Top 5 Actors Who Have Never Won an Oscar

Every year it’s the same old story. The Academy Award Nominations come out, and people are up in arms about how their favorite actor or actress wasn’t nominated in their respected category. Then, come Oscar night, people are up in arms once again, because their pick for the category didn’t win. We’ve gone through phase 1 already. Now comes phase 2 this weekend when we find out who the big winners of the 2016 Academy Awards will be. I’m sure we are all counting on Leo finally being recognized for his incredible, and sometimes overacted (sorry), skills. So it got me to think, what about other actors who haven’t been recognized for their body of work? Here are my Top 5 Actors Who Have Never Won an Oscar.

5. Michelle Pfeiffer

This woman has been nominated a total of three times. Her nominations include, Best Supporting Actress for Dangerous Liaisons in 1989, Best Actress for The Fabulous Baker Boys in 1990, and Love Field in 1993. What I enjoy about watching Pfeiffer’s performances is that she has a very good range of playing both good and bad people. Her characters are always strong, and often heartbreaking. Also, who could forget her performance as Catwoman. She was definitely better than Anne Hathaway. Since the early 2000s, her performances have become more of a character from a Lifetime movie, or characters that are far less interesting than the ones she’s played in the past. I wouldn’t count her out just yet. I believe she has another great performance in there somewhere.

4. Gary Oldman

Gary Oldman is one of the best actors of his time. Having been in films such as Leon: The Professional, The Fifth Element, and The Dark Knight Trilogy, he deserves a spot on this list. In 2012, Oldman was nominated for his first, and only Oscar, for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. In my opinion, this wasn’t Oldman’s best performance, but a great performance none the less. In the end, Oldman was eventually beat out by Jean Dujardin for The Artist. Hopefully, we see Oldman as a nominee in the coming years.

3. Sigourney Weaver

As a fan of Sigourney Weaver, I believe she deserves her Oscar! Weaver has been nominated a total of three times for Best Actress for Alien in 1987, Best Supporting Actress for Working Girl in 1989, and Best Actress for Gorillas in the Mist in 1989. However, although her resume speaks to her versatile skills, she was beat out in each category. Although Weaver is still an active actress, something tells me that she will only be getting an Honorary Oscar in her career.

2. Ralph Fiennes

I was surprised when I saw that Ralph Fiennes had never received an Oscar. And I was even more surprised, when I saw that he had only been nominated twice. Both nominations came early in his career with Best Supporting Actor for Schindler’s List in 1994 (who he eventually lost to Tommy Lee Jones for The Fugitive), and Best Actor for The English Patient in 1997. Both films are incredible and should have garnered Fiennes at least one win. I’m sorry, but The Fugitive over Schindler’s List? Both are great films but Jones’ portrayal of Samuel Gerard over Fiennes’ evil Amon Goeth? Nope. Nope. Nope. I would have loved to see Fiennes nominated for The Reader, or even, The Grand Budapest Hotel. Fiennes’ career has diminished, and his roles have become a little lackluster. I wish he would turn again to the dramatic films that made him a star!

1. Joaquin Phoenix

Did you expect any other name at the top of this list? The man gives everything in every performance. Phoenix has been nominated a total of three times with films that include Best Supporting Actor for Gladiator in 2001, Best Actor for Walk the Line in 2006, and Best Actor for The Master in 2013. But for Phoenix, I don’t think winning an Oscar is on his priority list. At the 2013 Oscar ceremony, as they announced the names of the nominees for Best Actor, the camera focused on Phoenix, whose name had just been read. As the camera looked upon him, Phoenix didn’t do anything but look down and shake his head. He also might have been snacking on some popcorn. I don’t know if he knew that his chances of winning the Oscar were slim, or if he just didn’t give a crap. Either way, Phoenix deserves an Oscar at some point in his career, and I believe his day will come very soon.