Now that Leo has finally won his first Oscar, let’s take a look at some other brilliant actors who have yet to win a golden man. Much has been made about Leo’s evasive Oscar, but it’s easy to forget that there are a lot of highly talented and prolific actors out there that have yet to be nominated let alone actually win an Oscar.
Here’s a short list of some talented actors that have yet to bag the coveted statuette. Remember, it’s a small and concise selection as the amount of people without nominations/wins is pretty overwhelming. Please note, that only actors who are currently active have been included.
1. Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp has been nominated three times. He earned his first nomination back in 2004 for his performance in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. He followed that up with a nomination for Finding Neverland in 2005 and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street in 2008. It’s interesting to note that while Depp is consistently good, these aren’t even his finest performances.
2. Ian McKellen
Sir Ian McKellen has been nominated twice, first for his leading role in Gods and Monsters back in 1999. His second nomination was for his supporting and iconic turn in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. He deserves one just for being a national treasure.
3. Sigourney Weaver
The magnificent Sigourney Weaver has been nominated three times, but has gone home empty handed each time. She was nominated in 1987 for her iconic performance in Aliens and twice in 1989 for her supporting role in Working Girl and her leading role in Gorillas in the Mist: The Story of Dian Fossey.
4. Amy Adams
The lovely and talented Amy Adams has been nominated five times, but has yet to walk home with an Oscar. She received her first nomination back in 2006 for her turn in Junebug, but lost to Rachel Weisz. She has gone on to score three more supporting actress nominations; one for Doubt, The Fighter, and The Master. She was nominated in 2014 for her leading role in David O. Russell’s American Hustle.
5. Bill Murray
The endlessly talented, funny, and charming Bill Murray has also yet to win an Oscar. He has only been nominated once, and that was for Sofia Coppola’s brilliant Lost in Translation. He lost to Academy favourite Sean Penn.
6. Sam Rockwell
The ridiculously talented Sam Rockwell has never been nominated for an Oscar. Which is beyond crazy. He has however been nominated for and won countless other awards.
7. Laura Linney
The wonderfully talented Laura Linney has been nominated three times. She scored her first nomination for her leading role in You Can Count On Me back in 2001, a second nomination for her supporting role in Kinsey in 2005, and her third nomination for her leading role in The Savages.
8. Scarlett Johansson
Like Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson has never been nominated for an Oscar. She was robbed of an Oscar nomination back in 2004 when she should have at least been nominated for her delicate performance in Lost in Translation – she did however win the BAFTA. Johansson has gone on to have a tremendously successful and nuanced career, and is bound to get nominated soon.
9. Joaquin Phoenix
Joaquin Phoenix is without a doubt one of the most interesting actors out there. He like many others on this list is a three-time nominee. He scored his first nomination for his performance in Gladiator, his second nomination for his brilliant performance in Walk the Line and most recently he snagged a nomination for his leading role in The Master.
10. Gary Oldman
Another national treasure. Gary Oldman is the kind of actor who is consistently great, you can always rely on him to give a wonderful performance. He has only been nominated for one Oscar, and how that is possible I do not know. He received his first nomination back in 2012 for his performance in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.
11. Annette Bening
Anette Bening has been nominated four times, but has yet to walk away with an Oscar. She was nominated for the first time back in 1991 for her supporting role in The Grifters. She probably would have won in 2000 for her performance in American Beauty if Hilary Swank hadn’t swept everyone away with her performance in Boys Don’t Cry.
12. Allison Janney
Like Rockwell and Johansson, Allison Janney has had an extremely solid and prolific career but has yet to snag an Oscar nomination. She has however been nominated for five Golden Globes, and won several Primetime Emmys for her role on the popular comedy series Mom.
13. Will Smith
Another big actor without an Oscar win. The talented actor has been nominated for two Oscars, his first nomination was for his leading role in Ali. His second nomination was for The Pursuit of Happyness. He was famously snubbed this year for his performance in Concussion.
14. John Malkovich
Another raw talent that has yet to secure an Oscar win. John Malkovich is a two-time nominee, he scored his first nomination back in 1985 for Place in the Heart and was nominated again in 1994 for In the Line of Fire.
15. Helena Bonham Carter
Helena Bonham Carter is one of the finest and most versatile actors in the business. She has scored two Oscar nominations, she received her first nomination back in 1998 for her leading role in The Wings of the Dove and was nominated again in 2011 for her performance in The King’s Speech – which won Best Picture at the Oscars that year.
16. Jessica Chastain
Jessica Chastain swept onto the scene in 2011 with films like Take Shelter and The Help, and quickly established herself as one of the most talented, versatile and interesting actors in Hollywood. She received her first nomination in 2012 for The Help and scored her second nomination in 2013 for Zero Dark Thirty but lost out to Jennifer Lawrence who won for Silver Linings Playbook.
17. Ralph Fiennes
Another hard-working and talented actor without an Oscar win. He has been nominated twice, first for Schindler’s List in 1994 and then for The English Patient in 1997. He was however robbed of an Oscar nomination in 2015, when he should have received an Oscar nod for The Grand Budapest Hotel. The Golden Globes got it right (although he didn’t win) while the Oscars failed to recognise his brilliant performance.
18. Samuel L. Jackson
A living legend, Samuel L. Jackson has yet to score an Oscar. He has only ever been nominated once, and that was for his role in Pulp Fiction – which famously lost Best Picture to Forrest Gump that year.
19. Michelle Williams
Michelle Williams is a three-time nominee who has yet to walk away with an Oscar. She scored her first nomination in 2006 for her performance in Brokeback Mountain, but like Amy Adams, she lost to Rachel Weisz. She was nominated again in 2011 for her role in Blue Valentine. She was most recently nominated for My Week With Marilyn – she lost the Oscar but won the Golden Globe.
20. Ryan Gosling
Michelle William’s Blue Valentine co-star Ryan Gosling has also never won an Oscar. He has only been nominated once, and that was for his role in Half Nelson. But the way things are going, the talented Gosling is bound to snag another nomination and win soon.
#Peace.Love.Oscars
