Winning the Oscars or the Academy Awards is the highest repute an actor can achieve. Many actors have received nominations and even won the award in their first few films. But many A-list actors were robbed of a nomination after acting in several accomplished movies over the years, let alone winning an award. Yet there are several others who have not received a single nomination or award till now. Here’s a list of 20 actors who delivered compelling performances but did not get an Oscar nomination.
1. Alan Rickman in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
An action-adventure movie, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, was directed by Kevin Reynolds and starred Kevin Costner, Alan Rickman, Morgan Freeman, and others. Inspired by the tale of Robin Hood, the movie received mixed reviews but was a financial success. Critics particularly approved the performance of Rickman as Sheriff of Nottingham, but the veteran actor was sadly snubbed by the Oscars.
2. Steve Buscemi in The Death of Stalin
Directed by Armando Iannucci, The Death of Stalin is a political satire highlighting the social and political power politics among members of the Soviet Political Bureau behind the scenes after the death of leader Joseph Stalin. Set in 1953, the movie features Steve Buscemi, Rupert Friend, Simon Beale, and others. Buscemi essayed the role of Nikita Khrushchev and delivered a powerful performance. Sadly, he didn’t earn a nomination.
3. Kevin Bacon in Mystic River
Directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Sean Penn, Kevin Bacon, Tim Robbins, and others, Mystic River is a neo-noir crime thriller. The movie revolves around three friends, one of whom suffers abuse at the hands of policemen and is traumatized by it. The film was a critical and commercial success, and while it was nominated for Best Movie and Actor, Bacon’s determined role as Sean Devine was sidelined.
4. Jim Carrey in The Truman Show
A comedy-drama, The Truman Show, is repeatedly listed as one of the most influential movies of the 1990s. Directed by Peter Weir and starring Jim Carrey, it revolves around Truman Burbank (Carrey), who has always lived inside a show’s set and whose life is shown live to people all around the world. Unknown to him, Truman’s every action is broadcasted, and Carrey’s highly emotional performance was greatly snubbed at the Oscars.
5. Leonardo DiCaprio in Shutter Island
Directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, and others, Shutter Island is a neo-noir psychological thriller that revolves around a Deputy US Marshal who comes to investigate a psychiatric facility after a patient goes missing. The movie received good reviews for its screenplay and direction, but DiCaprio was ignored at the Oscars.
6. Bruce Willis in Pulp Fiction
A cult classic directed by Quentin Tarantino, Pulp Fiction is a crime movie starring John Travolta, Bruce Willis, Uma Thurman, and others. The movie focuses on intersecting tales and has a unique structure. The movie was a path-breaking success and was lauded for its innovative writing, dialogues, and postmodernism. Popular actor Willis’ role as Butch Coolidge, however, didn’t garner any awards.
7. Jeff Daniels in The Purple Rose of Cairo
Directed by Woody Allen, The Purple Rose of Cairo is a romantic comedy starring Jeff Daniels, Mia Farrow, and others. The movie takes inspiration from several movies and revolves around a film character, Tom Baxter, who leaves the fictional world to enter the real world. Daniels’ performance as Baxter, however, did not receive a nomination.
8. Richard Gere in American Gigolo
Directed by Paul Schrader, American Gigolo is a neo-noir crime drama starring Richard Gere. The movie revolves around Gere’s character, who is a male escort for high-flying ladies. His life turns upside down when he becomes involved in a murder case. The movie brought Gere to prominence and was a stylish flick. Alas, Gere did not win any nominations.
9. Oscar Isaac in Ex Machina
A sci-fi thriller, Ex Machina is directed by Alex Garland and stars Alicia Vikander and Oscar Isaac. The movie is about a genius CEO who develops a humanoid robot and invites one lucky employee to his home to administer a test on the robot. The movie was praised for its visual effects, and even though Isaac gave a spirited performance, he sadly did not win any nominations.
10. Thandiwe Newton in Beloved
Starring Oprah Winfrey, Thandiwe Newton, and others, Beloved is a psychological drama based on Toni Morrison’s book of the same name. The movie is about a formerly enslaved woman who experiences supernatural events and is visited by her reincarnated daughter. The movie received positive reviews, but Newton’s role as beloved did not get a nomination.
11. Mia Farrow in Rosemary’s Baby
Directed by Roman Polanski, Rosemary’s Baby is one of the most influential and famous horror movies. The film stars Mia Farrow and revolves around her character, Rosemary, who lives in an apartment in Manhattan and is pregnant. She begins to believe that her neighbors are part of a cult and are after her unborn child to use for their rituals. Farrow gave a career-defining performance but didn’t receive a nomination.
12. Billy Crystal in When Harry Met Sally
Starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan, When Harry Met Sally is a romantic comedy directed by Rob Reiner and revolves around two people who meet each other at different points in life. The film addresses the central question, "Can men and women be friends?” The movie was a huge success and is a popular romance. Crystal got positive reviews for his acting but did not get a nomination.
13. Tessa Thompson in Dear White People
A dark comedy satire, Dear White People is directed by Justin Simien and stars Tessa Thompson, Tyler James Williams, and others. The movie is set in a fictitious Ivy League college where racial tensions are rising, and the viewpoint is given through the lens of a number of black students. The movie received critical and commercial success, but Thompson’s portrayal as Samantha White was not nominated.
14. Wesley Snipes in Mo’ Better Blues
A musical comedy, Mo’ Better Blues is directed by Spike Lee and features Denzel Washington, Wesley Snipes, and Lee. The movie is about a jazz trumpeter, Bleek Gilliam (Washington), who destroys his family and career after a series of bad decisions. The movie has friendship and loyalty themes and received mixed reviews. However Snipes’ enigmatic performances as Shadow Henderson did not receive any nomination.
15. Idris Elba in Beasts of No Nation
A war drama directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, Beasts of No Nation stars Idris Elba and highlights the tragedy of war. It is shown through the eyes of a young boy who has to become a child soldier amid a ghastly war in his country. The movie received praise for its sobering and unflinching portrayal of war. However, Elba did not receive a nomination.
16. Ewan McGregor in Moulin Rouge
Directed by Baz Luhrmann, Moulin Rouge is a musical romance starring Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor. The movie is about a poet who falls in love with a cabaret actress. Set in the Montmartre district of Paris, the movie was well-appreciated by fans and critics and was praised for its costumes, soundtrack, and direction. Yet, McGregor was snubbed at the Oscars.
17. Kurt Russell in Silkwood
Starring Meryl Streep, Kurt Russell, and Cher, Silkwood is a biographical drama based on the life of Karen Silkwood. The movie is about her struggles as a nuclear whistle-blower and a labor union activist who investigates the faults at the Kerr-McGee plutonium plant. Directed by Mike Nichols, the movie received positive reviews, and while Streep and Cher were nominated, Russell did not get an Oscar nod.
18. Dennis Quaid in Far from Heaven
Directed by Todd Haynes, Far from Heaven is a romantic drama starring Julianne Moore, Dennis Quaid, and others. The movie is about a wealthy suburban housewife in the 1950s whose perfect life starts to fall apart. The film explores themes of race, gender, and class in the 1950s USA. Quaid essays a determined performance but falls short of getting a nomination.
19. Hugh Grant in Four Weddings and a Funeral
A British romantic comedy, Four Weddings and a Funeral is directed by Mike Newell and features Hugh Grant, Andie MacDowell, John Hannah, and others. The movie is about Charles (Grant), who falls for Carrie (MacDowell) and continues to meet her at the weddings of common friends. The film propelled Grant to stardom, but he didn’t get any nominations.
20. Paul Dano in 12 Years a Slave
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Directed by Steve McQueen and based on a memoir by Solomon Northup, 12 Years a Slave is a biographical drama starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Paul Dano, Brad Pitt, and others. The movie is about Northup’s kidnapping by con men and his subsequent slavery for 12 years. The movie gained instant success and received multiple awards, but Dano could not secure an Oscar nomination.
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