| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| 1997 | Screen Actors Guild Award | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | ER | Won |
| 2000 | Blockbuster Entertainment Awards | Favorite Supporting Actress – Comedy/Romance | Coyote Ugly | Won |
| 2003 | Golden Globe Award | Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture | The Cooler | Nominated |
| National Society of Film Critics Award | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated |
| Online Film Critics Society Award | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated |
| Screen Actors Guild Award | Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role | Nominated |
| Satellite Award | Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture | Won |
| 2005 | Broadcast Film Critics Association Award | Best Supporting Actress | A History of Violence | Nominated |
| Central Ohio Film Critics Association Award | Best Supporting Performance | Won |
| Chicago Film Critics Association Award | Best Supporting Actress | Won |
| Golden Globe Award | Best Actress Motion Picture – Drama | Nominated |
| Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award | Best Supporting Actress | Won |
| London Film Critics Circle Awards | Actress of the Year | Nominated |
| New York Film Critics Circle Award | Best Supporting Actress | Won |
| Online Film Critics Society Award | Best Supporting Actress | Won |
| Satellite Award | Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture | Nominated |
| Village Voice Film Poll Award | Best Supporting Performance | Won |
| 2006 | RiverRun International Film Festival's Jury Prize | Best Actress | The Sisters | Won |
| Dixie Film Festival Prize | Outstanding Actress in a Film | Nominated |
| 2009 | Independent Spirit Award | Best Female Lead | Downloading Nancy | Nominated |
| 2013 | National Board of Review Award | Best Cast | Prisoners | Won |
| 2022 | Women Film Critics Circle Award | Best Woman Storyteller | The Woman King | Nominated |
| 2023 | Black Reel Award | Outstanding Film | Won |
| AACTA International Award | Best Screenplay | Nominated |
| NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture | Nominated |
| 2024 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie | Beef | Nominated |
| Critics' Choice Award | Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television | Won |