Favourite Actor / Actress to have Never Won an Oscar

[SextusMaximus]

My first post here in a long while, after seeing actors get snubbed time after time by the Academy, who is your personal favourite actor or actress never to have won an Academy Award? (they could have been nominated).

Personally, I'm a big fan of Ethan Hawke in near enough anything he does, with some personal favourites being Before Sunrise and Sinister (yes, I enjoyed that movie).
I also absaolutely love Helena Bonham Carter, and would likely be able to sit through any movie as long as she had a big role in it.

So who's your favourite, Escapist?

 

[SckizoBoy]

I also absaolutely love Helena Bonham Carter, and would likely be able to sit through any movie as long as she had a big role in it.

Damn... beaten in the OP... but she is marvelous, can't argue with that, especially given the diversity of her roles across her quite understated career.

On a similar note, Miranda Richardson... got a couple nominations, but no wins, and she has a like versatility. I'm also rather partial to Stephen Boyd, pity that he died quite young...

 

[Cabisco]

I believe im right in saying Gary Oldman has never won an oscar and I'd consider him one of the best actors living today. The guy is brilliant.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

I second Gary Oldman. I don't know how many nominations he's had but he should've won every last one of them.

Joseph Gordon Levitt and Sam Rockwell. Neither have ever given a bad performance.

The problem is that the Oscars aren't about "not giving a bad performance", they tend to focus on the memorability or transcendence of the part as well. Daniel Day Lewis may be brilliant in everything he does, but he will only win Oscars for the portrayal of real-life inspirational story people (Lincoln and the dude with the left foot). See also Precious, Capote, John Nash, Sandra Bullock in that one role, Jake La Motta, the Queen of England, the King of England, Idi Amin, etc, etc, etc.

While there're just as many fictional characters worthy (amd winners) of Oscars, you have to take into account that 50% or more votes are saved and exclusive to these Based On A True Story characters. I realize Gordon Levitt already portrayed a real-ish cancer survivor in 50/50 (and Lincoln's son) but if you see the list above most of those stories are Life Stories which usually have a large impact in the course of the world.

 

[DanielBrown]

I third Gary Oldman. He's a great actor with tons of variety. Why he hasn't won an Oscar is beyond me, and as far as I know(just checked) he only got nominated once for a role he did in 2011. Sick world we're living in.

 

[DeepReaver]

See the issue here is we know these actors are good and more than worthy to get awards but do the Oscars really matter? I mean the Oscars are bias as hell for one, always going more towards formulaic 'feel good' historical or based on a true story movies than anything with any true real substances for it. Even in categories where the sci-fi or fantasy would have excelled. I mean look at Tron Legacy, now i can understand it not winning Best Original Score, but to not even be nominated was a travesty.

Back on topic however, everyone tends to go towards Leonardo DiCaprio, or Gary Oldman, or Johnny Depp. But what about Robert Downey, Jr? If i remember correct he has not gotten an Oscar yet either. Ooo oo or Liam Neeson damn crime that he did not get one for Schindler's List, lost to Tom Hanks in Philadelphia of all things.

 

[Artina89]

Two of my favourite actors are Robert Downey Jr and Alan Rickman, and I believe that neither of them have ever won an Oscar, so I am going to go with these two. I adore Benedict Cumberbatch as well, so I'll add him to the list.

 

[electric_warrior]

Jim Carrey

Seriously, watch The Truman Show, Eternal Sunshine, Man on the Moon and I Love You, Phillip Morris.

He's a very good actor and he deserves to have gotten a nomination by now.

Also Ryan Gosling and Kirk Douglas

 

[Total LOLige]

Jim Carrey

Seriously, watch The Truman Show, Eternal Sunshine, Man on the Moon and I Love You, Phillip Morris.

He's a very good actor and he deserves to have gotten a nomination by now.

You forgot The Number 23 such an awesome film.

Where's Seth Rogan, James Franco and Danny Mcbrides shared Oscar? Also, where the fuck is Edward Norton's Oscar? Guy Pearce should have an Oscar too, dude was amazing in Memento.

Spoiler: How am I supposed to heal, when I can't feel time?(Memento spoilers sort of)

Oscars are stupid anyway.

 

[Terminate421]

Robert Downey Jr. He was nominated for an oscar with Tropic Thunder but he never won it.

 

[Ed130 The Vanguard]

See the issue here is we know these actors are good and more than worthy to get awards but do the Oscars really matter? I mean the Oscars are bias as hell for one, always going more towards formulaic 'feel good' historical or based on a true story movies than anything with any true real substances for it. Even in categories where the sci-fi or fantasy would have excelled. I mean look at Tron Legacy, now i can understand it not winning Best Original Score, but to not even be nominated was a travesty.

It was at that point I just gave up on the Oscars completely. I too doubt Daft Punk would have won due to the bias giant them but not even a nomination...

Liam Neeson and Robert Downey Jr, both talented men who deserve a shiny statue.

 

[James Joseph Emerald]

Came here to say Gary Oldman, though that's a bit of an obvious choice.

Here's one that might be controversial: Brad Pitt.
Sure, he's a pretty boy, but he's a ridiculously good actor.
Give him any role and he'll nail it, without all the theatrics of 'serious' actors like Daniel Day Lewis or Christian Bale.

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

Came here to say Gary Oldman, though that's a bit of an obvious choice.

Hands down the best actor in the world. The guy is a chameleon. Sometimes if I don't know that he's in a movie, I won't even recognize him. He's that good.

Here's one that might be controversial: Brad Pitt.
Sure, he's a pretty boy, but he's a ridiculously good actor.
Give him any role and he'll nail it, without all the theatrics of 'serious' actors like Daniel Day Lewis or Christian Bale.

Agreed. Brad Pitt is underestimated because of his boyish looks. But he's a phenomenal actor. Maybe as he gets older he'll be more appreciated. I'd like that.

I know I'll get a lot of hate for this, but my favorite actress is Scarlett Johansson. She's been in a lot of indie movies before she got involved with Marvel. She was amazing in Horse Whisperer (though just a kid), in Lost in Translation and A Love Song for Bobby Long. And now I fear that she'll never even get a nomination because of all the action stuff that she's been doing lately. Hopefully she'll bounce back into the more dramatic roles after she's done with Marvel.

 

[James Joseph Emerald]

I know I'll get a lot of hate for this, but my favorite actress is Scarlett Johansson. She's been in a lot of indie movies before she got involved with Marvel. She was amazing in Horse Whisperer (though just a kid), in Lost in Translation and A Love Song for Bobby Long. And now I fear that she'll never even get a nomination because of all the action stuff that she's been doing lately. Hopefully she'll bounce back into the more dramatic roles after she's done with Marvel.

Ah c'mon. Scarlett Johansson isn't bad, but there are some really good actresses out there that always get overlooked.

Charlize Theron[footnote]Overlooked in her case moreso by audiences than critics, since she has actually won quite a few awards, including an Oscar[/footnote], for example, I would consider up there with Gary Oldman, Daniel Day Lewis, Robert DeNiro, et al, in terms of amazing chameleonic ability. See: Monster, Young Adult, In the Valley of Elah, Prometheus. And her turn as the evil Queen in Snow White and the Huntsman was on the level of Gary Oldman's brilliantly hammy villain roles.

Someone as pretty as her could easily go the Jennifer Aniston route and just do vapid romcoms all the time, but she actually tries to challenge herself and goes for some really unique and daring roles. I love that.

 

[Queen Michael]

I know I'll get a lot of hate for this, but my favorite actress is Scarlett Johansson. She's been in a lot of indie movies before she got involved with Marvel. She was amazing in Horse Whisperer (though just a kid), in Lost in Translation and A Love Song for Bobby Long. And now I fear that she'll never even get a nomination because of all the action stuff that she's been doing lately. Hopefully she'll bounce back into the more dramatic roles after she's done with Marvel.

Ah c'mon. Scarlett Johansson isn't bad, but there are some really good actresses out there that always get overlooked.

Charlize Theron[footnote]Overlooked in her case moreso by audiences than critics, since she has actually won quite a few awards, including an Oscar[/footnote], for example, I would consider up there with Gary Oldman, Daniel Day Lewis, Robert DeNiro, et al, in terms of amazing chameleonic ability. See: Monster, Young Adult, In the Valley of Elah, Prometheus. And her turn as the evil Queen in Snow White and the Huntsman was on the level of Gary Oldman's brilliantly hammy villain roles.

Someone as pretty as her could easily go the Jennifer Aniston route and just do vapid romcoms all the time, but she actually tries to challenge herself and goes for some really unique and daring roles. I love that.

And it's all that talent that's the reason she has received an Oscar, and nobody mentioned her in this thread for actors who haven't.

 

[James Joseph Emerald]

And it's all that talent that's the reason she has received an Oscar, and nobody mentioned her in this thread for actors who haven't.

All I'm saying is Charlize Theron > Scarlett Johansson.

As for actresses who don't have an Oscar and deserve one: Noomi Rapace comes to mind.
And Saoirse Ronan is young, but I could see her getting one pretty soon.

 

[an annoyed writer]

Came here to say Gary Oldman, though that's a bit of an obvious choice.

Here's one that might be controversial: Brad Pitt.
Sure, he's a pretty boy, but he's a ridiculously good actor.
Give him any role and he'll nail it, without all the theatrics of 'serious' actors like Daniel Day Lewis or Christian Bale.

Brad Pitt is a lot better of an actor than his reputation suggests, that's for sure. He's got a diverse filmography, and he usually nails anything he does pretty well. He was absolutely terrific in Fight Club, and I also liked his performance in Spy Game, of all things.

 

[shootthebandit]

Came here to say Gary Oldman, though that's a bit of an obvious choice.

Here's one that might be controversial: Brad Pitt.
Sure, he's a pretty boy, but he's a ridiculously good actor.
Give him any role and he'll nail it, without all the theatrics of 'serious' actors like Daniel Day Lewis or Christian Bale.

Brad Pitt is a lot better of an actor than his reputation suggests, that's for sure. He's got a diverse filmography, and he usually nails anything he does pretty well. He was absolutely terrific in Fight Club, and I also liked his performance in Spy Game, of all things.

I kinda agree hes been in some really cool movies especially in his earlier years. Seriously watch snatch if you can (i dont know how popular it is outside the uk) but his part as a gypsy bare knuckle boxer is superb. He picks up the gypsy accent perfectly and you almost forget hes american in this incredibly british film