Sister acts

Ingrid Bergman in "The Bells of St. Mary's."

Has there ever been more of a lock for an Oscar nomination than Meryl Streep playing a nun in "Doubt"? Her performance in the adaptation of John Patrick Shanley's Pulitzer Prize-winning play has already gotten her a Golden Globe nomination for best actress in a drama. So many actresses have gotten Oscar nominations for nun roles you'd think the Academy membership had gone to parochial school. Who knows, Amy Adams, who plays a novice sister in "Doubt," might slip in for best supporting actress, too, though the "Doubt" buzz in that category is for Viola Davis, as the mother of a possible victim of sexual abuse from a priest. Both of them got Golden Globe nominations. The number of nuns in real life has long been declining. Onscreen it's been a different story. Apparently, as the following list suggests, Hollywood finds nuns habit forming. - MARK FEENEY

INGRID BERGMAN

"The Bells of St. Mary's" (1945)

Oscar status: Nominated, best actress

Bit of nunsense: She plays stickball!

LORETTA YOUNG

"Come to the Stable" (1949)

Oscar status: Nominated, best actress

Bit of nunsense: Costar Celeste Holm, also a nun, nominated for best supporting actress

DEBORAH KERR

"Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison"

Oscar status: Nominated, best actress

Bit of nunsense: Shipwrecked on a desert island with Robert Mitchum!

AUDREY HEPBURN

"The Nun's Story" (1959)

Oscar status: Nominated, best actress

Bit of nunsense: Think of her as Holly Goheavenly

LILIA SKALA

"Lilies of the Field" (1963)

Oscar status: Nominated, best supporting actress

Bit of nunsense: Costar Sidney Poitier won for best actor

DEBBIE REYNOLDS

"The Singing Nun" (1966)

Oscar status: Not nominated

Bit of nunsense: Ed Sullivan plays himself

ROSALIND RUSSELL

"The Trouble With Angels" (1966)

Oscar status: Not nominated

Bit of nunsense: Mother Superior Mame she's not

MARY TYLER MOORE

"Change of Habit" (1969)

Oscar status: Not nominated

Bit of nunsense: How could she, with Elvis as costar

CARMEN MAURA

(not pictured)

"Dark Habits" (1983)

Oscar status: Not nominated

Bit of nunsense: How could she, with Pedro Almod??var as director

ANNE BANCROFT

"Agnes of God" (1985)

Oscar status: Nominated, best actress

Bit of nunsense: Costar Meg Tilly, also a nun, nominated for best supporting actress

ERIC IDLE

"Nuns on the Run" (1990)

Oscar status: Not nominated

Bit of nunsense: And now for something completely different

SUSAN SARANDON

"Dead Man Walking" (1995)

Oscar status: Won, best actress

Bit of nunsense: Maybe it was not wearing a habit?