beatty. His costar, Foster, took home her second Lead Actress golden statue that year.
Meryl Streep — 'The Devil Wears Prada' (2006)
Intimidating and formidable, Meryl Streep’s Miranda Priestly can silence any room she steps into. This high-fashion editor-in-chief would command scenes for only 28 minutes of the 109-minute runtime, alongside veteran Stanley Tucci and heroine Anne Hathaway. Streep, a method actress, fills 26% of the film with her sharp tongue and intensity.
This role would earn her a staggering twelfth Best Actress in a Leading Role nomination, fourteenth overall with two Supporting Role nods at the beginning of her career. Helen Mirren took home the win in 2007 for The Queen. This career-woman character holds a notable place in Streep’s career.
Robin Williams — 'Dead Poet's Society' (1989)
With a unique dedication and passion for literature, John Keating (Robin Williams) wins the hearts of audiences and his students alike. Williams, a notable star, acted alongside a young Ethan Hawke, Robert Sean Leonard, and Josh Charles. John Keating would appear onscreen to guide his students for a mere 33 minutes against the 128-minute runtime.
His skills in this film secured him his second Best Actor in a Leading Role nomination, four total for his career. Fitting enough, Dead Poet’s Society would win the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, the only win of four nominations.
Frances McDormand — 'Fargo' (1996)
With a thick Midwestern accent and a can-do spirit, Frances McDormand excels as Police Chief Marge Gunderson. She is the heroine of this Minnesota crime film written and directed by the dynamic Coen Brothers. Marge, despite arguably being the film's true protagonist, is only present for a short 26 minutes; the film’s total run time is 98 minutes.
McDormand was successful in winning her first Best Actress in a Leading Role nomination for her portrayal of the pregnant police chief. She earned her golden statue against legends like Diane Keaton, her screen time the shortest among the bunch.
Marlon Brando — 'The Godfather' (1972)
Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) needs no introduction. The iconic portrayal of Mario Puzo’s crime boss astonished and inspired audiences for years to come. Brando's masterful depiction enthralled viewers for a relatively meager 40 minutes of the film’s 175 minutes.
Earning an astounding eleven Oscar nominations, The Godfather had three nominations alone for Supporting Actor, Al Pacino protesting his nomination believing his screen time outperformed that of Brando’s. Brando declined to attend and accept his win for Best Actor in a Leading Role, opting for Native American actress Sacheen Littlefeather to represent him and refuse the award after the events of Wounded Knee and the mistreatment of Indigenous peoples in the industry.