Marlee Matlin is still the youngest best actress Oscar winner: How old was she?
With the Oscars less than one month away, film fanatics are gearing up for who will take home the golden statuettes. Others are recalling their first time walking across the award ceremony stage.
Marlee Matlin is the youngest woman to ever receive the Oscar for best actress.
The Illinois native, who is now 59 years old, won the award in 1987 for her role as Sarah Norman in the 1986 romantic drama, "Children of a Lesser God." She has maintained the record for 38 years.
"To tell you the truth, I didn't prepare for this speech, but I definitely want to thank the Academy and it's members, and I want to thank all those special people in the film and I can name them: Randa Haines, Patrick Palmer, the entire cast and crew and particularly William Hurt for his great support and love in this film," Matlin said during her acceptance speech. "And I just want to thank all of you. I love you."
Haines and Palmer co-directed "Children of a Lesser God" and Hurt served as Matlin's co-star, James Leed.
Matlin was also the first deaf performer to win an Academy Award. She would remain the sole winner until Troy Kotsur won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 2022 for his role in "CODA," which Matlin also starred in.
More: 'We are not costumes': Why Marlee Matlin put her foot down, insisting 'CODA' cast deaf actors
Marlee Matlin was 21 years old when she won the Best Actress Oscar at the 59th Academy Awards on March 30, 1987.
This year, Mikey Madison is the youngest best actress nominee for her role as Ani in "Anora." Madison is 25 years old.
Cynthia Erivo for "Wicked"
Karla Sofía Gascón for "Emilia Pérez"
Mikey Madison for "Anora"
Demi Moore for "Substance"
Fernanda Torres for "I'm Still Here."
The 97th Academy Awards are Sunday, March 2.
The 2025 Oscars will air from 7-10 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 2.
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Academy Awards: Marlee Matlin is the youngest best actress Oscar winner
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