Janet Gaynor, Sunrise, Seventh Heaven, and Street Angel (1928)

Other nominees: Louise Dresser (A Ship Comes In) and Gloria Swanson (Sadie Thompson)

Mary Pickford, Coquette (1929)

No official nominees were announced in 1929.

Norma Shearer, The Divorcee (1930)

Other nominees: Greta Garbo (Anna Christie), Nancy Carroll (The Devil's Holiday), Greta Garbo (Romance), Ruth Chatterton (Sarah and Son), Norma Shearer (Their Own Desire), and Gloria Swanson (The Trespasser)

Marie Dressler, Min and Bill (1931)

Other nominees: Irene Dunne (Cimarron), Norma Shearer (A Free Soul), Ann Harding (Holiday), and Marlene Dietrich (Morocco)

Helen Hayes, The Sin of Madelon Claudet (1932)

Other nominees: Marie Dressler (Emma) and Lynn Fontanne (The Guardsman)

Katharine Hepburn, Morning Glory (1933)

Other nominees: Diana Wynyard (Cavalcade) and May Robson (Lady for a Day)

Claudette Colbert, It Happened One Night (1934)

Other nominees: Norma Shearer (The Barretts of Wimpole Street), and Grace Moore (One Night of Love)

Note: Bette Davis was not nominated for Of Human Bondage, but received a great number of write-in votes.