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Is it lucky to wear gold on Oscar night? 23 winners who prove the theory

Does the theory hold out?
/ Source: TODAY

Is gold a lucky color at the Oscars? The theory has been floated for years, so TODAY Style decided to track down the numbers. Since 1929, 17% of Oscars best actress winners wore gold to the awards show — but even more (23%) wore black while the rest (39%) chose a different color altogether.

Still, the symbolic color is a common theme for nominees who hope to take home the top prize. Donned in a gorgeous, long-sleeve, gold-and-black ombre gown, Frances McDormand, won best actress at the 2018 Academy Awards. (The 2019 winner, Olivia Colman, went with a hunter green gown, which is supposedly the unluckiest color.)

Frances McDormand Oscars 2018
Frances McDormand accepts the award for best performance by an actress in a leading role for "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" at the 2018 Oscars.Chris Pizzello / AP

Here are the winners — for both best actress and best supporting actress — who prove that gold just might be a good luck charm.

Best actress winners wearing gold:

Emma Stone

Emma Stone Oscars 2017 dress
Emma Stone poses backstage at the 2017 Oscars after taking home the gold. AFP - Getty Images

Stone's win for "La La Land" at the 2017 Academy Awards — and the fringed Givenchy gown she wore to the show — lent further evidence to the theory that wearing gold to the awards ceremony equals Oscar gold.

Cate Blanchett

Cate Blanchett Oscars Dress
Cate Blanchett poses backstage at the Academy Awards in 2014.Jason Merritt / Getty Images

Blanchett won her second Oscar for her role in "Blue Jasmine" and accepted the award looking like an ethereal princess in this Champagne-colored Armani Prive gown.

Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep holds her prize for best actress for "The Iron Lady."Jason Merritt / Getty Images

Streep nailed it once again in a gold Lanvin wrap dress at the 2012 Oscars. The iconic actress took home her third Academy award for playing Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady."

Sandra Bullock

Sandra Bullock Oscars Dress
Sandra Bullock accepts her best actress award in 2010. Kevin Winter / Getty Images

In 2010, Sandra Bullock rocked a liquid metallic Marchesa gown that appeared good as gold. It was the perfect choice for the best actress winner, who scored big for her role in "The Blind Side."

Helen Mirren

Helen Mirren Oscars Dress
Helen Mirren smiles after accepting her award in 2007. Kevin Winter / Getty Images

Helen Mirren won the best actress trophy in 2007 for playing Queen Elizabeth II in "The Queen," and there's no color more fit for royalty than pure gold. The star accepted her award in a Christian Lacroix gown with a gold pattern on the skirt and an intricately embellished gold bodice.

Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon Oscars Dress
Reese Witherspoon took the stage after winning for her role in "Walk the Line."Kevin Winter / Getty Images

The vintage Christian Dior gown Reese Witherspoon wore to the 2006 Oscars could almost be considered rose gold, but we'll count it anyway because it's just so darn beautiful!

Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron Oscars Red CArpet
Charlize Theron steps out on the Oscars red carpet in 2004.Getty Images

Charlize Theron was recognized as the best actress of the year for her work in "Monster," but she looked more like a golden goddess on the red carpet. Theron opted for a body-hugging Gucci gown in a shimmering light gold that brought her good luck.

Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep Oscars dress
Meryl Streep shows off the Oscar she won for her work in "Sophie's Choice."Images Press / Getty Images

Meryl Streep won her second Oscar in 1983 and wore a glamorous gold caftan for the event. The long-sleeved gown featured embroidery and sequins for added shine.

Liza Minnelli

Liza Minneli Holds Her Oscar, Smiling
Liza Minnelli holds the Oscar she won as best actress for "Cabaret" at the Academy Awards in 1972.Bettmann Archive

Winning best actress in 1973 for her work in "Cabaret," Liza Minnelli shined in a bright yellow/gold-toned dress paired with a colorful, patterned choker and long gold necklace.

Julie Christie

Julie Christie best actress oscar
Julie Christie poses with the Oscar she won for her role in "Darling."Bettmann Archive

In 1966, Julie Christie took home the Oscar for best actress in a mod gold dress with a high-collar neckline. She paired the look with gold statement earrings and a gold belt for a monochromatic look that matched her shiny new award.

Julie Andrews

Oscar Winners Julie Andrews and Rex Harrison Hold Their Awards
Julie Andrews accepts her award for best actress at the 37th Annual Academy Awards in 1964. Bettmann Archive

Taking home the gold in 1965, Julie Andrews wore a simple empire waist gown to accept her award for her role as "Mary Poppins." She paired it with long, elegant white gloves and a statement necklace.

Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor With Oscar
Elizabeth Taylor holds with her Oscar award for best actress in "Butterfield 8" at the 33rd Academy Awards in 1961.Getty Images

Taylor won best actress for her work in "Butterfield 8" in 1961. She wore a soft yellow bodice that popped against the white skirt and gloves she wore to accept her award.

Best supporting actress winners wearing gold:

Alicia Vikander

Alicia Vikander Oscars Dress
Alicia Vikander shows off her Oscar in the press room at the 2016 award ceremony.Jason Merritt / Getty Images

The stunning Swedish actress became an instant style star, so it's no surprise her golden Louis Vuitton gown was a favorite from the 2016 Oscars.

Octavia Spencer

Octavia Spencer
Octavia Spencer poses with her best supporting actress award for her role in "The Help."Jason Merritt / Getty Images

In 2012, Octavia Spencer went with an intricately beaded Tadashi Shoji gown — and all that sparkle seemed to bring her good luck! The star won best supporting actress for playing Minny Jackson in "The Help."

Melissa Leo

Melissa Leo Oscars
Melissa Leo poses in the press room during the 83rd Annual Academy Awards in 2011.Steve Granitz / WireImage

For her role in "The Fighter," Melissa Leo won the Oscar for best supporting actress in 2011 — all the while looking gorgeous. Her white lace, capped sleeved dress twinkled with hints of a golden slip underneath.

Jennifer Hudson

Jennifer Hudson oscar dress
Jennifer Hudson's second dress of the night glistened like her shiny new award. Vince Bucci / Getty Images

Jennifer Hudson won best supporting actress for her role in "Dreamgirls" in 2007. The actress and musician may have worn a simple brown dress to accept her award, but when it came time to pose with her statue she changed into an opulent gold gown with stunning embellishments.

Cate Blanchett

Cate Blanchett Oscars Dress
Cate Blanchett looked stunning in this Valentino dress at the Academy Awards. Frank Micelotta / Getty Images

Cate Blanchett wore a taffeta gown in a bright goldenrod hue for the 2005 Oscars, and it seemed to serve her well! The actress took home the award for best supporting actress for playing Katharine Hepburn in "The Aviator."

Jennifer Connelly

Jennifer Connelly Oscar Dress
Jennifer Connelly celebrates her Oscar win in 2002. Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images

The best supporting actress award went to Jennifer Connelly in 2002 for her work in "A Beautiful Mind." But check out her beautiful dress! The actress chose a matte gold dress with tiered ruffles at the bottom and paired the look with a light gold scarf.

Judi Dench

Judi Dench Oscars Dress
Judi Dench holds the Oscar she won for best supporting actress. Steven D Starr / Corbis via Getty Images

Dame Judi Dench won the award for best supporting actress for her role in "Shakespeare in Love." The star stepped onto the stage in a cream, pleated gown with a gold embroidered jacket.

Maggie Smith

Maggie Smith and Brooke Shields attend the 51st Academy Awards
Maggie Smith and Brooke Shields attend the 51st Academy Awards circa 1979.Getty Images

For her role in "California Suite", Maggie Smith took home her second Oscar in 1978. Her dress had a simple black skirt with golden leaves on the bodice — helping prove the theory that winners wear gold.

Rita Moreno

Oscar Winners George Chakiris and Rita Moreno with Rock Hudson
George Chakiris, Rita Moreno and Rock Hudson at the Oscars in 1962. Bettmann Archive

Rita Moreno wore this iconic black and gold gown when she won an Academy Award for her role as Anita in "West Side Story" in 1962. The dress made another Oscar appearance in 2018 when Moreno wore it once again.

Shirley Jones

Shirley Jones Oscar
Shirley Jones, with and English actor Peter Ustinov, poses with her Oscars at the 33rd Academy Awards in 1961. Jones won the best supporting actress award for "Elmer Gantry."Getty Images

In 1961, Shirley Jones won best supporting actress for her work in "Elmer Gantry." Shinning as gold as the Oscar, Jones wore a gold, glittery gown paired with a small jacket and white, arm-length gloves.

This story was originally published Feb. 28, 2017.