The Academy Awards, otherwise known as the Oscars, have traditionally been viewed as one of the most prestigious awards an actor can receive. Countless actors have received recognition from the Academy, and yet some, despite all expectations and their talent, are still waiting for their awards. This became a long-running joke among actors such as Leonardo DiCaprio, who was notoriously snubbed of the award for years until his performance in The Revenant earned him his first Oscar in 2016. Though many well-known actors receive recognition at other ceremonies, it is still perplexing to see those who haven’t received an Academy Award. This is a list of brilliant, well-deserved actors who have come close or deserved to win in years past.

Updated January 2023: To keep this article fresh and relevant by adding more information and entries, this article has been updated by Wishka Tilakaratne.

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13 Bradley Cooper

     Warner Bros. Pictures

Bradley Cooper has definitely acquired Oscar buzz throughout his career but unfortunately has yet to take one home. He has been nominated for eight Oscars, many stemming from his directorial debut feature with Lady Gaga, A Star is Born in 2019. Making his feature film debut in the 2001 comedy, Wet Hot American Summer, Cooper has been on the scene for two decades. He was nominated for Best Actor for his roles in Silver Linings Playbook and A Star is Born. He also received a nomination for Best Supporting Actor in American Hustle in 2014.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

12 Salma Hayek

     Miramax Films

Salma Hayek’s “breakout role” was Carolina in 1995’s Desperado. After bouncing around in several films, Hayek was nominated for an Academy Award for her portrayal of Frida Kahlo in Frida. The film saw success from other ceremonies and received Academy Awards for Best Original Score and Makeup. Being considered one of Hayek’s most notable roles and for her beautiful portrayal of Kahlo, this Oscar feels snubbed. Still active on the screen, most recently appearing in House of Gucci, we hope to see Hayek earn her first Oscar soon.

11 Michelle Yeoh

     A24

After years of popular action films in Hong Kong, Michelle Yeoh made her Hollywood debut in 1997 in Tomorrow Never Dies as Wai Lin. In 2000, Yeoh portrayed Yu Shu Lien in the ten-time Academy Award-nominated film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, which held the most nominations for a non-English film ever during its time. Most recently, Yeoh portrayed Eleanor Sung-Young in 2019’s Crazy Rich Asians. The film was unfortunately not nominated for any Academy Awards, which comes as a disappointment especially due to Yeoh’s memorable role as an overbearing, villainous mother in the film. However, Yeoh’s performance in Everything Everywhere All At Once allowed her to finally win the Golden Globes award for Best Actress. Yeoh is set to appear in the new Avatar sequel, which is sure to gather nominations.

10 Naomie Harris

Having acted in over twenty feature films in under fifteen years, Naomie Harris made a name for herself after winning a Black Reel Award for Outstanding Breakthrough Performance for her role as Selena in 28 Days Later. Harris eventually was nominated for her first Academy Award for her role as Paula in 2016’s Moonlight. Her nomination was for Best Supporting Actress and was certainly worthy of the award. Her crushing performance of a drug-addicted mother whose abusive tendencies damage her relationship with her son still stings in the hearts of audiences. We hope Harris will pull in more nominations again and finally get her award.

9 Johnny Depp

     Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Having starred in numerous iconic films and for his diverse portrayals of zany characters, it is genuinely surprising that Johnny Depp has no Oscar wins on his shelf. Depp made his debut in 1984’s A Nightmare on Elm Street, and has played memorable roles such as Jack Sparrow, Willy Wonka, Sweeney Todd, and more. Although being Academy nominated for Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Finding Neverland, and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Depp has stated he doesn’t ever want to win an Oscar. He is, however, honored by the nominations he has received, saying they are enough.

8 Samuel L. Jackson

One of the highest-grossing actors of all time, Samuel L. Jackson has starred in countless critically acclaimed films. In 2021, it was announced that he would receive an honorary Academy Award. So close to the real thing. Before this, his only Academy recognition was for his role as Jules Winnfield in Pulp Fiction. Despite receiving his honorary Academy Award, we are interested to see if Jackson can still obtain the classic, golden man in the future.

7 Willem Dafoe

     Netflix (France) Curzon Artificial Eye(United Kingdom) CBS Films (United States)

Willem Dafoe received his first Oscar nomination for his role as Sergeant Elias Grodin in Platoon back in 1986. Thirty-six years later, we are still waiting for Dafoe’s first award. Dafoe received a second nomination for Best Supporting Actor as Max Schreck in the 2000 film Shadow of the Vampire. Since then, Dafoe has portrayed various notable characters in films such as At Eternity’s Gate, which he received a Best Actor nomination for, The Florida Project, for which he again received a Best Supporting Actor nomination, as well as for The Lighthouse. There seems to be no stopping Dafoe as he continues to be cast in various films across all genres, so there is hope for him in the near future.

6 Kristen Stewart

     Neon (United States) STXinternational (United Kingdom) DCM Film Distribution (Germany) Sun Distribution (Chile)

Kristen Stewart’s style of acting was harshly criticized after her breakout role as Bella Swan in the Twilight franchise. Her brooding demeanor only needed to be placed in new settings where it could flourish. Since then, her style has shaped and come into itself, as seen in her role as Sabina Wilson in 2019’s Charlie’s Angels. Stewart is one of the most resilient actresses in Hollywood and has had recent Oscar buzz for her portrayal of Princess Diana in Spencer. Having won multiple awards and receiving well over thirty nominations so far, many are of the opinion that Stewart is destined for her first Oscar nomination this year. Only time will tell if she actually wins the coveted statue at the awards ceremony in March 2022.

5 Glenn Close

     Picturehouse Entertainment(United Kingdom) Sony Pictures Classics(United States) SF Studios (Sweden)

An actress that continues to shock viewers through her brilliant performances, Glenn Close had her breakthrough in the 1980s thanks to her first film role in The World According to Garp. The fact that this first-big-screen performance brought her her first Academy Awards nomination is a clear statement of how talented Close is. Following this, Close went on to deliver some phenomenal performances in Fatal Attraction and Albert Nobbs. Her role in The Wife was one emotional delivery that garnered a lot of praise. She is one actress who has received eight Oscar Nominations, but zero wins.

4 Edward Norton

     20th Century Fox

Well known for her role as the unnamed narrator and the protagonist in the cult classic, Fight Club, Edward Norton has already proved that he is able to take over some brutally harsh roles. Norton’s roles have not been easy ones, as certain roles tend to reflect the mental status of the said characters, in turn, urging the actor to dwell deep into the character’s personality and mindset. The fact that Norton has not backed off from such performances and has, in fact, perfectly captured the requirements is evidence to say that he is one of the best in Hollywood. Recently, his performances in The French Dispatch and Glass Onion have illustrated his ability to take over diver roles. For someone who has been taking over huge roles for years, he is yet to receive an Oscar.

3 Ralph Fiennes

     Searchlight Pictures

For some, he is known as Lord Voldemort, but Ralph Fiennes is one actor who has taken over the big screen as well as the theater stage. When looking at the roles that Fiennes has taken over, it is obvious that he has been successful in portraying some cold-hearted villains. His recent role as Chef Slowik in The Menu is a perfect example of how he is able to reflect on a character’s journey, mindset, and evil nature. It is no easy task to portray complex characters such as Chef Slowik, but Fiennes has done it so perfectly that it is impossible to consider any other actor for such roles.

2 Sir Ian McKellen

     New Line Cinema

Yet another actor who is known for his performances on stage and on the big screen, Ian McKellen is one of the most lovable actors in Hollywood. From his performances in the X-Men series, The Lord of The Rings series, and The Hobbit series, McKellen is able to portray both heroes and villains, which goes on to prove his talent. The fact that this actor is yet to win an Oscar is shocking. Nonetheless, it is always a delight to see McKellen take over any role simply because he is able to tap into any notes required by the characters.

1 Amy Adams

     Sony Pictures Releasing (United States, Latin America, South Africa and Eastern Europe)Panorama Media (International) 

Amy Adams might have had a rough journey in becoming a successful actor but her breakthrough roles in Junebug and Enchanted allowed her to showcase her talent, in turn, making her one of the most well-known actresses in Hollywood. Adams has received six Oscar nominations thus far. While this itself shows that she is one that deserves a win, her success in films like American Hustle and Vice further affirms why she deserves a spot on this list.