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Sissy Spacek Biography

Birth Name:Mary Elizabeth Spacek

Birth Place:Quitman, Texas, United States

Profession Actress, Soundtrack, Art department, Music department

Fast Facts

  • Inducted in the Texas Hall of Fame in 2001
  • Is the mother of musician Schuyler Fisk
  • Married director Jack Fisk in 1974
  • Her first jobs in New York were small gigs playing guitar, singing and modeling, but her actor cousin encouraged her as an actress, helping her enroll in Lee Strasberg's Actors Studio and the Lee Strasberg Institute
  • Best known for taking on the role of ordinary characters in extraordinary circumstances
  • Made her breakthrough in the film industry with her performance in "Badlands․"
  • Was named homecoming queen in high school

Awards

  • 1975BAFTA Film Award-Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles: nominated
  • 1976NSFC Award-Best Actress: winner
  • 1976NYFCC Award-Best Actress: nominated
  • 1977Oscar-Best Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 1977Special Mention-: winner
  • 1977NSFC Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 1977NYFCC Award-Best Supporting Actress: winner
  • 1977Gold Medal-Favorite Movie: nominated
  • 1978Gold Medal-Favorite Movie: nominated
  • 1980KCFCC Award-Best Actress: winner
  • 1980LAFCA Award-Best Actress: winner
  • 1980NBR Award-Best Actress: winner
  • 1980NYFCC Award-Best Actress: winner
  • 1981Oscar-Best Actress in a Leading Role: winner
  • 1981Golden Globe-Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: winner
  • 1981NSFC Award-Best Actress: winner
  • 1982BAFTA Film Award-Best Actress: nominated
  • 1982Golden Globe-Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
  • 1983Oscar-Best Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 1983BAFTA Film Award-Best Actress: nominated
  • 1983David-Best Foreign Actress (Migliore Attrice Straniera): nominated
  • 1983Golden Globe-Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
  • 1983Jupiter Award-Best International Actress: nominated
  • 1985Oscar-Best Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 1985Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
  • 1986KCFCC Award-Best Actress: winner
  • 1986NYFCC Award-Best Actress: winner
  • 1987Oscar-Best Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 1987Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: winner
  • 1993American Television Award-Best Actress in a Made for TV Movie: nominated
  • 1993CableACE-Actress in a Movie or Miniseries: nominated
  • 1995Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries: nominated
  • 1995Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Special: nominated
  • 1996CableACE-Actress in a Movie or Miniseries: nominated
  • 1996Bronze Wrangler-Television Feature Film: winner
  • 2000Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2000Chlotrudis Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2000Sierra Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2000Golden Satellite Award-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Drama: nominated
  • 2001ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: nominated
  • 2001Davis Award-Best Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 2001LAFCA Award-Best Actress: winner
  • 2001NYFCC Award-Best Actress: winner
  • 2001SEFCA Award-Best Actress: winner
  • 2001Special Jury Prize-Dramatic: winner
  • 2002AFI Award-Actor of the Year - Female - Movies: winner
  • 2002Oscar-Best Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 2002Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: nominated
  • 2002Actor-Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2002Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 2002BAFTA Film Award-Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 2002CFCA Award-Best Actress: nominated
  • 2002Chlotrudis Award-Best Actress: nominated
  • 2002Critics Choice Award-Best Actress: winner
  • 2002DFWFCA Award-Best Actress: winner
  • 2002Independent Spirit Award-Best Female Lead: winner
  • 2002FFCC Award-Best Actress: winner
  • 2002Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama: winner
  • 2002Sierra Award-Best Actress: nominated
  • 2002NSFC Award-Best Actress: nominated
  • 2002OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
  • 2002OFTA Film Award-Best Actress: winner
  • 2002OFCS Award-Best Actress: nominated
  • 2002Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
  • 2002Golden Satellite Award-Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama: winner
  • 2002Golden Satellite Award-Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2002VFCC Award-Best Actress: winner
  • 2003Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2003Golden Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2005Gotham Independent Film Award-Best Ensemble Performance: nominated
  • 2005Bronze Leopard-Best Actress: winner
  • 2005WFCC Award-Best Female Images in a Movie: winner
  • 2008Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2010Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Guest Actress: nominated
  • 2010OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2010Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2011Movies for Grownups Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2011ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: winner
  • 2011BFCC Award-Best Ensemble: winner
  • 2011Chlotrudis Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2011Hollywood Film Award-Ensemble of the Year: winner
  • 2011NBR Award-Best Acting by an Ensemble: winner
  • 2011Special Achievement Award-Best Ensemble, Motion Picture: winner
  • 2012Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: winner
  • 2012COFCA Award-Best Ensemble: nominated
  • 2012Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: winner
  • 2012NFCS Award-Best Ensemble Cast: winner
  • 2019Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actress in Streaming Presentation: nominated
  • 2019EDA Special Mention Award-Actress Defying Age and Ageism: nominated
  • 2019OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Limited Series: nominated
  • 2023CCA Super Award-Best Actress in a Science Fiction/Fantasy Series, Limited Series or Made-for-TV Movie: nominated
  • 2023Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Series, Drama or Genre: nominated
  • 2025VHS Award-Best Ensemble Cast: nominated