The Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female was an award presented annually by Film Independent. It is given in honor of an actress who has delivered an absolutely outstanding performance in a supporting role while working in an independent film.It was first presented in 1985 with Anjelica Huston being the first recipient of the award for her role as Gretta Conroy in The Dead. It was last presented in 2022 with Ruth Negga being the final recipient of the award for her role in Passing. In 2022, it was announced that the four acting categories would be retired and replaced with two gender neutral categories, with both Best Supporting Male and Best Supporting Female merging into the Best Supporting Performance category. Since its inception, the award has been given to 33 actresses. With 3 nominations, Allison Janney is the most nominated female in this category (finally winning one for her performance in I, Tonya). Dianne Wiest, Penélope Cruz, Mo'Nique, Lupita Nyong'o, Patricia Arquette, Allison Janney, Regina King and Yuh-jung Youn are the only actresses to have won both this award and the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress the same year. Winners and nominees 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s Multiple nominees 3 nominations Allison Janney 2 nominations Cate Blanchett Jessica Chastain Patricia Clarkson Rosemarie DeWitt Melonie Diaz Marcia Gay Harden Anjelica Huston Jennifer Jason Leigh Jennifer Lopez Amy Madigan Frances McDormand Chloë Sevigny Lili Taylor Mare Winningham See also Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role References External links Every BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE winner ever video on the official Film Independent YouTube channel Female, Supp Film awards for supporting actress