30 Most Memorable Oscar Moments From The Last 30 Years

18. Julia Roberts Beats Ellen Burstyn For Best Actress (2001)

It would be ridiculous to call Julia Roberts a surprise Best Actress winner for her sublime work as the title character in Steven Soderbergh's Erik Brockovich.

However, it's a common sentiment among film buffs that she ultimately robbed the more deserving Ellen Burstyn for her jaw-dropping performance in Darren Aronofsky's Requiem for a Dream.

On paper Roberts' win makes total sense: she's a well-liked A-lister who was considered long overdue an Oscar at this point, and there's no denying that her movie was far more palatable to the Academy's tastes than Aronofsky's nightmarish vision of addiction.

But even so, Burstyn's performance is a monumentally affecting achievement and far more memorable than Roberts' solid work, and sadly probably the last Oscar nomination she'll ever get.

On the bright side, Burstyn already won a Best Actress Oscar 25 years prior for her performance in 1974's Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, so she's hardly empty-handed.