Hollywood has a myriad of amazing performers that make audiences lose their breath through each of their performances. Meryl Streep, Viola Davis, Daniel Day-Lewis, Tom Hanks, and so forth, these actors give a movie-going experience that makes audiences loyal fans of their work while also bringing them recognition from theAcademy Awards. Many of these stars have not just one but multiple Academy Award nominations and more than one win.
Nevertheless, there are actors whose equally powerful work doesn’t quite get them to the finish line during awards season. Many have had just the bad luck of their great performances being overshadowed by another great role; others have iconic roles that were snubbed and didn’t even get nominations. There are plenty of great actors who have yet to get an Academy Award, as there are those who did. Here are ten actors that keep getting snubbed by the Academy Awards.
Update June 29, 2025: Following some major recent Oscar snubs, this article has been updated with even more actors who have been overlooked by the Academy Awards, including updates on two who might break out from this list by the end of the Awards season.
10Kirsten Dunst
Starting off in films such asInterview with a VampireandJumanji,Kirsten Dunstproved herself to be quite the versatile performer from a young age. Her career would continue with popular late ’90s/early 2000s films such asBring It On, The Virgin SuicidesandDrop Dead Gorgeous. Nevertheless, one of Kirsten Dunst’s most popular works is in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man franchise as Mary Jane Watson, Peter Parker’s love interest who has a knack for getting kidnapped by the web-slinger’s enemies.
Despite being on an unofficial hiatus these past couple of years, Dunst returned to the spotlight with her role inThe Power of Dog, for which she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Dunst didn’t win this time around, but hopefully, this will change soon, and many would likely say she deserved nominations for bothThe Virgin Suicides,Marie Antoinette, andMelancholia.
9Edward Norton
In the mid to late 1990s,Edward Nortonseemed like he was going to be one of the most exciting actors, often thought to be the new Robert De Niro or Al Pacino for a new generation. From roles in iconic movies like Fight Club and American History X, it seemed like he was destined for an Oscar. While Fight Club failed to land a nomination, he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his debut film, Primal Fear. He then was nominated for Best Actor forAmerican History X.
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It would be 16 years later until Norton would receive another nomination, one for Best Supporting Actor inBirdmanor (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance). At three nominations and no wins, it does feel weird that one of the most beloved actors of our time has not won an Oscar yet. Norton is not the only actor to play the Hulk on this list, though.
8Mark Ruffalo
From one Hulk to another.Mark Ruffalohas some impressive work under his belt. Some of hisbest worksinclude his role of Dave Schultz inFoxcatcher, Chuck Aule inShutter Island, Paul Hatfield inThe Kids Are All Right, Dave Toschi inZodiac, and Michael Rezendes inSpotlight. He was most recently praised for his role in the 2023 Academy Award-nominated black comedy moviePoor Things, where he played the role of Duncan Wedderburn, a corrupt and debatious lawyer.
Mark Ruffalo has been nominated for an Oscar four times in his career, and all of them were in the Best Supporting Actor category. The first was in 2011 forThe Kids Are Alright, followed then by 2015 forFoxcatcher. The next year, he would once again be nominated forSpotlightand, most recently, forPoor Things. While the fourth time is the charm, Ruffalo is expected to go home empty-handed as the current favorite is his MCU co-star, Robert Downey Jr., forOppenheimer.
7Saoirse Ronan
Saoirse Ronanhas been a standout performer since a young age. She rose to acclaim when she portrayed a young Briony Tallis inAtonement, garnering praise all across the board and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Since then, Ronan has been nominated three more times, all for Best Actress inBrooklyn,Lady Bird, andLittle Women. With four Academy Award nominations in less than twenty years, Ronan has not only proven herself one of the best actresses working today but one who is certainly due for an Oscar.
6Michelle Williams
Known for her poignant performances in independent, dark, and tragic films,Michelle Williamshas a phenomenal range. This ability has gotten her five Oscar nominations in both Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress categories. Her first nomination came in 2006, when she was nominated for her performance inBrokeback Mountain.She was nominated for Best Actress in back-to-back years withBlue Valentinein 2011 and thenMy Week with Marilynin 2012.
In 2017 Williams was nominated forManchester by the Seafor Best Actress, one many people thought she should have won the award for. Most recently, she was nominated for her role in Steven Spielberg’s film The Fableman’s at the 2023 Academy Awards. With five nominations, it feels like Williams is set to get her Oscar any day now.
5Bradley Cooper
Bradley Cooperhas become one of the most nominated people at the Academy Awards that many don’t realize how many times he has been nominated. While he might have broken out with the laugh-out-loud comedyThe Hangover, he quickly pivoted to being a dramatic actor. He has been nominated for the Academy Award for acting five times. The first was Best Actor inSilver Linings Playbook, followed the next year by an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor forAmerican Hustle. Instead of back-to-back year nominations, Cooper was nominated three years in a row when he received an Oscar nomination in 2015 forAmerican Sniper. Then, in 2018, he was nominated for Best Actor forA Star Is Bornand now, most recently, for Best Actor for his role inMaestro. Those last two were films he directed, and that’s where this gets interesting.
Cooper has also been nominated for seven other Oscars. As a producer, he has been nominated for Best Picture for five films:American Sniper, A Star is Born, Joker, Nightmare Alley, and most recently,Maestro. While he has yet to get a Directing nomination, his two films have earned him screenplay nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay forA Star is Bornand Best Original Screenplay forMaestro. With 12 Oscar nominations, it is strange he has yet to win. While there is a chanceMaestrocould win one of the three categories he is nominated for, the chances remain slim as he is not the frontrunner in any category.
4Margot Robbie
Margot Robbieis one of our most illustrious and versatile actresses. Time and time again, she has proven that she can harbor a range of emotions in herperformances. She has been nominated for two acting Oscar nominations, first for Actress inI, Tonyaand then supporting actress forBombshell. Yet many were shocked that she did not receive nominations for her breakout filmThe Wolf of Wall Streetor critically acclaimed films likeOnce Upon a Time in HollywoodorBabylon.
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Most recently, many people were shocked when Margot Robbie was snubbed for Best Actress at the 2024 Academy Awards for her role inBarbie. However, Robbie does not seem that unhappy about it, as she was nominated as a producer forBarbie’s Best Picture nomination. It seems that at this rate, Robbie will get her Oscar nomination soon.
3Amy Adams
Amy Adamsis without a doubtone of America’s most adored talents. Adams has been nominated for an Academy Award six times. The first four were all for Best Supporting Actress forJunebug,Doubt,The Fighter, andThe Master. She got her first Best Actress nomination in 2014 forAmerican Hustle. She was then nominated for Best Supporting Actress forVice.
Often regarded as one of the best actresses working today and with six Oscar nominations, it is a shame that Adams has not won yet. Many would also say her nominations should be higher as she gave great Oscar-worthy performances inEnchantedandArrival.Adams is long overdue for an Academy Award.
2Willem Dafoe
Willem Dafoeis one of those actors who you think has already won an Oscar, but in truth, he has not. He has been nominated for an Academy Award four times over his long and illustratedcareer. His first Oscar nomination came in 1986 for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Patton. His next three nominations would be in Best Supporting Actor spread out over the years, in 2001 forShadow of the Vampireand then in 2018 forThe Flordia Project.
His most recent nomination was his first for Best Actor for playing Vincent van Gogh in the biographical movieAt Eternity’s Gateat the 2019 Academy Awards. This year, he was applauded for hisphenomenal performancein the moviePoor Thingsbut did not end up getting nominated. Hopefully, in the upcoming years, he will be awarded an Oscar for another one of his great characters.
1Glenn Close
Glenn Closehas been nominated for an Academy Award eight times without a single win—a saddening reality considering Close’s incredible performances throughout her five-decade career. While her delightful Cruella De Vil did not get nominated, many other great performances did. Her first three nominations were for Best Supporting Actress forThe World According to Garp, The Big Chill,andThe Natural. Then the next four were for Best Actress.
Her biggest role is arguably forFatal Attraction, which was nominated for Best Actress. The next year, she was nominated forDangerous Liaisons. It was then a 23-year gap until her next nomination for Best Actress when she was nominated forAlbert Noobs. In 2019 many thought she was the favorite to win forThe Wifebut then lost to Olivia Coleman forThe Favorite. Her most recent nomination was in 2021 forHillbilly Elegy.At eight Academy Award nominations and zero wins over a five decades, nobody can claim to be more snubbed at this point than Glenn Close.
