The Academy Awards is best known for doling out trophies for categories such as Best Actor/Actress and Best Motion Picture.
There are also unofficial Best Dressed titles that float around online.
But there should be a category for Best Crying On Stage as so many Oscar winners tend to boo-hoo while accepting their awards.
No one can blame them as it is a triumph to win an Oscar and must be incredibly emotional as they are forced to thank a flock of people.
But considering how many viewers at home are watching and how the images never go away, it’s interesting it happens every year without fail.
Gwyneth Paltrow is arguably the most famous Oscar cry baby as she sobbed through her acceptance speech when she won Best Actress for Shakespeare In Love in 1999.
Gwyneth Paltrow sobbed in her acceptance speech as she thanked her family when she won the Best Actress gong for Shakespeare in Love in 1999
Tears rolled down the cheeks of Halle Berry as she was the first black woman to win an Oscar in 2002
Zoe Saldana cried when winning her Oscar in March 2025 for Emilia Perez
She was already struggling to hold back the tears as stepped on to the stage to collect her trophy from Jack Nicholson but managed to hold it together as she thanked the cast and crew she’d worked with.
But when she started to thank her family, she couldn’t stop crying with her voice becoming squeaky and at times inaudible.
It was thanking her family that reduced Angelina Jolie to tears too when she accepted her Oscar for best supporting actress in Girl Interrupted in 2000.
Her voice broke as she sang the praises of her brother, James, mother Marcheline Bertrand, who died in 2007, and her father, actor Jon Voight – with whom she has since had a turbulent relationship.
Halle Berry gave Gwyneth a run for her money as the biggest blubber when she received her best actress award in 2002 for Monster’s Ball.
That made her the first black woman to be given the honor.
Anne Hathaway held it together for her speech but cried backstage after winning in 2013
Hilary Swank wipes away a tear as she accepts the Oscar for best actress in 2007 for Million Dollar Baby
Octavia Spencer said, ‘I’m sorry, I’m freaking out!’ as she wept during her acceptance speech in 2012 when she won best supporting actress for her role in The Help
Charlize Theron cried as she accepted the Oscar for best actress in 2004 for her role in Monster
Nicole Kidman struggles to compose herself as she accepts her best actress award for The Hours in 2003
‘Oh my God,’ she sobbed with tears streaming down her face, ‘this moment is so much bigger than me.’
Zoe Saldana cried when winning her Oscar in March 2025 for Emilia Perez.
Jennifer Hudson could barely start her speech in 2007 when she won the best supporting actress award for Dreamgirls as she was so overcome with emotion.
‘Oh my god, I just have to take this moment in, I just cannot believe this, look what god can do, if my grandmother was here to see me now…’ she gushed.
Natalie Portman can be forgiven for her tears as she won best actress in Black Swan in 2011 as she was pregnant at the time and at the mercy of her hormones.
Jennifer Hudson could barely start her speech in 2007 when she won the best supporting actress award for Dreamgirls as she was so overcome with emotion
Natalie Portman was pregnant when she won in 2011 and became teary when she thanked her husband for giving her her greatest role yet – motherhood
Ben Affleck choked on his words during his speech in 2013 as he became emotional as he won Best Picture for Argo, which he produced, directed and starred in
Jennifer Lawrence looks teary backstage in 2013 as she poses with fellow winner Daniel Day Lewis…
Perhaps Jennifer’s tears came as she recalled this embarrassing fall as she took to the stage when she won
She sniffed her way through an otherwise eloquent acceptance speech with tears in her eyes as she thanked her husband Benjamin Millepied for giving her the greatest role of all as a mother.
Octavia Spencer was given a standing ovation as she accepted her gong in 2012 for The Help and the reaction meant she struggled to speak though most of her speech.
‘I’m sorry, I’m freaking out!’ she wept.
Anne Hathaway maintained her composure when she made her acceptance speech in 2013 when she won for her role in Les Miserables but it all caught up with her backstage when she burst into tears at the photocall clutching her gold statue.
Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron and Hilary Swank are other notable A-listers who wept as they won their Oscars.
Actress Meryl Streep should be used to the emotional rollorcoaster of the Oscars with 19 nominations and three victories under her belt, but here she sheds a tear as she hugs Peter O’Toole on stage in 2003
Kim Basinger has tears in her eyes as she gives her acceptance speech after winning in 1998
Julia Roberts looked teary backstage as she poses with her award in 2001
But it’s not just the women who have struggled to hold back the tears.
Ben Affleck struggled to contain his emotions as Argo – which he directed, produced and starred in -won the Best Picture Oscar in 2013.
He became emotional as he thanked his wife – actress Jennifer Garner – for working hard to make their marriage last and his voice broke as he dedicated the award to their children Violet, Samuel and Seraphina.
So as the 98th Academy Awards takes place this Sunday evening, let’s hope the nominees have all packed their hankies and practiced their speeches.