The Academy Awards, also called the Oscars, have always been seen as one of the top honors an actor can get. Many actors have been honored by the Academy, but some, even with great talent and high hopes, have not yet received awards. This turned into a well-known joke for actors like Leonardo DiCaprio, who didn't receive the award for many years until he won his first Oscar in 2016 for his role in The Revenant.
While many famous actors are honored at other events, it is still puzzling to see those who have not won an Academy Award. Many actors that people would expect to have an Academy Award do not. Here is a list of talented, deserving actors who have almost won or deserved to win in previous years.
1) Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise is a popular action star and a big hit at the box office, but he also used to have a fascination with portraying one-of-a-kind characters, who were always imperfect, while collaborating with amazing directors such as Martin Scorsese, Paul Thomas Anderson, Stanley Kubrick, and Steven Spielberg. Even though he has been nominated three times as an actor, Cruise has never received an Oscar, which is unfortunate, considering his performances in Magnolia, Jerry Maguire (nominated for both), and A Few Good Men or Eyes Wide Shut deserved recognition. Many people thought he would get a nomination for his part in Top Gun: Maverick, but even though the movie got many nominations at the Oscars, Cruise was overlooked.
2.Bradley Cooper:
Bradley Cooper appeared in his first feature film in the 2001 comedy Wet Hot American Summer and has been in the industry for 20 years. He was put forward for the Best Actor award for his performances in Silver Linings Playbook, American Sniper, and A Star is Born. He was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor in American Hustle in 2014. Cooper has certainly garnered Oscar attention throughout his career, receiving nine nominations in a range of categories. Regrettably, they have not brought one home yet.
3) Toni Collette:
Toni Collette is a talented actor who can adapt to any role. She has been in many successful and different movies such as Little Miss Sunshine, Muriel's Wedding, Hereditary, and Knives Out. Some people think she was unfairly overlooked for the Best Actress award for her performance in Hereditary, a role that many believe is the best of her career.
4) Edward Norton:
Famous for his part as the unnamed storyteller and main character in the popular movie Fight Club, Edward Norton has already shown that he can handle some very tough roles. Norton's famous roles have been challenging because he has to think about the mental state of the characters, which requires him to understand the personality and mindset of the characters. Norton's continued dedication to such performances and his ability to perfectly meet the demands is proof that he is one of the top actors in Hollywood.
5) Salma Hayek:
Salma Hayek's big break came when she played Carolina in the 1995 movie Desperado. From that time onward, the actress has had a unique career, blending independent and major studio movies, such as Fools Rush In, Wild Wild West, and Bandidas, while also establishing herself as a talented voice actress in films like The Hunchback and Puss in Boots. At the moment, she is consistently an appreciated secondary performer who enhances every movie she is in. Throughout her career, the most famous role, and for which she was put forward for an Academy Award, was her depiction of Frida Kahlo in the movie Frida.
6) Jake Gyllenhaal:
Jake Gyllenhaal has been impressing audiences with his impactful performances and captivating on-screen charisma since he appeared in his first movie in the 1991 City Slickers. He was nominated for an Oscar for his breakthrough role in Brokeback Mountain and has been quite successful in Hollywood with memorable roles in movies such as Donnie Darko, Zodiac, Nightcrawler, and Nocturnal Animals. Surprisingly, the talented actor hasn't won the coveted award yet, but based on his impressive career so far, it's only a matter of time.
7) Naomie Harris:
Naomie Harris gained recognition after appearing in more than twenty movies in less than fifteen years. She earned a Black Reel Award for her outstanding performance as Selena in 28 Days Later. You may also recall her performance in Miami Vice, the Bond series as Money Penny, and, particularly, her part in Moonlight, always making an impression, even if it's in a secondary role. That was the movie that led to Harris receiving her first Oscar nomination. She was nominated for Best Supporting Actress but did not win.
8) Johnny Depp:
Despite starring in many famous movies and playing a variety of quirky roles, it is quite unexpected that Johnny Depp has not won an Oscar. Depp began his acting career in the movie A Nightmare on Elm Street in 1984 and has portrayed iconic characters like Jack Sparrow, Willy Wonka, Sweeney Todd, and others.
Even though he was nominated for an Academy Award for his roles in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Finding Neverland, and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Depp has expressed that he has no desire to ever win an Oscar. However, he is grateful for the nominations he has received, stating that they are sufficient.
9) Samuel L. Jackson:
Jackson has appeared in over 150 films in his career, making him one of the most prolific actors in Hollywood. His films have collectively grossed over $27 billion worldwide, making him a highly sought-after and successful actor in the industry. Jackson has appeared in numerous highly praised movies. He has portrayed characters like Jules Winnfield, Nick Fury, Shaft, Mace Windu, and Sargent "Hondo" Harrelson, and this is just a small part of his work, as he has appeared in over 200 films. Jackson, an actor who achieved success later in his career, has continued to work without a break.
10) Stanley Tucci:
Renowned actor Stanley Tucci has won two Golden Globe awards and has received five Emmy awards. He has been a consistent figure in the film industry for almost four decades. With memorable parts in movies such as The Devil Wears Prada, Julie & Julia, Spotlight, and The Hunger Games series, Tucci excels in every role he takes on and successfully embodies them with his own unique touch. His strong acting as serial killer George Harvey in The Lovely Bones received widespread praise from critics, and he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
11) Willem Dafoe:
Willem Dafoe was nominated for an Oscar for playing Sergeant Elias Grodin in the movie Platoon in 1986. 36 years later, we are still waiting for Dafoe's initial prize. Dafoe was nominated again for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Max Schreck in the movie Shadow of the Vampire in 2000.
Ever since then, Dafoe has played different important roles in movies like At Eternity’s Gate, for which he got a nomination for Best Actor, The Florida Project, for which he once again received a nomination for Best Supporting Actor, and also The Lighthouse.
12) James McAvoy:
Without a doubt, James McAvoy is one of the most thrilling and rejuvenating talents in Hollywood. He puts his best effort into every role and consistently delivers praised performances. Starting as a young Charles Xavier in the X-Men movies, then playing a man with 23 personalities in Split, and even an aspiring assassin in Wanted, the Scottish actor has continuously demonstrated his impressive range and has quickly become a highly talked about presence in the film industry.
13) Kristen Stewart:
Kristen Stewart's acting style received strong criticism following her debut as Bella Swan in the Twilight series. Her thoughtful attitude only needed to be placed in new environments where it could thrive. Since that time, her fashion has developed and found its own identity. Stewart is a strong actress in Hollywood and gained attention for an Oscar nomination for her role as Princess Diana in Spencer.
14) Michelle Williams:
When Dawson’s Creek began, only a few people would have imagined that Michelle Williams would become one of the top actresses of her era, since there typically isn't a route from a teen TV show to the Academy Awards. After that, she collaborated with top directors in the film industry, such as Ang Lee, Derek Cianfrance, and Kelly Reichardt, demonstrating her incredible acting abilities.
Williams' skill and her ability to convey the most intense and gloomy emotions experienced by her characters cause an emotional impact on the audience. The actor has received five Oscar nominations for her roles in the following movies: Brokeback Mountain, Blue Valentine, My Week with Marilyn, and Manchester by the Sea.
15) Saoirse Ronan:
Saoirse Ronan has received four Oscar nominations and she isn't even thirty years old. Ever since she began acting as a child, Ronan has portrayed a wide variety of roles, ranging from a young assassin to the Queen of Scotland or Louisa May Alcott’s beloved literary character, turning them into icons. At 13, she received her first nomination for Atonement, making her one of the youngest actors ever nominated. And she hasn't stopped since. She was later put forward for Best Actress for her performances in Brooklyn, Lady Bird, and Little Women.
16) Ralph Fiennes:
Ralph Fiennes is a well-known actor who has appeared in both movies and on stage, sometimes recognized as Lord Voldemort. When examining the characters that Fiennes has portrayed, it's clear that he has been effective in depicting some ruthless antagonists. Despite not receiving an Academy Award nomination since 1997, Fiennes has had an outstanding career, taking on both leading and supporting roles. In the past ten years, he has portrayed challenging characters, like Mr. M. Gustave in The Grand Budapest Hotel.
17) Sir Ian McKellen:
Another actor famous for his work on stage and in movies, Sir Ian McKellen is one of the most adored actors in Hollywood. McKellen's performance in the X-Men, The Lord of the Rings, and The Hobbit shows his ability to play both good and bad characters, proving his talent. McKellen has received two Oscar nominations. He won his first award for Best Actor in 1999 for his performance in Gods and Monsters, and his second award for Best Supporting Actor in 2002 for his role in Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Surprisingly, this actor hasn't won an Oscar yet.
18) Amy Adams:
Amy Adams may have faced challenges on her path to becoming a successful actress, but her pivotal roles in Junebug and Enchanted provided her with the opportunity to demonstrate her abilities. Ever since then, she has not ceased working, producing distinct, unexpected, considerate characters that have established her as one of the most prominent actresses in Hollywood. Adams has been nominated for an Academy Award six times: five for Best Supporting Actress in movies such as Junebug, Doubt, The Fighter, The Master, and Vice, and once for Best Actress for American Hustle. Despite receiving six nominations, it should have been higher, considering her moving performance in Arrival.
19) Glenn Close:
Glenn Close, an actor who keeps surprising audiences with her fantastic acting, rose to fame in the 1980s after her debut in The World According to Garp. Close is extremely talented as her first film role earned her an Academy Award nomination. After this part, Close delivered some amazing performances in Fatal Attraction and Albert Nobbs. Her performance in The Wife was a tumultuous journey of emotions that received critical acclaim. She has been nominated for an Oscar eight times but has not won, which makes her the actress with the most nominations and no wins in the past thirty years.
20) Ryan Gosling:
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Ryan Gosling’s best movie is often debated, but La La Land (2016) shines brightest for its charm and complexity. Despite his stellar performances in Half Nelson and La La Land (both earning Oscar nominations), he’s yet to win the Golden Statue. Why? It’s the Oscars’ classic tale of bad timing and stiff competition. Gosling’s subtle, transformative acting often gets overshadowed by flashier roles.
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