The Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female was an award presented annually by Film Independent. It is given in honor of an actress who has delivered an absolutely outstanding performance in a supporting role while working in an independent film. It was first presented in 1985 with Anjelica Huston being the first recipient of the award for her role as Gretta Conroy in The Dead. It was last presented in 2022 with Ruth Negga being the final recipient of the award for her role in Passing.
| Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female | |
|---|---|
| Presented by | Film Independent |
| First awarded | Anjelica Huston The Trip to Bountiful (1988) |
| Last awarded | Ruth Negga Passing (2021) |
| Website | filmindependent |
In 2022, it was announced that the four acting categories would be retired and replaced with two gender neutral categories, with both Best Supporting Male and Best Supporting Female merging into the Best Supporting Performance category.[1]
Since its inception, the award has been given to 33 actresses. With 3 nominations, Allison Janney is the most nominated female in this category (finally winning one for her performance in I, Tonya).
Winners and nominees
1980s
| Year | Actress | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 [2] | Anjelica Huston | The Dead | Gretta Conroy |
| Karen Allen | The Glass Menagerie | Laura Wingfield | |
| Kathy Baker | Street Smart | Punchy | |
| Martha Plimpton | Shy People | Grace | |
| Ann Sothern | The Whales of August | Tisha Doughty | |
| 1988 | Rosanna DeSoto | Stand and Deliver | Fabiola Escalante |
| Bonnie Bedelia | The Prince of Pennsylvania | Pam Marshetta | |
| Debbie Harry | Hairspray | Velma Von Tussle | |
| Amy Madigan | The Prince of Pennsylvania | Carla Headlee | |
| Patti Yasutake | The Wash | Marsha | |
| 1989 | Laura San Giacomo | Sex, Lies, and Videotape | Cynthia Patrice Bishop |
| Bridget Fonda | Shag | Melaina Buller | |
| Heather Graham | Drugstore Cowboy | Nadine | |
| Mare Winningham | Miracle Mile | Julie Peters | |
| Mary Woronov | Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills | Lisabeth Hepburn-Saravian |
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
| Year | Actress | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 [23][24] | Youn Yuh-jung | Minari | Soon-ja |
| Alexis Chikaeze | Miss Juneteenth | Kai Jones | |
| Han Ye-ri | Minari | Monica Yi | |
| Valerie Mahaffey | French Exit | Mme. Reynard | |
| Talia Ryder | Never Rarely Sometimes Always | Skylar | |
| 2021 [25] | Ruth Negga | Passing | Clare Kendry |
| Jessie Buckley | The Lost Daughter | Young Leda Caruso | |
| Amy Forsyth | The Novice | Jamie Brill | |
| Revika Anne Reustle | Pleasure | Joy | |
| Suzanna Son | Red Rocket | Strawberry |
Multiple nominees
See also
- Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
- BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
- Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Supporting Actress
- Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
- Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role