It’s unfortunate that many amazing actors in Hollywood have never been recognized for their work by theOscars, specifically in the form of a win,despite being deserving. What’s more, these actors are well-loved by the industry and have been known for delivering high-caliber performances throughout their careers. Actors like Glenn Close and Amy Adams have been nominated multiple times, but have yet to walk away with the statuette.
Of course, talking about winning an Oscar wouldn’t be a full conversation without acknowledging the systemic barriers that many actors, particularly of color and/or other marginalized groups, face on the road to gold. In fact, there have been online campaigns within the last handful of years, such as#OscarsSoWhite, that have shone a light on the lack of diversity and inclusion in The Academy. As we head into awards season, here’s a look at actors who are overdue for an Oscar win.
6Michelle Yeoh
An actress who has been in the industry for decades, and is well known for her role in the worldwide mainstream successCrouching Tiger Hidden Dragon,Michelle Yeohhas made a huge impression on the industry as a whole. Her most recent ventures have been in the blockbuster hitShang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, along with her Oscar-worthy performance in this year’sEverything Everywhere All At Once. Both of these films have helped shape her legacy in Hollywood. However, none of her roles so far have landed her favor with the Academy voters as she has yet to even be nominated. That being said,Gold Derbyplaces her at the top of their predictions list of potential Best Actress winners this year forEverything Everywhere All at Once.
Related:These 9 Actors Won the Most Oscars
5Johnny Depp
WithJohnny Depp’s storied history in Hollywood, it is shocking to think that he has no Oscar wins under his belt. He has been previously nominated by the Academy three times, but has never been able to gain a win from them in all the years he has been in the industry. During his prime, Depp was arguably one of the most versatile and unique actors, which is evidenced by how varied his Oscar-nominated characters are: Jack Sparrow inPirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl; J.M Barrie inFinding Neverland; and Sweeney Todd inSweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
4Micheal Keaton
Popularly known for his roles as Batman and Beetlejuice, it is shocking thatMichael Keatonhasn’t scored an Oscar win yet. The actor has been in multiple films aimed at The Academy, films likeSpotlight,The Founder, and, of course,Birdman. All of these are films that had the potential of getting Keaton a win from the Academy, particularly the latter (which earned him a nomination, at least). He is a rare actor who, across mediums and genres, proves himself a dedicated, nuanced, and talented performer. For what it’s worth for Keaton fans, he did win gold from the Television Academy earlier this year for his career-best work inDopesick.
3Andy Serkis
What do you do when an actor’s performance is mostly motion capture? Many people have argued that there should be an Oscar category specifically made for motion capture performances so thatAndy Serkiscould finally win. Indeed, Serkis has played a multitude of roles and has given amazing performances in motion capture, but they never seem to be recognized by the Academy, paticularly his chilling and thrilling turn as Smeagle/Gollum in theLord of the Ringstrilogy. Perhaps the biggest barrier, here, is the misconception from the Academy that, because his best work has been in motion capture, his performance is being somehow enhanced in post-production. This was similarly the case for Zoe Saldaña inAvatar.
Related:Oscars: The Only Horror Movies Ever Nominated for Best Picture
2Angela Bassett
FromThe Cosby ShowtoBlack Panther,Angela Bassetthas had a long career of amazing performances. Her performances in films likeMalcolm X,Akeelah and the Bee, andNotoriousare all could have easily landed her Oscar nominations, but that sadly wasn’t the case. In fact, it’s surprising that despite her notoriety in Hollywood, she hasn’t been nominated at the Oscars since 1994 (What’s Love Got to Do with It). This year, however, Bassett could possibly change that statistic, as the actress is currently garnering buzz for her work inBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever.
1Laurence Fishburne
Probably the most surprising actor to not have an Oscar win right now isLaurence Fishburne. Much like Basset, Fishburne has only been nominated once (also forWhat’s Love Got to with It) in his entire career despite his many years of being in the industry and turning in incredible performances. Whether it’s his work inThe Color PurpleorThe Matrix, the actor consistently turns in awards-worthy work. This is compounded by the fact that all the films he has been in are truly cult classics and highly loved by audiences everywhere. And yet, in spite of this, none of these roles have given him recognition by Academy voters.
