The Most Oscar-Worthy Actors Who Somehow Never Won

With a smile that could melt hearts and a voice like no other, Doris Day was Hollywood's sweetheart for decades. She was routinely the top box office earner in the country, but that success never translated into Oscar glory. She did receive the American Comedy Awards' Lifetime Achievement Award in Comedy back in 1991, though.

Jackie Brown was Pam Grier's ticket to an Oscar nomination that she never got. Her co-star Robert Forster got one, but not her. The movie was a career-high that she hasn't been able to top, too. So it’s a shame the Academy didn't recognize it. IMDb says Grier's got a few more credits in the pipeline, though!

Of his many roles, Johnny Depp found great success with director Tim Burton. The two even created some of the most unusual, enduring characters in cinema. Depp got nominated for their team-up in Sweeney Todd, so maybe another collaboration is needed for his win. Though true to character, the actor says he doesn't want to win an Oscar anyway.

Jim Carrey has never won an Oscar, but he doesn't seem to mind. He told Vanity Fair in 2019, “There’s a lot of monkey business that goes on around awards. If you don’t show up to a certain dinner, you screw your chances and all those things. I’ve never been real good at playing that game... The only time I’ve ever felt a twinge of something about an award or not getting nominated is whenever people tell me I should be. Like, really? Should I be disgruntled? I had a wonderful time and I met a bunch of people… Isn’t that enough?”

Amy Adams has frequently shown up in critically successful and audience-praised films. She has worked alongside top-tier filmmakers and actors. And in the process, she’s racked up a whopping six Oscar nominations. Clearly, this woman is on the Academy's radar. So surely one is bound to work out for her soon. We hope she’s making space on the mantel!

If Helena Bonham Carter’s tragic turn as Princess Margaret in The Crown is anything to go by, the star just needs a good film role to earn herself that Oscar. She's been nominated before, so she can do it again. At least her attitude is very laid back: if she gets one, she gets one.

ScarJo's voice might go down in Hollywood history as the most recognizable, but so far her talent hasn't translated into Oscar glory. Her transition into more serious fare was a success, though, with hits such as Marriage Story and Jojo Rabbit. We can’t wait to see what the next few years have in store for her.

Mary Tyler Moore was the biggest star on TV for the better part of a decade — you need only look at her long list of Primetime Emmy wins and nominations. And her transition to film proved successful, too, with a nomination, but no win, for her role as Beth Jarrett in Ordinary People. Her fans still loved her regardless.

Her quick wit and powerful voice made Bette Midler a staple of Hollywood and Broadway, but even after a career that spanned over four decades, Midler never took home the top prize at the Oscars. She has a whole host of other accolades — but she's said one of the best ones was the "perfect attendance" award she received from the ushers and box office staff after a residency in Vegas.

Sir Ian McKellen was nominated for The Lord of the Rings and the biopic Gods and Monsters, but he lost both. He's continued to act, in film and on stage, but his more successful award wins have been on his home turf of England. In 2016, mind you, McKellan questioned why no openly queer actor has ever won the Best Actor award.

During her heyday in the late '80s and early '90s, this fantasy woman was a three-time nominee. Then, after coming out of a mid-career pause, Michelle Pfeiffer starred in the moody Where is Kyra? It was a raw look at the darker side the actor is very capable of showing, proving she was always something more than a "cool blonde beauty." But it still didn't make her a winner.

While nominated for Hotel Rwanda (2004), Don Cheadle has never won an Oscar — but his career is still plenty decorated. He's the winner of two Golden Globes, a Grammy, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. Additionally, he's been a huge activist for causes in Africa. Seeing the difference he makes is probably a better reward than any statuette!

Alfre Woodard might be the queen of the Primetime Emmys, but her acclaimed performances in films such as 12 Years a Slave and Cross Creek proved that she is one of the most emotive actors in the game. We look forward to seeing what the next few years have in store for her.

Nowadays people think of Liam Neeson as the action film guy, but before his Taken time, the actor was really thought of as the guy who lost the Oscar to Tom Hanks. In 1994 it seemed he had the Academy Award in his hand for Schindlers List, but Hanks took home the gold that year for Philadelphia.

Curry's health ailments have stopped his career, but in the '70s, The Rocky Horror Picture Show was an acting achievement. What other actor could have expressed deranged flamboyance in fishnet stockings and given it their full respect? A string of other classic roles followed but unfortunately, no Oscar. In fact, he hasn't been nominated for any of the big film awards — just for TV.

Now in her late-70s, Mia Farrow's most iconic role was in 1968 with Rosemary's Baby. She wasn't nominated, but her co-star Ruth Gordon was. The film can't work without Farrow's titular character, and it was probably a frustrating snub — even more so when Gordon actually went on to win. She did at least thank Farrow in her Oscar speech.

Of the many performances Song Kang-ho has done with director Bong Joon-ho, one of his best could be found in the relatively recent hit Parasite. The Academy awarded the film itself, but neither Song nor anyone from the cast was singled out for their strong work. Still, being in a film that's won an award is better than nothing!

Jake Gyllenhaal’s last Oscar nomination was for Brokeback Mountain in 2005. And with more than 30 acting credits since then, he’s had lots of goes at trying to get another! Fans no doubt think that his fairly recent crazy-eyed performance in Nightcrawler should have been another big opportunity, but sadly nothing came of it.

With four Academy Award nominations under her belt at the time of writing, Saoirse Ronan must be doing something right. She got her first one for Atonement when she was just 13! If the actor carries on the way she’s going, churning out great movies such as 2020’s Little Women, she will be sure to land the trophy eventually.

Known best for her memorable voice, Joan Cusack has netted two Oscar nominations — both for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. One was for In & Out, and the other was for her role in Working Girl, which came out all the way back in 1988. Cusack is a top talent, but so far she keeps coming up short of the big win.

Critics rave about Taraji P. Henson every time she appears on screen, but so far she's been unable to snag any of the biggest awards. Her only Acadamy Award nomination at the moment was for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button in 2008, but we know she’s been in Oscar-worthy roles since.

Recently, Willem Dafoe was vocal about his interest in taking roles that are weird. In The Lighthouse, he kept good on his word. Dafoe howls in poetic, Maine-accented speech and is mesmerizing. He wasn't nominated for an Oscar this time, but maybe another strange role will stick. The weird stuff seems to suit the actor.

What’s your favorite Rachel McAdams movie? The Notebook? Spotlight? Mean Girls? About Time? Just from this list, it's clear that the star is extremely versatile. While her recent move away from the heavier fare might delay her Oscar glory a bit, we're certain she'll take home the prize one day. She's a very worthy winner indeed.

Whenever Idris Elba is on screen, he steals the show. But he still hasn't received an Oscar yet! Still, he needn't be too hard on himself, as there's no shortage of awards on his mantle. That’s just what happens when you're good at everything — music, movies, and TV! His performance on the hit show Luther earned him several nominations and wins.

Cynthia Erivo took Broadway by storm with her groundbreaking performance in The Color Purple, and now she has her sights set on Hollywood. She may have only had a few major roles so far, but she's already secured her first Oscar nomination. That was for the actor’s leading role in Harriet, a biopic about Harriet Tubman’s life. The future looks bright for Erivo.

Toni Collette was given an Oscar nod in 2000 for her role in The Sixth Sense. And after she unleashed a volatile, grief-stricken mother across the big screen in Hereditary, it became clear that horror is her forte. Sadly, that performance didn’t receive the recognition it deserved, meaning Collette is still waiting for that big win.

Catherine Deneuve’s icy smiles and mysterious demeanor have made her a giant in the world of French film. But even after all her success abroad, she's never taken home the top prize in America. Hollywood, how could you?! Have you seen The Umbrellas of Cherbourg? Do you know what romance is? No matter what anyone says, je t'aime, Deneuve, je t'aime.

From playing the mischievous Harley Quinn to the brilliant Queen Elizabeth I, Robbie is known for her ability to transform into whatever role she takes on. But it hasn’t earned her an Oscar yet. With two nominations — one for Bombshell and one for I, Tonya — she must be doing something right. And seeing as Robbie is only in her 30s, the star has plenty of time to get one in the bag.

Fans who only knew Laurie Metcalf from Roseanne were blown away by her forceful performance in Lady Bird, where she proved she's more than ready to compete with the best of them at the Oscars. She was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the time but lost out to Allison Janney, who played LaVona Golden in I, Tonya.

Janelle Monáe's success in music wouldn't necessarily translate to film, but she's absolutely captivating on screen. Her acting has received rave reviews, and she’s starred in multiple award-winning movies — Moonlight and Hidden Figures being the most notable. It'll be only a matter of time before she takes home an Oscar that she doesn't have to share.

Natalie Wood was nominated three times for Academy Awards before her tragic death in 1981 — twice for Best Actress in a Leading Role. But she missed out on taking the prizes home. But while she never got the recognition she deserved, her talent and beauty will be remembered for generations to come.

Keira Knightley’s initial fame came from roles in action flicks such as Pirates of the Caribbean and King Arthur, but Knightley quickly found her place in more serious dramatic pieces such as Atonement — who could forget that stunning green dress? — and Pride and Prejudice. She seems to have taken on fewer roles of late, but it only takes one great one to get a win!

Being the oldest nominee without any wins is a travesty for a performer of Glenn Close's caliber. Though nominated for Best Actress for Fatal Attraction (1987), Dangerous Liaisons (1988), Albert Nobbs (2011), and The Wife (2018), and Best Supporting Actress for The World According to Garp (1982), The Big Chill (1983), The Natural (1984), and Hillbilly Elegy (2020), she's lost all eight, tying her with Peter O'Toole for the most losses of all time.

With a laugh you can recognize anywhere, Eddie Murphy may be one of the most well-known talents in the country. He was nominated in 2007 for his role in Dreamgirls — and allegedly stormed out of the ceremony when he didn't win. Nowadays, it may be that a lack of dramatic roles has hurt Murphy’s chances, but he’s much too talented to go without the top honor for long.

While Sigourney Weaver is certainly no alien in Hollywood, many people do think she was robbed of an Oscar nomination for her role in the original Alien in 1979. Weaver can be funny, intimidating, or vulnerable, but so far, the Academy Award hasn’t been impressed enough to give her the industry's greatest honor.

Ava Gardner’s Hollywood career spanned four decades, but she always came up just shy of the biggest prize. She'll be remembered forever for her iconic roles in The Killers and Mogambo and, of course, for being extremely beautiful. She did at least get the chance to walk on the Oscars' stage back in 1949 while presenting the award for Best Documentary.

Annette Bening is known for throwing herself fully into any character she plays, and she's been rewarded with four Oscar nominations for it. But after a 30-year career, Bening is still just short of a win. It should also be noted that she was infamously snubbed in 2016 for her knockout performance in 20th Century Women.

Perhaps the most famous sex symbol of all time, Marilyn Monroe died a tragic death before she ever achieved Academy recognition for her work. Her biggest prize was a Golden Globe for Some Like it Hot in 1960. Rewatching her movies today, it becomes clear she was so much more than just a pretty face, and it's not too late for the Academy to grant her the posthumous recognition that she deserves.

You may know Rita Hayworth as The Love Goddess or one of Fred Astaire's favorite dancing partners. Yet Hayworth's femme fatales defined the noir genre for a generation, too. She died tragically of Alzheimer's disease in 1987 before she could claim the top prize. Her daughter set up the annual Rita Hayworth Gala in her memory and to help raise money for the Alzheimer's Association.

Her sultry smiles and signature low voice made Lauren Bacall a staple of Hollywood in the '40s. Her career spanned a whopping 60 years, with highlights being movies such as To Have and Have Not, The Mirror Has Two Faces, and The Big Sleep. Sadly, she never took home the top prize for any of them!

Tom Cruise hasn’t had an Oscar nomination since the year 2000, but that doesn’t mean he’s stopped making great movies. Top Gun fans flocked to see the franchise's sequel in 2022, making it the actor's most successful film yet. Who needs a statue when you've got all that love from fans? Not to mention all the money, too!

Since emerging as a Hollywood heartthrob, Ryan Gosling has managed to get plenty of movie hits under his belt. So far, he's received Oscar nominations for Half Nelson in 2007 and La La Land in 2017, so maybe it’ll be a third time lucky in 2027! We'll just have to wait and see: it's a shame his "Ken-ergy" wasn't enough to see him scoop the gong for Barbie.

After Mark Ruffalo missed out on the Best Supporting Actor award at the 2015 ceremony, he decided not to stay for the party. But it wasn’t because he was a sore loser; he simply had to be in London the next day to shoot another movie. Hopefully, he’ll be able to enjoy the whole event as a winner one day!

Okay, if you don't always feel all the feels every time Michelle Williams is on screen, you're just lying to yourself. She has delivered some of the most complex, emotionally charged performances ever! Remember her biopic of Marilyn Monroe? Or when she played Cindy in Blue Valentine? Stop just nominating her. Oscar! Oscar! Oscar!

Ralph Fiennes has been in a few of the most iconic franchises of all time. We’re talking Harry Potter and James Bond, of course. And he’s showed off his excellent acting range in the process. Unfortunately, it hasn't been enough to earn him a statuette for the mantel to go alongside his wand! But there’s still time.

The Devil Wears Prada, The Girl On The Train, Mary Poppins Returns, A Quiet Place. This is just a tiny sample of the iconic movies starring Emily Blunt. But, get this: until her nod for Oppenheimer, she’d never even had an Oscar nomination, let alone an award. With so much to offer the big screen, we're sure Blunt will get her time very soon.

Hugh Jackman came the closest he’s ever come to winning an Oscar in 2012 off the back of his performance in Les Misérables. But he lost out to Daniel Day-Lewis for his performance in Lincoln. Since then, he may have given us the greatest show, but it hasn’t been enough to make him the greatest actor — according to the Academy, anyway!