In Hollywood, there is nothing more valuable than an Academy Award, aka an Oscar, so much so that when actors lose theirs, it makes the news. Aside from celebrating the Oscar winners, there is also a tendency to obsess over the nominees, whether it’s the actors, directors, costume designers, screenwriters, or the feature films that they represent.
This might explain why the biggest Oscar snubbed movies of the decade still remain fresh in everyone's minds. Fans can’t help but feel bad for the actors who can’t seem to get an Oscar win, no matter how deserving they are.
Johnny Depp - Three Nominations
Over the years, and despite the more recent controversy, Johnny Depp has become one of the most versatile actors in Hollywood, able to shine in roles as varied as the ones he performed in Finding Neverland, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and the Pirates of the Caribbean movies.
His work on these films has earned him Oscar nods, while Sweeney Todd and Finding Neverland are among Depp’s best movies of all time. However, he is yet to win, although Depp doesn’t mind. In fact, according to the BBC, the actor told Newsbeat, “I don't want to win one of those things ever.”
Michelle Pfeiffer - Three Nominations
Throughout her career, Pfeiffer has picked up Oscar nominations for her work on films such as Love Field, The Fabulous Baker Boys, and Dangerous Liaisons, two of which are also considered the actress’s best movies.
Despite her lack of an Oscar win, however, it seems things are looking up for Pfeiffer. Earlier this year, the actress starred in the movie French Exit and some say, it might just be the movie that finally gets Pfeiffer her much-deserved Oscar. While discussing the film with Indie Wire, she also remarked, “I would put it up there with my top five wonderful filmmaking experiences.”
Edward Norton - Three Nominations
Things may not have gone well with Edward Norton and his portrayal of a certain big green monster over at Marvel. However, that hasn’t stopped Norton from flourishing on his own. Over the years, he has earned Oscar nominations for Birdman, Primal Fear, and American History X, which is considered one of Norton’s best movies.
As for his lack of an Oscar win, Norton simply told Us Weekly that he doesn’t “have any control over those things.” The veteran actor also added, “It’s a nice compliment, but, it’s uh [not expected].”
Tom Cruise - Three Nominations
Tom Cruise may be used to delivering box office hits, especially when it comes to his Mission: Impossible franchise, but over the years, the actor has also received Oscar nods for his performances in Born on the Fourth of July, Jerry Maguire, and more recently, Magnolia, where he starred as Frank T.J. Mackey.
One of the behind-the-scenes facts about making Magnolia that fans may not know about is that director, Paul Thomas Anderson, offered Cruise his part when he visited him on the set of Eyes Wide Shut. The actor rushed to shoot Magnolia soon after.
Saoirse Ronan - Four Nominations
She may not have been around for as long as some of the other Oscar nominees, but Ronan’s continuous string of impressive onscreen performances has resulted in several nominations. This includes her performance in films such as Atonement, Brooklyn, Lady Bird, and Little Women, all of which have been included amongst Ronan’s 10 best films, so far.
Ronan seems to be taking the situation in stride. “For me to even go to the Oscars, let alone be nominated, felt quite surreal,” the actress told The Sunday Post. “It still feels very much like that this time and I think it always will.”
Bradley Cooper - Four Nominations
Cooper is a brilliant actor and director who is yet to get an Oscar win, despite all his incredible onscreen performances over the years. This includes his work on movies like Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle, American Sniper, A Star is Born, and most recently, Joker.
While speaking with Hamilton’s Anthony Ramos for Interview, Cooper reflected on the awards season saying, “It’s ultimately a great thing because it really does make you face ego, vanity, and insecurity.” That said, the actor also referred to it as “utterly meaningless.”
Michelle Williams - Four Nominations
Williams is one of Hollywood's greatest underdogs. Time and time again, she delivers some of the most incredible performances on the big screen. This was exactly the case in films like Brokeback Mountain, Blue Mountain, My Week with Marilyn, and Manchester by the Sea, all of which resulted in Oscar nods but no Oscar win, just yet.
On the other hand, she recently won a Golden Globe for her work in the series Fosse/Verdon. In her acceptance speech, she discussed the importance of reproductive rights and called on women to vote.
Willem Dafoe - Four Nominations
Dafoe is a veteran actor who has taken on various diverse roles over the years. As far as the Oscars is concerned, the actor deserved nominations for his performance in the films Platoon, Shadow of the Vampire, The Florida Project, and At Eternity’s Gate.
Despite his lack of an Oscar win, for now, Dafoe remains humble and appreciative of his nominations. “This is not my life day-to-day. So when it happens, it's very special,” the actor remarked while speaking with ABC 7. “I'm happy to be here. I'll show up and I'll enjoy what there is to enjoy.”
Amy Adams - Six Nominations
Adams has consistently shown that she can deliver Oscar-worthy performances, receiving nominations for her work on films such as Junebug, Doubt, The Fighter, The Master, American Hustle, and Vice. She has gone far in recent years, considering that she nearly walked away from Hollywood at one point.
She revealed to the New York Times that she grew “tired of chasing something that might not belong to me, like a career in film and television.” Fortunately, she decided to stay and fans are almost positive there’s an Oscar in her future.
Glenn Close - Seven Nominations
Throughout her career, Close has received nominations for her performances in The World According to Garp, The Big Chill, The Natural, Fatal Attraction, Dangerous Liaisons, Albert Nobbs, and most recently, The Wife. The actress opened up recently regarding how she felt about actress Gwyneth Paltrow’s Oscar win in 1999. While speaking with Harper’s Bazaar, Close remarked it didn’t “make sense.”
She also believes that the person who ultimately wins has “a lot” to do with “publicity, how much money do they have to, you know, to put it out in front of everybody's sight.”