‘Sinners’ Costume Designer Ruth E. Carter Becomes Most-Nominated Black Woman in Oscar History

Ruth E. Carter continues to set milestones for Black women at the Oscars.

The legendary artisan earned her fifth Oscar nomination for best costume design for her work in Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners.” The nomination has now made her the most-nominated Black woman in Oscar history, across any category.

In costume design, Carter was nominated alongside Deborah L. Scott (“Avatar: Fire and Ash”), Kate Hawley (“Frankenstein”), Malgosia Turzanska (“Hamnet”) and Miyako Belizzi (“Marty Supreme”).

Before her nomination, she was tied with Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis with four noms. She is now tied with Spike Lee and Morgan Freeman for the third most-nominated Black creative overall, trailing Quincy Jones (seven) and Denzel Washington (nine).

Carter was an integral part of a historic nominations day for “Sinners,” which received the most nominations ever with 16. Among the record number of nods were acting nominations for Michael B. Jordan, Delroy Lindo and Wunmi Mosaku.

Other history-making noms include Coogler becoming only the second Black filmmaker nominated in the same year for producing, directing and original screenplay, following Jordan Peele’s triple recognition for “Get Out” (2017). Coogler is also the seventh Black director to receive a best director nomination. Coogler’s fellow producer, Zinzi Coogler, is the first Filipina producer and the third Black woman nominated for best picture. She and Ryan Coogler are also the first Black married couple to be nominated together in this category.

Cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw made history as the first woman of color nominated for cinematography. Production designer Hannah Beachler, who won the Oscar for her work on “Black Panther” (2018), earned her second nomination and remains the only Black woman recognized in the category.

In 2019, Carter became the first Black person to win an Oscar for costume design for her work on Marvel’s “Black Panther.” She was nominated and won for the sequel “Wakanda Forever” (2022). She is the only Black woman to win an Oscar more than once. Her other noms include “Malcolm X” (1992) and “Amistad” (1997).

Since 1929, over 3,100 Oscar statuettes have been awarded, and only 20 are in the possession of Black women. That is approximately 0.006%.

Final Oscar voting will take place from Feb. 26 to Mar. 5. The 98th Oscars will be held on March 15 and will air on ABC, hosted by Conan O’Brien.