What does an Oscar really mean? What do any awards actually mean? Casual audiences probably don’t care very much about such things, and I think that’s a fair perspective. After all, not every actor in the world can win an Oscar, not even the truly great ones. And, overall, I don’t think that really speaks to any actor or film’s worth, anyway. Similar to how movies that flop at the box office can still be great, or even find an audience later on streaming.
Still, there are certain actors out there that are just so talented that I can’t help but scratch my head at the fact that they’ve never even been nominated for an Academy Award, let alone won one. It may not be the end-goal of every actor, but in my mind, with some performers, it feels like it’s only a matter of time before that nomination happens.
Paul Dano
Sorry, not sorry, Quentin Tarantino
Funnily enough, I was already going to include Paul Dano on this list before Quentin Tarantino’s bizarre criticisms of his acting ability came to light. Call it a happy accident. Needless to say, I couldn’t disagree more with the legendary filmmaker about Dano’s talent level. Simply put, I believe he’s one of the best character actors of his generation, and I found it odd that he hadn’t already been nominated for an Oscar.
Personally, I think he could have easily gotten the nomination for There Will Be Blood, but there are a handful of other roles that could have easily gotten him the award. The big ones that come to mind for me are Swiss Army Man and Love & Mercy. Either way, Dano is one of those actors where it feels like it’s only a matter of time before he gets some major award love.
Jim Carrey
Seriously, how?
This one continues to baffle me with each passing year. Jim Carrey is obviously known for his comedic roles, like the Ace Ventura movies and The Mask. But with roles in films like The Truman Show and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Carrey proved beyond a reasonable doubt his ability to bring dramatic roles to life. Personally, I think it was something of a no-brainer that he should have been nominated for the latter film.
Yet during his long and illustrious career, Carrey has not received a single Oscar nomination. Like Mulder in The X-Files, I want to believe that it’s only a matter of time before he gets his just recognition, but Carrey has never struck me as the type to play the politics game needed to get nominated. Obviously, he’ll go down as one of the best comedic actors of all time, so it’s not like he needs it for his legacy. But it’s still extremely odd to me.
Mads Mikkelsen
More than just the best Hannibal
Like a lot of people, I really discovered how great Mads Mikkelsen is thanks to his eponymous role in the Hannibal series (I’m still waiting for a fourth season). But Mikkelsen is a bona fide brilliant character actor, with a ton of range. Personally, I was shocked when he didn’t pick a Best Actor nomination for Another Round, which is easily one of his best performances. Or even Arctic, which is one of the best movies featuring only one actor.
Maybe it’ll never happen, but considering how many great roles he’s been in recently, I believe there’s still a chance that Mikkelsen will at least land some kind of major acting award or nomination in the next few years. But even if not, you should really check out Hannibal immediately.
Elizabeth Olsen
This Olsen sister has a ton of range
She may have gained fame from her time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but Elizabeth Olsen really captured my attention in her more indie drama roles. Ideally, she should have been nominated for Martha Marcy May Marlene, which is a devastating film that only really works because of her brilliant performance.
But like Dano, I believe her time will come. She’s still quite young, and her best roles are seemingly in front of her. But I mean, come on, how do you not nominate her for Martha Marcy May Marlene? Or even Wind River? It seems like a massive oversight to me. Either way, though, it’s clear she’s achieved a level of success that even her once-famous sisters did not, and that’s amazing in its own right.
I get it, an Oscar isn’t everything
Mostly, my indignation throughout this list is very tongue-in-cheek. Seemingly arbitrary awards should not be a measurement of success for any actor or creative. And yet, there is a certain prestige that still comes from winning an Oscar, and to me, this is just a small sample size of the actors who are overdue or next in line to be recognized for their incredible talent. If you’re looking for more award bait, though, find out why Apple TV+ has become the new home for prestige TV.
