Katharine Hepburn remains one of the most significant figures in Hollywood history. With a career spanning decades, her influence on the film industry and her reputation for portraying strong, independent characters helped define the Golden Age of cinema.
This quiz covers her extensive filmography, her record-breaking Academy Award wins, and her famous long-term creative partnership with Spencer Tracy. You will find questions about her major studio contracts and the specific roles that earned her critical acclaim.
We hope you enjoy this look back at a screen icon. Once you are done, see how you fare with Hollywood legends, Golden Age history, or Oscar history trivia.
Which legendary actress holds the record for the most Academy Awards won in the Best Actress category?
Ingrid Bergman
Ingrid Bergman
Bette Davis
Bette Davis
Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Hepburn
Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep
For which film did Katharine Hepburn win her very first Academy Award for Best Actress?
The Philadelphia Story
The Philadelphia Story
Morning Glory
Morning Glory
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
The African Queen
The African Queen
In the Golden Age studio system, which major studio famously signed Katharine Hepburn to a long-term contract in the 1930s?
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
RKO Radio Pictures
RKO Radio Pictures
MGM
MGM
Katharine Hepburn and which other iconic actor collaborated on nine films together over the course of their careers?
Spencer Tracy
Spencer Tracy
Cary Grant
Cary Grant
Humphrey Bogart
Humphrey Bogart
Henry Fonda
Henry Fonda
Which 1942 film marked the first time Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy appeared on screen together?
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
Adam’s Rib
Adam’s Rib
Pat and Mike
Pat and Mike
Woman of the Year
Woman of the Year
Which actor famously turned down the male lead opposite Katharine Hepburn in the 1939 stage and film production of The Philadelphia Story?
Robert Taylor
Robert Taylor
James Stewart
James Stewart
Gary Cooper
Gary Cooper
Clark Gable
Clark Gable
In 1969, Katharine Hepburn won an Oscar for her performance as Eleanor of Aquitaine in which historical drama?
On Golden Pond
On Golden Pond
The African Queen
The African Queen
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
The Lion in Winter
The Lion in Winter
What was the primary restriction for actors under the classic Hollywood ‘Studio Contract’ era?
A contract that forbade marriage
A contract that forbade marriage
A contract that allowed for long breaks between filming
A contract that allowed for long breaks between filming
The “Studio System” structure, which granted studios control over an actor’s project choices
The “Studio System” structure, which granted studios control over an actor’s project choices
A clause requiring actors to perform their own stunts
A clause requiring actors to perform their own stunts
Which classic screwball comedy paired Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant, though it was considered a box-office disappointment at the time of its release?
Bringing Up Baby
Bringing Up Baby
Sylvia Scarlett
Sylvia Scarlett
Holiday
Holiday
The Philadelphia Story
The Philadelphia Story
How many total Academy Awards did Katharine Hepburn win throughout her illustrious acting career?
Six
Six
Eight
Eight
Ten
Ten
Four
Four
Which frequent director was known as a favorite of Katharine Hepburn and collaborated with her on numerous films including The Philadelphia Story?
William Wyler
William Wyler
John Ford
John Ford
Michael Curtiz
Michael Curtiz
George Cukor
George Cukor
In 1938, a group of theater owners published an infamous list labeling Katharine Hepburn as what?
“Box office poison”
“Box office poison”
“The dramatic queen”
“The dramatic queen”
“Hollywood’s sweetheart”
“Hollywood’s sweetheart”
“The studio outsider”
“The studio outsider”
Katharine Hepburn resurrected her failing film career by purchasing the rights to which stage play and turning it into a successful movie?
Stage Door
Stage Door
The Philadelphia Story
The Philadelphia Story
Little Women
Little Women
Alice Adams
Alice Adams
Katharine Hepburn won her final Academy Award for Best Actress for acting alongside which veteran actor in On Golden Pond?
Laurence Olivier
Laurence Olivier
Peter O’Toole
Peter O’Toole
Sidney Poitier
Sidney Poitier
Henry Fonda
Henry Fonda
Which contemporary actress was essentially Katharine Hepburn’s primary rival for high-profile film roles during the 1930s and 40s?
Lauren Bacall
Lauren Bacall
Bette Davis
Bette Davis
Vivien Leigh
Vivien Leigh
Greta Garbo
Greta Garbo
In which motion picture filmed on location in Africa did Katharine Hepburn star opposite Humphrey Bogart?
State of the Union
State of the Union
The Philadelphia Story
The Philadelphia Story
The African Queen
The African Queen
Pat and Mike
Pat and Mike
Which notable fact highlights Katharine Hepburn’s relationship with the Academy Awards ceremony?
It was directed by her brother
It was directed by her brother
It was filmed in technicolor
It was filmed in technicolor
She never attended the ceremonies to accept her awards in person
She never attended the ceremonies to accept her awards in person
She was nominated 12 times but only won once
She was nominated 12 times but only won once
Why did Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy never marry despite their long-term partnership?
Hepburn didn’t want to live in Hollywood
Hepburn didn’t want to live in Hollywood
He was already married to another famous actress
He was already married to another famous actress
They never officially met in private
They never officially met in private
Spencer Tracy’s wife refused to grant a divorce
Spencer Tracy’s wife refused to grant a divorce
What genre of film is the 1938 classic “Bringing Up Baby” considered to be?
A western directed by John Ford
A western directed by John Ford
A period drama directed by John Huston
A period drama directed by John Huston
A screwball comedy directed by Howard Hawks
A screwball comedy directed by Howard Hawks
A Stage Door play adaptation
A Stage Door play adaptation
From the advent of sound film, which decades saw the classic Hollywood ‘Studio Contract’ system as the primary model of film production and distribution before its decline?
The 1920s to 1940s
The 1920s to 1940s
The 1950s to 1970s
The 1950s to 1970s
The 1940s to 1960s
The 1940s to 1960s
The 1930s to 1950s
The 1930s to 1950s
Which director helmed the 1937 drama “Stage Door,” highlighting an ensemble cast including Katharine Hepburn and Ginger Rogers?
Gregory La Cava
Gregory La Cava
King Vidor
King Vidor
George Stevens
George Stevens
Sam Wood
Sam Wood
Which 2004 biographical film featured Cate Blanchett portraying Katharine Hepburn, winning an Oscar for the role?
The Aviator
The Aviator
The Philadelphia Story
The Philadelphia Story
Woman of the Year
Woman of the Year
Adam’s Rib
Adam’s Rib
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Not bad
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If you enjoy classic film history, consider browsing our other collections. We have additional quizzes on romantic comedies, award records, and notable directors to keep your momentum going.
