Gloria Swanson's 1950 Best Actress Academy Award nomination for her immortal role as the faded silent film star, Norma Desmond, in Billy Wilder's legendary noir ''Sunset Boulevard.'' Swanson lost the Oscar that year to Judy Holliday for the latter's role in ''Born Yesterday,'' making this award the only nod by the Academy for Swanson's performance, which remains legendary in the Hollywood canon. Plaque reads in full: ''Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Certificate of Nomination for Award / Be it known that / Gloria Swanson / was nominated for an Academy Award of Merit / for Outstanding Achievement / Best Actress / 'Sunset Boulevard' / This judgment being rendered with reference to Motion Pictures First Regularly Exhibited in the Los Angeles district during the year ending December 31, 1950''. Certificate is signed both by then-president and secretary of the Academy and includes an official gold Academy seal affixed to lower left. The figure of ''Oscar'' appears gilt-embossed in the background of the nomination. Certificate is inlaid in wood to an overall size of 12'' x 13.5''. Near fine.