Michelle Williams (left), Meryl Streep and Leonardo DiCaprio are among the actors vying to win Academy Awards this season for playing real-life figures. The biopic approach has been a reliable route to Oscar glory of late: 12 of the last 20 winners in the lead acting categories played non-fictional characters. But how many actors coast through on mere impersonation, and how many craft indelible characterizations from the history books? This week's list rounds up the finest biopic performances ever to impress the Academy, with actors including Daniel Day-Lewis, Barbra Streisand and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Continue reading to see if your favorites made the cut and join the discussion at In Contention.