Wissenswertes

Both her Oscar-winning performances were directed by Woody Allen. This makes her one of four actors to win two Oscars under the same person's direction. The other three are: Walter Brennan for Nimm, was du kriegen kannst (1936) and In die Falle gelockt (1940) (both directed by William Wyler), Jack Nicholson for Zeit der Zärtlichkeit (1983) and Besser geht's nicht (1997) (both directed by James L. Brooks) and Christoph Waltz for Inglourious Basterds (2009) and Django Unchained (2012) (both directed by Quentin Tarantino).

Last name is pronounced 'Wee-st'.

She is Brad Pitt's favorite actress.

She received both of her Oscars for performances in a Woody Allen movie.

Along with Shelley Winters, she is one of only two actresses to have won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress on two occasions: Winters won for Das Tagebuch der Anne Frank (1959) and Träumende Lippen (1965) and Wiest won for Hannah und ihre Schwestern (1986) and Bullets Over Broadway (1994).

Graduated from the University of Maryland in 1969 with a degree in Arts and Sciences.

2 adopted children: Emily (b. 1987), Lily (b. 1991).

Had a long relationship with Sam Cohn in the 1980s. He was godfather to her daughters Emily and Lily.

Resides in the Upper West Side of New York City (Oktober 2006)

She has played the same character (Nora Lewin) in three different television series: Law & Order (1990), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) and Criminal Intent - Verbrechen im Visier (2001).

Is just 9 years older than Lori Singer, who played her daughter in Footloose (1984).

She appeared in five films directed by Woody Allen: The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), Hannah und ihre Schwestern (1986), Radio Days (1987), September (1987) and Bullets Over Broadway (1994).

Performing on Broadway alongside Katie Holmes in the revival of Arthur Miller's "All My Sons" at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre in New York. (September 2008)

Listed as one of twelve "Promising New Actors of 1985" in John Willis' Screen World, Vol. 37.

Co-starring in "Salome: The Reading" with Al Pacino and Marisa Tomei on Broadway. (April 2003)

She appeared in four films with Mia Farrow: The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), Hannah und ihre Schwestern (1986), Radio Days (1987) and September (1987). All four were written and directed by Woody Allen.

Daughter of Bernard (1922-1986), born in the state of Pennsylvania, and Anne (née Keddie) Wiest (1920-1989), born in Scotland and immigrated to America in 1948.

Is one of 25 actresses who have received an Academy Award for their performance in a comedy; hers being for Bullets Over Broadway (1994). The others in chronological order, are: Claudette Colbert (Es geschah in einer Nacht (1934)), Loretta Young (Die Farmerstochter (1947)), Josephine Hull (Mein Freund Harvey (1950)), Judy Holliday (Die ist nicht von Gestern (1950)), Audrey Hepburn (Ein Herz und eine Krone (1953)), Goldie Hawn (Die Kaktusblüte (1969)), Glenda Jackson (Mann, bist du Klasse! (1973)), Lee Grant (Shampoo (1975)), Diane Keaton (Der Stadtneurotiker (1977)), Maggie Smith (Das verrückte California Hotel (1978)), Mary Steenburgen (Melvin und Howard (1980)), Jessica Lange (Tootsie (1982)), Olympia Dukakis (Mondsüchtig (1987)), Cher (Mondsüchtig (1987)), Jessica Tandy (Miss Daisy und ihr Chauffeur (1989)), Mercedes Ruehl (König der Fischer (1991)), Marisa Tomei (Mein Vetter Winnie (1992)), Mira Sorvino (Geliebte Aphrodite (1995)), Frances McDormand (Fargo: Blutiger Schnee (1996)), Helen Hunt (Besser geht's nicht (1997)), Judi Dench (Shakespeare in Love (1998)), Gwyneth Paltrow (Shakespeare in Love (1998)), Penélope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)), and Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings (2012)).

Was the 93rd actress to receive an Academy Award; she won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Hannah und ihre Schwestern (1986) at 59th Annual Academy Awards (1987) on March 30, 1987.

Maternal granddaughter of Niel Stewart (1891-1967), born in Arbroath, Scotland, and Edith Rose (née McDougall) Keddie (1892-1978), born in Tomintoul, Scotland.

Paternal granddaughter of Bernard Mathew (1896-1986) and Emma Louise (née Cosulich) Wiest (1896-1977). Both were born and raised in the state of Pennsylvania.