20 Actors who got an Oscar for nailing a supporting role 

It is just not the work of the lead actors and actresses to make a movie successful. It takes the combined effort of the entire cast, especially the supporting one. Their acting and screen presence is an important contributing factor for the success of a movie. They can often make or break a piece of cinema. Their dialogue delivery, adaptability of the character, and chemistry with other characters are significantly important. Here is a list of 20 actors who got an Oscar for nailing a supporting role.

20) Judi Dench – Shakespeare in Love

Actress Judi Dench won an Oscar for her amazing supporting role as Queen Elizabeth I in the 1998 movie – Shakespeare in Love. The movie was about the nature of art and creativity intertwined with themes of gender identity. Judi Dench had a powerful stage presence and commanded attention in every scene. Her dialogue delivery was perfect, and she managed to humanize the character of the queen with a perfect blend of humor and relatability.

19) George Clooney – Syriana

The 2005 Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role went to George Clooney for his work as a CIA operative in the movie - Syriana. The movie was about global power and corruption and how ethics play a role when an individual's success is in question. George Clooney's acting had the perfect amount of emotional depth and conveyed the moral ambiguity of his character.

18) Catherine Zeta-Jones – Chicago

Catherine Zeta-Jones won the 2002 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She won the award for her work in the film – Chicago. The movie is about the intoxicating power that fame has on a person and how media can manipulate the perspective of the audience. Catherine Zeta-Jones's acting was electrifying. She was especially appreciated for her performance in the song – All That Jazz.

17) Christopher Plummer – Beginners

Another outstanding supporting role performance came from Christopher Plummer in the 2010 movie – Beginners. In the movie, Christopher Plummer plays a widower who comes out as gay. The movie is about being authentic to oneself and self-discovery, which Plummer managed to portray very well with his acting. His performance was a perfect blend of vulnerability and joy.

16) Tilda Swinton – Michael Clayton

Actress Tilda Swinton played Karen Crowder in the movie Michael Clayton in 2007. Her portrayal of Karen was amazing and perfectly delivered her deeply concealed insecurities. She used subtle vulnerabilities to portray the contrast between the duality of power and the fragility her character harbors. She has earned wide appreciation for using body language to communicate, especially in scenes that require emotions like panic.

15) Christoph Waltz – Inglourious Basterds

Actor Christoph Waltz won the 2009 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Colonel Hans Landa in the movie – Inglorious Bastards. The movie is about power and manipulation, and Christoph Waltz acts as the perfect charming villain. He has a chilling aura, and his fluent dialogue delivery in multiple languages, like – German, English, French, and Italian, makes his character a complex one.

14) Anne Hathaway – Les Misérables

Anne Hathaway was truly committed to her role as Fantine in the 2012 movie – Les Misérables. Her dedication could be seen in her physical transformation, where she lost a large amount of weight and even cut her hair. Her performance of the song – I dream a dream, was truly standout. She managed to portray the raw emotional power of her character in a very authentic and vulnerable manner, especially with her vocal performances.

13) Viola Davis – Fences

Actress Viola Davis won the 2016 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Rose Maxson in the movie – Fences. The movie is about the sacrifice Rose makes for her family and the betrayal she still receives. Her acting is deeply moving and has the profound capability of capturing the strength and suppressed desires of the character of Rose. She gives a multi-dimensional depth to the character, and her powerful voice adds to it.

12) Jamie Lee Curtis – Everything Everywhere All at Once

Actress Jamie Lee Curtis was truly impressed in her role in the movie - Everything Everywhere All At Once by wearing a wig and prosthetics. Her transformation and commitment were visible in her acting. She excelled at delivering absurd comedy, and her transition across various scenes showed her creative acting skills. Her Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2022 for this film was well deserved.

11) Cate Blanchett – The Aviator

Actress Cate Blanchett portrayed the role of Katharine Hepburn in the 2004 movie – The Aviator. If her performance had to be described in one word, it would be – dazzling. She had a dynamic energy on screen. She was confident and seemed truly like a fiercely independent woman that her character was. She managed to mimic the mannerisms of Katherine Hepburn perfectly. Her emotional range, especially her shift between different moods, was another point that gained wide appreciation.

10) Angelina Jolie – Girl, Interrupted

Angelina Jolie played Lisa Rowe in the 1999 movie – Girl, Interrupted. It is considered one of her best roles that won her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. The movie is about mental health, and Angelina Jolie perfectly captures the character's unpredictability. She exuded the perfect amount of complexity, combined it with a perfect dosage of charisma, and delivered a captivating performance.

9) Jared Leto – Dallas Buyers Club

In the movie - Dallas Buyer’s Club, Jared Leto took the challenging role of portraying a transgender woman. His acting, especially combined with the physical transformation he went through, was amazing. He delivered the compassion and empathy her character possessed quite excellently. He even balanced emotional moments with humor, and his chemistry with Matthew McConaughey was dynamic and won him his well-deserved Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2013.

8) Christian Bale – The Fighter

Actor Christian Bale is known for his method acting style. His physical transformation for his role is also widely appreciated. For the 2010 movie – The Fighter, Christian Bale lost a lot of weight to portray the fragile state of the character he was playing. His acting displayed the character's self-destructive tendencies, especially his addiction to substance abuse.

7) Daniel Kaluuya – Judas and the Black Messiah

Judas and the Black Messiah is a movie about social and racial injustice prevailing in the world. The movie uses themes of political activism to display the story of Hampton, who dedicated his life to the black panther party. Daniel Kaluuya's role as Fred Hampton was truly magnetic. He played this charismatic leader quite well and embraced his characteristics of confidence, empathy, and idealism.

6) Mahershala Ali – Moonlight and Green Book

Actor Mahershala Ali won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for two of his roles. His first one was for his 2016 movie – Moonlight and the other one was for his 2018 movie – Green Book. He has certain emotional nuances that can very well deliver characters who are wise as well as kind. In the Green book, he plays the role of Dr. Don Shirley and very well portrays his subtle strength and emotional resistance.

5) Morgan Freeman – Million Dollar Baby

Morgan Freeman is considered one of the best actors. His role as Eddie Dupris in the 2004 movie – Million Dollar Baby is widely appreciated and rightfully earned him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. His portrayal of Eddie's character showcases his emotional intelligence and quiet strength. His acting is very authentic and can very well put across the personal loss his character went through.

4) Robert Downey Jr. – Oppenheimer

Robert Downey Junior, after his work as Iron Man in the Marvel cinematic universe, is considered a legacy. We see the versatility of his acting strength with his work in the Christopher Nolan-directed 2023 movie – Oppenheimer. In the movie, Robert Downey Junior portrays the role of the controversial US Secretary of Commerce. He very well displays the ambitious and ambiguous nature of his character, especially with his sharp dialogue delivery.

3) Brad Pitt – Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Brad Pitt has won several awards as a lead actor. But, he displays his true acting strength with his supporting role as Cliff Booth in the 2019 movie – Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. The movie is about the decline of Hollywood's Golden Age, and Brad Pitt's character truly showcases this with his laid-back attitude. His action sequences were very precise, and the audience loved him, earning him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for this role.

2) Robin Williams – Good Will Hunting

Robin Williams' talent can be seen in his role as Dr Sean Maguire in the 1997 movie – Good Will Hunting. In the movie, he plays a psychology teacher who is counseling the character of Will, played by Matt Damon. He truly conveys the wisdom and emotional sensitivity his character was supposed to possess and balances it out with his signature style of humor. For this role, he won the 1998 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, and rightly so.

1) Heath Ledger – The Dark Knight

Heath Ledger’s portrayal of The Joker in The Dark Knight movie is unparalleled. His role was so unforgettable that it earned him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor posthumously. He captured the psychological depth of Joker and thrived on chaotic and obsessive tendencies. He mastered the mannerisms and facial expressions of this character and portrayed this villain quite vividly.