15 Incredibly Talented Stars Who Have Yet to Be Recognized by the Academy
Many of us have favorite actors whose films we know by heart. It’s always nice when an idol receives a high award, especially if it’s an Oscar. However, there are many amazing actors whose merits the Film Academy has noticed but didn’t hand over the coveted statuette for.
1. Tom Cruise (3 nominations)
The name Tom Cruise is probably most associated with the Mission: Impossible franchise. Movies like this rarely win Academy Awards. However, the actor has had some serious, dramatic roles and has received 3 Oscar nominations for his roles in Born on the Fourth of July, Jerry Maguire, and Magnolia, validating this.
2. Benedict Cumberbatch (2 nominations)
Benedict Cumberbatch is a great theater and film actor who, with his skill, proves that the British School of Dramatic Arts is one of the strongest in the world. An excellent performance in The Imitation Game, a compelling role in The Fifth Estate, and his part in 12 Years a Slave — this is just a small list of what Cumberbatch could be awarded an Oscar statuette for. However, so far, he’s only gotten 2 award nominations.
3. Michelle Pfeiffer (3 nominations)
Michelle Pfeiffer has been nominated for an Oscar 3 times, all for the title of Best Actress in the films, Dangerous Liaisons, The Fabulous Baker Boys, and Love Field. The last Oscar nomination was in 1993. This seems unfair, as Pfeiffer has acted in many great films over the years.
4. Bradley Cooper (9 nominations)
Bradley Cooper has 9 Oscar nominations under his belt. However, he has not yet been able to snag the coveted statuette. Likely, in most people’s minds, Cooper is a comedic actor. He is best known for his role in The Hangover and the voice of Rocket in Guardians of the Galaxy. However, his filmography has many serious works, including A Star Is Born, Silver Linings Playbook, Licorice Pizza, and Nightmare Alley. According to Cooper, he doesn’t need to receive this award because, for him, having it won’t change anything.
5. Stanley Tucci (1 nomination)
Stanley Tucci is often seen in supporting roles. However, this does not characterize him as a bad actor. On the contrary, Tucci received his only Oscar nomination for his supporting role in The Lovely Bones. However, despite the fact that Tucci has never received an Oscar, he owns many other prestigious awards, including 2 Golden Globes, 5 Emmys, and many others.
6. Winona Ryder (2 nominations)
The name Winona Ryder is known today thanks to her role in the hit series, Stranger Things. However, this is not the first wave of deafening popularity Ryder has experienced. In the ’80s and ’90s, the actress was a very popular star. During that period, the actress received an Oscar nomination 2 years in a row for her appearance in The Age of Innocence and Little Women.
7. Woody Harrelson (3 nominations)
Woody Harrelson is known for his roles in Natural Born Killers, Seven Psychopaths, and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, along with his less Academy-worthy but still excellent work in The Hunger Games and Zombieland. Such an impressive array of diverse roles hasn’t landed him a well-deserved Oscar yet.
8. Ian McKellen (2 nominations)
Ian McKellen is the cunning Magneto in X-Men and the wise Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings franchise. However, the list of roles performed by Ian McKellen does not end with these iconic roles. In addition, he has worked for over 60 years in theater and almost the same number of years in cinema. And despite such an impressive track record, there are only 2 Oscar nominations under McKellen’s belt.
9. Amy Adams (6 nominations)
In recent years, Amy Adams’ work has been discussed with enthusiasm by everyone. The Fighter, American Hustle, Vice, Arrival, Nocturnal Animals — each of her roles in these films are distinguished by their novelty, but the actress has never received the coveted Oscar. She already has 6 nominations in her piggy bank, but there is always someone who manages to come ahead of Adams. However, this does not prevent her from choosing diverse and interesting projects, which, in the end, should still bring her a long-awaited victory.
10. Harrison Ford (1 nomination)
Harrison Ford’s characters have led 2 massive franchises: Star Wars and Indiana Jones. However, these roles haven’t landed him an Oscar yet. They were so entertaining that the film academy simply would not have dared to do so. But there are more serious roles in Ford’s filmography, like, for example, films like Blade Runner, The Fugitive, and Witness, for which Ford received a nomination back in 1986. The release of the fifth film about the adventures of Indiana Jones is scheduled for 2023, which will likely be the final one in the actor’s career. However, even if Ford ends his acting career, he can still become the owner of the Academy Honorary Award in the future. Fingers crossed!
11. Viggo Mortensen (3 nominations)
Viggo Mortensen, who plays the noble Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings franchise, was nominated 3 times for an Oscar for his leading roles in Eastern Promises, Captain Fantastic, and Green Book. However, he hasn’t managed to win the big prize yet. There are other works that were critically acclaimed and that could have brought him an Oscar, like A History of Violence, The Road, and one of his most recent projects, Crimes of the Future. Will it finally earn him an Oscar?
12. Glenn Close (8 nominations)
Glenn Close can be called one of the most extraordinary and versatile actresses of our time, but at the same time, she has never had the chance to hold the golden statuette in her hands. As many as 8 times, she has received an Oscar nomination, but she never managed to win. The actress admits that she does not consider herself a loser at all, saying, “Who in that category is a loser? You’re there, you’re 5 people honored for the work that you’ve done by your peers. What’s better than that?”
13. Ralph Fiennes (2 nominations)
Ralph Fiennes has everything to win an Oscar right now: dramatic roles in the London theater, the role of a terrible villain in the film, Schindler’s List, the role of an eccentric concierge in The Grand Budapest Hotel, and the role of the main villain in one of the highest grossing blockbusters, Harry Potter. With all the diversity and versatility of these roles, Fiennes still has not received the coveted Oscar.
14. John Malkovich (2 nominations)
John Malkovich is a bright and memorable actor, who often plays supporting roles. Despite his work in amazing films, such as Deepwater Horizon, Being John Malkovich, Dangerous Liaisons, and others, Malkovich has been nominated for an Oscar only twice, and both times, he did not get the statuette. Both nominations were for Best Supporting Actor. The first was in 1985 for his participation in the film, Places in the Heart, and the second, almost 10 years later, in the film, In the Line of Fire.
15. Sigourney Weaver (3 nominations)
The Alien star has come close to winning an Oscar 3 times. However, all 3 times, the figurine eluded her hands. In 1987, she was nominated for Best Actress in Aliens. 2 years later, she received 2 nominations: one for her lead role in Gorillas in the Mist: The Story of Dian Fossey and the second for her supporting role in Working Girl. But despite the absence of an Oscar, Weaver has many other equally prestigious awards.
Which actor do you think deserves an Oscar but hasn’t won one yet? Share in the comments!