Entertainment Movies See Every Female Oscars Host Since 1948 From Liza Minnelli and Goldie Hawn to Whoopi Goldberg and Ellen DeGeneres, here's a look back at the legendary women who have hosted Hollywood's biggest night By Andrea Wurzburger Updated on February 19, 2023 11:55 PM Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos 01 of 23 1948: Agnes Moorehead (Original Caption) Agnes Moorehead and Dick Powell who presented Academy Awards and Jean Simmons who accepted the British Awards, pose with the Academy Awards of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences "Oscar" statuettes presented Saturday evening (March 20th) at the Shrine auditorium in Los Angeles before an audience of over 6200 persons who jammed the auditorium to witness the gala affair. Bettmann / Contributor / Getty Images When the Academy Awards were still being broadcast over the radio, Agnes Moorehead — who would one day be known for her role as Endora on the Bewitched series — had the honor of being the first female co-host in 1948. 02 of 23 1955: Thelma Ritter Thelma Ritter publicity portrait from the film 'Daddy Long Legs', 1955. (Photo by 20th Century-Fox/Getty Images) ; LOS ANGELES - JUNE 23, 1955: Actor Bob Hope is interviewed during a movie premiere in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Earl Leaf/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images). 20th Century-Fox/Getty Images; Earl Leaf/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Two years after the Oscars were first televised, comedic actress (and six-time Academy Award nominee) Thelma Ritter co-hosted the 27th annual Oscars with Bob Hope in 1955. 03 of 23 1956: Claudette Colbert Writer, Producer, and Director Joseph L. Mankiewicz (Photo by �� John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images) ; (Original Caption) 1951-Actress Claudette Colbert appearing in the 1951 Twentieth Century-Fox film, "Let's Make It Legal." Undated publicity still. ;Posed portrait of comic actor Jerry Lewis, circa 1955-1960. (Photo by Pictorial Parade/Archive Photos/Getty Images). John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images; Bettmann Archive/Getty Images; Pictorial Parade/Archive Photos/Getty Images In 1956, It Happened One Night (1934) actress Claudette Colbert co-hosted the awards with Jerry Lewis and Joseph L. Mankiewicz. 04 of 23 1957: Celeste Holm NEW YORK - CIRCA 1955: Actress Celeste Holm poses for a portrait circa 1955 in New York City, New York. (Photo by Maurice Seymour/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) ; circa 1955: Studio headshot portrait of American comedian and actor Jerry Lewis smiling in a sweater and collared shirt. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images). Maurice Seymour/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images; Hulton Archive/Getty Images In 1947, Lewis was joined by All About Eve (1950) actress Celeste Holm. 05 of 23 1958: Rosalind Russell Actress Rosalind Russell plays the part of Auntie Mame directed by Morton Da Costa for Warner Brothers for the 1958 film of the same title. Bettmann Archive/Getty Images Rosalind Russell co-hosted the awards in 1958 alongside four other humans and one cartoon! She was joined by Hope, Jack Lemmon, David Niven, James Stewart and Donald Duck. 06 of 23 1972: Helen Hayes Michael Ochs Archives/Getty It wasn't until 1972 that another woman co-hosted the Oscars. Prolific actress and EGOT winner Helen Hayes hosted alongside Sammy Davis Jr., Alan King and Lemmon. 07 of 23 1973: Carol Burnett Actress Carol Burnett attending the Golden Globe Awards, Los Angeles, 1973. (Photo by Fotos International/Archive Photos/Getty Images). Fotos International/Archive Photos/Getty Images) The hilarious Carol Burnett got her time to shine in 1973 when she co-hosted alongside Michael Caine, Charlton Heston and Rock Hudson. 08 of 23 1974: Diana Ross LOS ANGELES - APRIL 2: Diana Ross and husband Robert Ellis Silberstein (aka Bob Ellis) attend the 46th Academy awards at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on April 2, 1974 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images). Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Diana Ross, fresh off a Best Actress nomination in 1973 for her role in Lady Sings the Blues, hosted the awards alongside John Huston, Niven and Burt Reynolds in 1974. 09 of 23 1975: Shirley MacLaine Shirley MacLaine and Warren Beatty. Earl Leaf/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty In 1975, Shirley MacLaine took on hosting duties alongside Davis Jr., Hope and Frank Sinatra. 10 of 23 1976: Goldie Hawn THE 48TH ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS - Show Coverage - Airdate: March 29, 1976. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) GOLDIE HAWN;GEORGE SEGAL. ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images Goldie Hawn helped hand out golden statuettes in 1976, co-hosting the Academy Awards with Gene Kelly, Walter Matthau, George Segal and Robert Shaw. 11 of 23 1977: Jane Fonda and Ellen Burstyn THE 49TH ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS - Show Coverage - Airdate: March 28, 1977. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) JANE FONDA; Actress Ellen Burstyn speaks at the Music Center in Los Angeles during the Academy Awards, March 28, 1977. (AP Photo). ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images; AP Photo In 1977, actresses Jane Fonda and Ellen Burstyn co-hosted the awards with Warren Beatty and Richard Pryor. 12 of 23 1983: Liza Minnelli THE 55TH ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS - Broadcast Coverage - Airdate: April 11, 1983. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) L-R: HOSTS WALTER MATTHAU, LIZA MINNELLI, DUDLEY MOORE AND RICHARD PRYOR. ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images Six years later, Liza Minnelli hit the stage to share hosting duties with Matthau, Dudley Moore and Pryor. 13 of 23 1985: Glenn Close, Candice Bergen, Amy Irving, Diana Ross and Kathleen Turner Lemmon hosted the awards with the help of a seemingly endless list of co-hosts in 1985. Glenn Close, Candice Bergen, Amy Irving, Ross and Kathleen Turner took the stage alongside Jeff Bridges, Michael Douglas, Gregory Hines, William Hurt and Tom Selleck. 14 of 23 1986: Jane Fonda Actress Jane Fonda gives Cory Aquino support sign at opening of telecast of 58th annual Academy Awards at the Music Center in Los Angeles on Monday, March 24, 1986. Left is actor Alan Alda, Mrs. Aquino is the new President of the Philippines. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon). AP Photo/Reed Saxon Fonda returned to hosting duties in 1986 with Alan Alda and Robin Williams. The actress, known for her political activism, flashed a hand gesture in support of Corazon "Cory" Aquino, the first female president of the Philippines, during the opening monologue. 15 of 23 1987: Goldie Hawn Goldie Hawn was one of three co-hosts of the 1987 Academy Awards. Bettmann/Corbis/Getty Images In 1987, Hawn returned to co-host the awards with Chevy Chase and Paul Hogan. 16 of 23 1994: Whoopi Goldberg Actress and comedienne Whoopi Goldberg hosts the 1993 65th annual Academy Awards at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, Ca., on March 21, 1994. (AP Photo). AP Photo Whoopi Goldberg took on hosting duties for the first time in 1994, becoming the first woman ever to host the show solo. She began her opening monologue by saying, "Things are a little different: The host is wearing a dress, and that is a first." Goldberg is no stranger to making Oscar history as she was the first Black actress to receive a nomination for Best Actress and became the second Black actress to win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 1991 for her role in Ghost (1990). The hosting gig earned the comedian an Emmy nomination. 17 of 23 1996: Whoopi Goldberg LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES: Comedian Whoopi Goldberg opens the show as host at the 68th Academy Awards 25 March at the Dorothy Chandler Pavillion. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) AFP PHOTO Timothy A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images). TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Goldberg returned to the Oscars stage in 1996 and earned another Emmy nomination for hosting. She told Variety in 2021 that she "loved" the job. "You have to be part babysitter and part psychiatrist and psychologist when you're up there because you want to put people at ease," she said. 18 of 23 1999: Whoopi Goldberg LOS ANGELES - MARCH 21: Oscars host Whoopi Goldberg shows off one of the many costumes she wore during the 71st Academy Awards at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on March 21, 1999 in Los Angeles, California. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) AFP PHOTO (Photo by Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images). Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Goldberg returned to the Oscars for a third time in 1999, wearing a memorable array of costumes. She opened the show dressed as Queen Elizabeth in full regalia, a nod to nominations for Shakespeare in Love and Elizabeth — she was even introduced as Her Majesty Whoopi Goldberg. She also sashayed onstage in a metallic ensemble and electric blue wig to present Costume Design nominee Velvet Goldmine (1998). 19 of 23 2002: Whoopi Goldberg TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images Goldberg returned to the Oscars for a fourth and (so far) final time (you never know what the future holds!) in 2002. She entered in style, donning a Moulin Rouge-inspired outfit while sitting on a swing that flew in from above. "I had a great time," Goldberg told Variety of her past hosting gigs in 2021. "The critics didn't love me, but I never cared much what the critics thought as long as people had a good time." 20 of 23 2007: Ellen DeGeneres Ellen DeGeneres, host, performs her opening monologue at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Michael Caulfield/WireImage In 2007, Ellen DeGeneres stepped up to the plate to try her hand at hosting the Oscars. The comedian and talk show host endeared herself to the crowd with some quick housekeeping — literally vacuuming in the audience. Her stint as host earned her an Emmy nomination. 21 of 23 2011: Anne Hathaway Actors James Franco (R) and Anne Hathaway present the 83rd Annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre late on February 27, 2011 in Hollywood, California. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images). GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images Anne Hathaway was tasked with hosting the prestigious awards alongside James Franco in 2011, though the result left much to be desired from fans. "Hey, can I dish some tea? I turned that gig down, and James is the one that convinced me to do it," Hathaway told PEOPLE in 2019. She continued, "When all the dust settled, I was just like, 'You gotta be kidding me. Your first instinct is usually the right one.' And all the reasons why I turned it down came true. All of them. It's just a no-win situation. You're not trained at this, how is this going to enhance your life? All of the reasons why. Even the people who do it spectacularly well — like Hugh Jackman, Jimmy Kimmel, DeGeneres — usually just get a 'meh' from everyone. It's a really hard gig to stick the landing on." 22 of 23 2014: Ellen DeGeneres HOLLYWOOD, CA March 2, 2014 Host Ellen DeGeneres during the telecast of the 86th Annual Academy Awards on Sunday, March 2, 2014 at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, CA. . Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images DeGeneres returned to host the show in 2014, ensuring the broadcast was jam-packed with unforgettable moments. Who could forget the most incredible A-list selfie or the impromptu celebrity pizza party? 23 of 23 2022: Amy Schumer, Regina Hall and Wanda Sykes Amy Schumer, Regina Hall, Wanda Sykes will host the 2022 Oscars. Kevin Winter/Getty; Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic; Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Nearly a decade later (and after three years without a host), Amy Schumer, Regina Hall and Wanda Sykes hosted the 2022 Oscars together. They made history as the first all-female hosting team. Each emcee hosted one hour of the show. Hall told ET that she asked Goldberg for advice, saying, "The biggest thing [she said] was to have fun and celebrate why you're there. Celebrate the nominees, the movies, the films, and keep the show moving, which I know people obviously want, you know? She really wanted me to have a lot of fun with it onstage." The three hosts demonstrated palpable chemistry and quick-wittedness. After the unforgettable moment when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock following a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, Schumer broke the tension with an unscripted joke. When she returned to the stage after a costume change, she said, "I've been getting out of that Spider-Man costume. Did I miss anything? There's, like, a different vibe in here." Critics applauded her for bringing some much-needed levity to a high-stress situation. While the 2022 Oscars were regarded as somewhat out of control, Schumer, Hall and Sykes shone in the face of unprecedented show-biz challenges.