During “awards season,” things don’t always go as we expect! For example, an actor you could swear is drowning in the Academy Awards may not actually have a single win to their name. Is that fair? No. Should you and everyone at your Oscars party fight for hours about why these actors deserve the industry’s biggest awards? Yes.
Below are some iconic Hollywood actors who are surprisingly Oscar-free.
Amy Adams
The six-time nominee – known for her roles in “Junebug,” “Doubt,” “The Fighter,” “The Master,” “American Hustle and Vice” – has surprisingly never won an Oscar, although it seems like it’s only a matter of time until that day arrives for her.
Edward Norton
Despite four nominations over four decades – for “Primal Fear,” “American History X,” “Birdman” and now “A Complete Unknown” – the American actor has never made it to the Oscars podium to give his acceptance speech.
Guy Pearce
The star of Best Picture winners The Hurt Locker and The King's Speech, not to mention Oscar nominees LA Confidential and Memento, Pearce is, to the surprise of many, celebrating his first Oscar nomination this year, with his fantastic performance as a supporting actor in The Brutalist.
Bradley Cooper
Most recently up for best actor, best original screenplay and best picture for his virtuoso work in last year's "Maestro," Cooper has been nominated for Oscars 12 times for his acting, writing, directing and producing in a wide range of projects, from "Silver Linings Playbook" and "American Hustle," to "American Starker" and "Sniper Jonight."
Saoirse Ronan
The 30-year-old, surprisingly, has already earned four Oscar nominations - for her moving performances in "Atonement," "Brooklyn," "Lady Bird" and most recently "Little Women," but no wins.
Annette Bening
In the best actress category last year for her role in "Nyad," Bening has been nominated for an Oscar a total of five times.
Michelle Williams
Nominated five times – for 2005’s “Brokeback Mountain,” 2010’s “Blue Valentine,” 2011’s “My Week with Marilyn,” 2016’s “Manchester by the Sea” and 2022’s “The Fablemans” – Williams has yet to take home an Oscar, though that day feels inevitable.
Stanley Tucci
Despite memorable roles in films like “Julie & Julia” and “Big Night,” Tucci has only been nominated once, for “The Lovely Bones,” walking away empty-handed from the 2010 Oscars. The same role earned Tucci a BAFTA and Golden Globe nomination.
Ian McKellen
The acting legend has been nominated twice, for his roles in 1998's "Gods and Monsters" and 2001's "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring," but has not won.
Ralph Fiennes
Like his Schindler's List co-star Liam Neeson, Fiennes was nominated for an Oscar in 1994, ultimately losing to Tommy Lee Jones. When he received a second nomination, for his leading role in 1996's The English Patient, he was beaten again, this time by Geoffrey Rush. This year, he's back in contention with his masterful performance in Conclave.
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Source: Vogue
