With this years Oscar‘s coming up at lightening speed, there’s some seriously great talent in the nominee’s categories, including Eddie Redmayne, Steve Carell, Bradley Cooper, Benedict Cumberbatch and Michael Keaton for Best Actor in a Leading Role as well as Robert Duvall, Mark Ruffalo, Ethan Hawke, J.K. Simmons and Edward Norton for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.
Still, being an amazing actor and having the honour of being a nominee doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll walk away with the top prize. So now it’s time to take a trip down memory lane and honour those that have come close… but no cigar.
Here’s our Top 5 Amazing Actors Who Have Never Won An Oscar.
1. LEONARDO DICAPRIO
How could he not be our number one? With nominations for the likes of WHATS EATING GILBERT GRAPE in 1994, THE AVIATOR in 2005, BLOOD DIAMOND in 2007 and 2014’s THE WOLF OF WALL STREET, it wouldn’t be surprising if Leo felt like always a bridesmaid, never a bride. Not only did he rock it as Jordan Belfort in THE WORLD OF WALL STREET, giving a hilarious and outrageous performance, he’s also starred in brilliant flicks like TITANIC, REVOLUTIONARY ROAD and THE BEACH.
DiCaprio has this brilliant ability to merge emotional drama with a genuine charm that’s completely solidified him as one of Hollywood’s most talented men. We’re still rooting that he’ll bag that Oscar one day, perhaps for his up and coming movie THE REVERENT, co-starring Tom Hardy and directed by BIRDMAN genius, Alejandro González Iñárritu. There’s so many examples we could have used to represent Leo’s talent, but one of our favourites has to be his role as undercover cop Billy in Martin Scorsese‘s THE DEPARTED; check it out!
2. BRAD PITT
Brad Pitt’s not just a pretty face, you know. This guys has some serious acting chops and yet he’s never won a coveted Oscar award! While he bagged an Oscar as part of the 12 YEARS A SLAVE team back in 2014 for Best Motion Picture of The Year, he’s never actually won one for himself.After nominations for his performances in 12 MONKEYS in 1996, THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON in 2009 and MONEYBALL in 2011, Pitt just didn’t quite make the cut.
Mr. Angelina Jolie has a really impressive background in dramatic roles with the likes of INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE, SE7EN, MEET JOE BLACK and INGLORIOUS BASTERDS, but has also starred in some of the most popular contemporary rom/com’s like THE MEXICAN and MR. & MRS. SMITH. Pitt’s getting ready to star alongside his wife with new movie AFRICA, so perhaps it’ll be his time to shine soon? We’re rooting for you Pitt! Still, one of our favorite performances has to be the ever trippy, FIGHT CLUB.
3. BILL MURRAY
One of Hollywood’s finest, who would believe that the one and only Bill Murray has never bagged an Oscar!? What’s even more shocking is that this guy’s only ever been nominated once. Back in 2004, Murray was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading role for his amazing performance as faded movie star Bob Harris in Sophia Copolla‘s LOST IN TRANSLATION opposite Scarlett Johansson. Murray lost out on the award to Sean Penn in his role as Jimmy Markum in Clint Eastwood‘s MYSTIC RIVER.
Murray’s loss shocked fans who went nuts over his empathetic and humorous performance as Harris. Still, that’s not all this mega-stars known for as he’s started in an all manner of brilliant comedic roles like the iconic 1984’s GHOSTBUSTERS 1986’s THE LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, 1993’s GROUNDHOG DAY and the 2004 cult classic THE LIFE AQUATIC. Murray’s got a few different projects on the up with Cameron Crowe‘s ALOHA and he’ll be voicing Baloo in the up and coming THE JUNGLE BOOK remake. In the mean time, one of our favorite Murray roles has to Mr. Bishop in Wes Anderson‘s MOONRISE KINGDOM, check out the trailer.
4. SIR IAN MCKELLEN
Who could believe that Sir Ian McKellen, Gandalf himself, has never picked up an Oscar? This national treasure has been nominated twice for his efforts, once for his 1999 role in Bill Condon‘s GODS AND MONSTERS and again for his amazing role as Gandalf in LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RINGS back in 2002. While his loss of Best Actor in a Lead Role in 1999 shocked fans, it was his loss of Best Actor in A Lead Role for Gandalf to Jim Broadbent that truly pushed fans over the frustrated edge.
While he’s arguable best known for Gandalf the Grey, McKellen has a seriously impressive list of mainstream roles as well as those a little more independent. His take on Magnito in the X-MEN flicks solidified his mass appeal while titles like RICHARD III and EMILE ensured his reputation as one of Britain’s finest stay firmly correct. We can next expect to see McKellen playing another well known character of Sherlock Holmes in the up and coming Bill Condon flick, MR. HOLMES. Could this new role be the answer to his Oscar prayers? We hope so! In the mean time, we just can’t help but crave some Gandalf in our lives again.
5. GARY OLDMAN
Gary Oldman is the definition of character actor and has a serious talent of becoming completely convincing in any role he tackles. Back in 2012 Oldman bagged a nomination for Best Performance By An Actor in a Leading role for his work in Tomas Alfredson‘s TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY but missed out on the award, which went to Jean Dujardin for THE ARTIST. While this was a fair shout to many that saw Dujardin’s performance, fans still just couldn’t believe that had been Oldman’s only nomination in such a stellar career.
Oldman has played some amazing characters while working with some really big games in the film industry with roles in the likes of 1986’s SID AND NANCY, 1992’s DRACULA, Christopher Nolan‘s BATMAN BEGINS and the HARRY POTTER series. Oldman’s incredible talent allows him to take on roles that go far beyond audience expectations and one of our favourites has to be Stansfield in Luc Besson‘s LEON. Staring alongside Jean Reno and a very young Natalie Portman, Oldman completely shocked audiences in this brilliant role, where was a nomination for this movie?! There’s still time for Oldman with projects like CHILD 44 coming out soon, we’re rooting for you, Oldman!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1qiDrNHjXI
There you have it! Our Top Five Actors Who Have Never Won An Oscar. Now we know there are so many others that are just crying out for recognition, who would be on your list? Comment below and let us know!
[…] recently looked at five of the most famous actors who’d never won an Oscar and so we thought it was only right to celebrate the ladies of […]
Comments are closed.