Some of the most respected names in film history have multiple Oscar nominations, legendary performances and shelves full of other awards – but no competitive Academy Award win. This post highlights major actors and artists who have been repeatedly recognised by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, yet are still waiting for their first Oscar statue.
From eight-time nominee Glenn Close to modern favourites like Margot Robbie and Carey Mulligan, these careers prove that awards do not always tell the full story of greatness.
- Profile cards for 35 acclaimed performers and artists with Oscar nominations but no wins
- Year-by-year breakdown of their Academy Award nominations
- Quick snapshot of other major honours: Globes, BAFTAs, Emmys, Tonys and more
- A reminder that being “Oscar-less” does not mean being any less iconic
Glenn Close (born March 19, 1947) is an American actress whose screen and stage career spans over five decades. She has earned three Primetime Emmy Awards, three Tony Awards and three Golden Globe Awards, alongside nominations for eight Academy Awards, two BAFTA Awards and three Grammy Awards. Time named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2019.
Academy Award nominations:
- 55th Academy Awards (1983) – Best Supporting Actress, The World According to Garp (1982)
- 56th Academy Awards (1984) – Best Supporting Actress, The Big Chill (1983)
- 57th Academy Awards (1985) – Best Supporting Actress, The Natural (1984)
- 60th Academy Awards (1988) – Best Actress, Fatal Attraction (1987)
- 61st Academy Awards (1989) – Best Actress, Dangerous Liaisons (1988)
- 84th Academy Awards (2012) – Best Actress, Albert Nobbs (2011)
- 91st Academy Awards (2018) – Best Actress, The Wife (2017)
- 93rd Academy Awards (2021) – Best Supporting Actress, Hillbilly Elegy (2020)
Bradley Charles Cooper (born January 5, 1975) is an American actor and filmmaker. He has won a BAFTA Award and two Grammy Awards and has received 12 Academy Award nominations, six Golden Globe nominations and a Tony nomination. His films have grossed more than 13 billion dollars worldwide, and he has repeatedly appeared on lists of the world’s highest-paid actors. In 2015, Time named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
Academy Award nominations:
- 85th Oscars (2013) – Best Actor, Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
- 86th Oscars (2014) – Best Supporting Actor, American Hustle (2013)
- 87th Oscars (2015) – Best Picture & Best Actor, American Sniper (2014)
- 91st Oscars (2019) – Best Picture, Best Actor & Best Adapted Screenplay, A Star Is Born (2018)
- 92nd Oscars (2020) – Best Picture (producer), Joker (2019)
- 94th Oscars (2022) – Best Picture (producer), Nightmare Alley (2021)
- 97th Oscars (2024) – Best Picture, Best Actor & Best Original Screenplay, Maestro (2023)
Amy Lou Adams (born August 20, 1974) is an American actress known for both comedic and dramatic roles. She has been featured multiple times among the world’s highest-paid actresses. Adams has won two consecutive Golden Globes for Best Actress for American Hustle (2013) and Big Eyes (2014), and has received six Oscar nominations, seven BAFTA nominations and two Primetime Emmy nominations.
Academy Award nominations:
- 78th Oscars (2006) – Best Supporting Actress, Junebug
- 81st Oscars (2009) – Best Supporting Actress, Doubt
- 83rd Oscars (2011) – Best Supporting Actress, The Fighter
- 85th Oscars (2013) – Best Supporting Actress, The Master
- 86th Oscars (2014) – Best Actress, American Hustle
- 91st Oscars (2019) – Best Supporting Actress, Vice
Annette Carol Bening (born May 29, 1958) is an American actress with a career spanning over four decades across stage and screen. Her honours include a BAFTA Award, two SAG Awards and two Golden Globes, plus nominations for five Academy Awards, a Primetime Emmy and two Tony Awards – making her one of the few artists nominated for the “Triple Crown” of acting without winning.
Academy Award nominations:
- 63rd Oscars (1991) – Best Supporting Actress, The Grifters (1990)
- 72nd Oscars (2000) – Best Actress, American Beauty (1999)
- 77th Oscars (2005) – Best Actress, Being Julia (2004)
- 83rd Oscars (2011) – Best Actress, The Kids Are All Right (2010)
- 96th Oscars (2024) – Best Actress, Nyad (2023)
Michelle Ingrid Williams (born September 9, 1980) is an American actress best known for small‑scale independent films with dark or tragic themes. She has two Golden Globes and a Primetime Emmy, plus five Oscar nominations and a Tony nomination. She won Globes for My Week with Marilyn (2011) and Fosse/Verdon (2019), and an Emmy for Fosse/Verdon.
Academy Award nominations:
- 78th Oscars (2006) – Best Supporting Actress, Brokeback Mountain (2005)
- 83rd Oscars (2011) – Best Actress, Blue Valentine (2010)
- 84th Oscars (2012) – Best Actress, My Week with Marilyn (2011)
- 89th Oscars (2017) – Best Supporting Actress, Manchester by the Sea (2016)
- 95th Oscars (2023) – Best Actress, The Fabelmans (2022)
Thomas Cruise Mapother IV (born July 3, 1962) is an American actor and producer and one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars. His films have grossed more than 12 billion dollars worldwide. Cruise has three Golden Globes, an Honorary Palme d’Or, and nominations for four Oscars, a BAFTA and three SAG Awards, plus numerous career honours and records, including a Guinness World Record for most consecutive 100‑million‑dollar movies (2012–2018).
Academy Award nominations:
- 62nd Oscars (1990) – Best Actor, Born on the Fourth of July (1989)
- 69th Oscars (1997) – Best Actor, Jerry Maguire (1996)
- 72nd Oscars (2000) – Best Supporting Actor, Magnolia (1999)
- 95th Oscars (2023) – Best Picture (producer), Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
Edward Harrison Norton (born August 18, 1969) is an American actor, producer, director and screenwriter. His breakthrough in Primal Fear (1996) earned him a Golden Globe and his first Oscar nomination. He has since won a SAG Award with the ensemble of The Grand Budapest Hotel and received Emmy nominations for documentary and voice work.
Academy Award nominations:
- 68th Oscars (1997) – Best Supporting Actor, Primal Fear (1996)
- 71st Oscars (1999) – Best Actor, American History X (1998)
- 87th Oscars (2015) – Best Supporting Actor, Birdman (2014)
- 97th Oscars (2025) – Best Supporting Actor, A Complete Unknown (as Pete Seeger) – result pending
Edward Allen Harris (born November 28, 1950) is an American actor and filmmaker. He has two SAG Awards and two Golden Globes, plus nominations for four Oscars, two BAFTAs, three Emmys and a Tony, reflecting a long, versatile career across film, television and theatre.
Academy Award nominations:
- 68th Oscars (1996) – Best Supporting Actor, Apollo 13 (1995)
- 71st Oscars (1999) – Best Supporting Actor, The Truman Show (1998)
- 73rd Oscars (2001) – Best Actor, Pollock (2000)
- 75th Oscars (2003) – Best Supporting Actor, The Hours (2002)
Saoirse Una Ronan (born April 12, 1994) is an American‑born Irish actress, best known for acclaimed performances in period dramas since her teens. She has a Golden Globe and repeated nominations across the Oscars and BAFTAs, making her one of the most decorated actors of her generation without yet winning an Academy Award.
Academy Award nominations:
- 80th Oscars (2008) – Best Supporting Actress, Atonement (2007)
- 88th Oscars (2016) – Best Actress, Brooklyn (2015)
- 90th Oscars (2018) – Best Actress, Lady Bird (2017)
- 92nd Oscars (2020) – Best Actress, Little Women (2019)
William James “Willem” Dafoe (born July 22, 1955) is an American actor whose career spans mainstream franchises and bold arthouse work. He has four Oscar nominations, four Golden Globe nominations, a BAFTA nod and an Honorary Golden Bear, and in 2024 received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Academy Award nominations:
- 59th Oscars (1987) – Best Supporting Actor, Platoon (1986)
- 73rd Oscars (2001) – Best Supporting Actor, Shadow of the Vampire (2000)
- 90th Oscars (2018) – Best Supporting Actor, The Florida Project (2017)
- 91st Oscars (2019) – Best Actor, At Eternity’s Gate (2018)
Greta Garbo (September 18, 1905 – April 15, 1990) was a Swedish‑American actress and a defining star of Hollywood’s silent and early sound eras. Known for her melancholic, understated performances and tragic heroines, she ranked fifth on the American Film Institute’s list of the greatest female stars of classic Hollywood cinema.
In 1954, Garbo received an Academy Honorary Award “for her luminous and unforgettable screen performances” – she famously did not attend the ceremony, and the statuette was mailed to her.
Academy recognition:
- 1930 – Best Actress nomination for work in both Anna Christie and Romance
- 1937 – Best Actress nomination, Camille
- 1939 – Best Actress nomination, Ninotchka
- 1954 – Academy Honorary Award for career achievement
John Christopher Depp (born June 9, 1963) is an American actor and musician whose films, often centred on eccentric characters, have grossed over 8 billion dollars worldwide. He has a Golden Globe, a SAG Award, multiple Oscar and BAFTA nominations, and received an Honorary César in 1999.
Academy Award nominations:
- 76th Oscars (2004) – Best Actor, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
- 77th Oscars (2005) – Best Actor, Finding Neverland (2004)
- 80th Oscars (2008) – Best Actor, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
Ralph Nathaniel Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes (born December 22, 1962) is an English actor, producer and director. He has a BAFTA and a Tony Award and is widely regarded as one of Britain’s most accomplished screen and stage performers.
Academy Award nominations:
- 66th Oscars (1994) – Best Supporting Actor, Schindler’s List (1993)
- 69th Oscars (1997) – Best Actor, The English Patient (1996)
- 97th Oscars (2025) – Best Actor, Conclave (2024) – result pending, which could finally take him off this list
Laura Leggett Linney (born February 5, 1964) is an American actress with acclaimed work in film, television and theatre. She has two Golden Globes, four Emmys and multiple Tony nominations, as well as three Academy Award nominations.
Academy Award nominations:
- 73rd Oscars (2001) – Best Actress, You Can Count on Me (2000)
- 77th Oscars (2005) – Best Supporting Actress, Kinsey (2004)
- 80th Oscars (2008) – Best Actress, The Savages (2007)
- Part 1 : Unveiling Every Best Picture Oscar Winner (1927–2024)
- Part 2 : Unveiling Every Best Picture Oscar Winner (1927–2024)
- Part 3 : Unveiling Every Best Picture Oscar Winner (1927–2024)
- Part 4 : Unveiling Every Best Picture Oscar Winner (1927–2024)
- Part 5 : Unveiling Every Best Picture Oscar Winner (1927–2024)
Michelle Marie Pfeiffer (born April 29, 1958) is an American actress who was one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars in the 1980s and 1990s. She has a Golden Globe and a BAFTA, plus three Oscar nominations and a Primetime Emmy nomination. She won the Globe for The Fabulous Baker Boys and the BAFTA for Dangerous Liaisons.
Academy Award nominations:
- 61st Oscars (1989) – Best Supporting Actress, Dangerous Liaisons (1988)
- 62nd Oscars (1990) – Best Actress, The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989)
- 65th Oscars (1993) – Best Actress, Love Field (1992)
Margot Elise Robbie (born July 2, 1990) is an Australian actress and producer whose work spans blockbusters and acclaimed indies. She has three Oscar nominations, multiple Golden Globe and BAFTA nods and has been repeatedly ranked among the world’s most influential and highest‑paid actresses. Time named her to its 100 most influential list in 2017, and Forbes named her the world’s highest‑paid actress in 2023.
Academy Award nominations:
- 90th Oscars (2018) – Best Actress, I, Tonya (2017)
- 92nd Oscars (2020) – Best Supporting Actress, Bombshell (2019)
- 96th Oscars (2024) – Best Picture (producer), Barbie (2023)
Carey Hannah Mulligan (born May 28, 1985) is an English actress with a BAFTA win and multiple Oscar, Globe and SAG nominations. In 2025 she was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to drama.
Academy Award nominations:
- 82nd Oscars (2010) – Best Actress, An Education (2009)
- 93rd Oscars (2021) – Best Actress, Promising Young Woman (2020)
- 96th Oscars (2024) – Best Actress, Maestro (2023)
John Joseph Travolta (born February 18, 1954) is an American actor, singer and producer who became a major star in the late 1970s. He has three Golden Globes, a Primetime Emmy and multiple Oscar, BAFTA and SAG nominations. He won the Globe for Get Shorty and received the IIFA Award for Outstanding Achievement in International Cinema in 2014.
Academy Award nominations:
- 50th Oscars (1978) – Best Actor, Saturday Night Fever (1977)
- 67th Oscars (1995) – Best Actor, Pulp Fiction (1994)
Sigourney Weaver (born October 8, 1949) is an American actress known for pioneering action‑heroine roles and acclaimed dramatic work. She has three Oscar nominations, multiple BAFTA, Emmy and Globe nods, and has uniquely won two Golden Globes in the same year. She also has a Grammy and major international honours, including a Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement in 2024.
Academy Award nominations:
- 59th Oscars (1987) – Best Actress, Aliens (1986)
- 61st Oscars (1989) – Best Actress, Gorillas in the Mist (1988)
- 61st Oscars (1989) – Best Supporting Actress, Working Girl (1988)
John Gavin Malkovich (born December 9, 1953) is an American actor whose career spans film, theatre and television. He has a Primetime Emmy and multiple Oscar, BAFTA, SAG and Globe nominations. On television he won an Emmy for Death of a Salesman and has been nominated for portraying figures such as Herman J. Mankiewicz and Charles Talleyrand.
Academy Award nominations:
- 57th Oscars (1985) – Best Supporting Actor, Places in the Heart (1984)
- 66th Oscars (1994) – Best Supporting Actor, In the Line of Fire (1993)
Sir Ian Murray McKellen (born May 25, 1939) is an English actor whose career spans more than sixty years in theatre, film and television. A British cultural icon, he was knighted in 1991 and has won a Tony, six Olivier Awards and a Golden Globe, along with multiple BAFTA and Emmy nominations.
Academy Award nominations:
- 71st Oscars (1999) – Best Actor, Gods and Monsters (1998)
- 74th Oscars (2002) – Best Supporting Actor, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer, songwriter, actress and philanthropist, best known for her decades‑long career in country music. After early success as a songwriter, she became a major solo recording star and has remained a beloved figure across multiple eras of pop culture.
Academy Award nominations:
- 53rd Oscars (1981) – Best Original Song, “9 to 5” from 9 to 5
- 78th Oscars (2006) – Best Original Song, “Travelin’ Thru” from Transamerica
Helena Bonham Carter (born May 26, 1966) is an English actress known for distinctive roles in period dramas, independent films and major franchises. She has a BAFTA, a Critics’ Choice Award, an International Emmy and three SAG Awards, plus multiple Oscar, Globe and Emmy nominations. She was made a CBE in 2012 and has served on the UK’s national Holocaust Commission.
Academy Award nominations:
- 70th Oscars (1998) – Best Actress, The Wings of the Dove (1997)
- 83rd Oscars (2011) – Best Supporting Actress, The King’s Speech (2010)
William James Murray (born September 21, 1950) is an American actor and comedian known for his deadpan delivery across studio comedies and indie dramas. He has a BAFTA, two Emmys, a Golden Globe and multiple Independent Spirit Awards, and has been honoured with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor as well as induction into the Irish-American and Caddie Halls of Fame.
Academy Award nomination:
- 76th Oscars (2004) – Best Actor, Lost in Translation (2003)
Liam John Neeson (born June 7, 1952) is an actor from Northern Ireland. He has received Oscar, BAFTA, Globe and Tony nominations and was appointed OBE in 2000. On stage he has earned Tony nominations for Anna Christie and The Crucible, and has been repeatedly ranked among Ireland’s greatest film actors.
Academy Award nomination:
- 66th Oscars (1994) – Best Actor, Schindler’s List (1993)
Harrison Ford (born July 13, 1942) is an American actor and cinematic cultural icon, best known for roles such as Han Solo and Indiana Jones. His films have grossed more than 9.3 billion dollars worldwide. He has received honours including the AFI Life Achievement Award, the Cecil B. DeMille Award and multiple international lifetime-achievement prizes.
Academy Award nomination:
- 58th Oscars (1986) – Best Actor, Witness (1985)
Jacob Benjamin Gyllenhaal (born December 19, 1980) is an American actor with a long career on screen and stage. He won the BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor for Brokeback Mountain and has multiple Oscar, BAFTA, Globe and Tony nominations.
Academy Award nomination:
- 78th Oscars (2006) – Best Supporting Actor, Brokeback Mountain (2005)
David Oyetokunbo Oyelowo (born April 1, 1976) is a British‑American actor, director and producer. He has won a Critics’ Choice Award and two NAACP Image Awards and received Globe, Emmy, SAG and BAFTA nominations. He earned widespread acclaim for portraying Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma and for the HBO film Nightingale, and later moved into directing with The After.
Academy Award nomination:
- 96th Oscars (2024) – Best Live Action Short Film, The After
Toni Collette (born November 1, 1972) is an Australian actress, singer and songwriter known for acclaimed work in television and independent film. She has a Golden Globe, a Primetime Emmy and multiple AACTA Awards, plus Oscar, BAFTA and Tony nominations.
Academy Award nomination:
- 72nd Oscars (2000) – Best Supporting Actress, The Sixth Sense (1999)
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter (born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter and businesswoman whose solo and group work has reshaped modern pop and R&B. She is renowned for vocal power, stagecraft and cultural influence, and has been repeatedly honoured as one of the biggest recording artists of her era.
Academy Award nomination:
- 94th Oscars (2022) – Best Original Song, “Be Alive” from King Richard
Michael John Douglas (born September 5, 1951), known professionally as Michael Keaton, is an American actor and former stand-up comedian. He has two Golden Globes, multiple SAG and Critics’ Choice Awards, a Primetime Emmy and various career honours, including a Hollywood Film Festival Career Achievement Award and recognition in France’s Order of Arts and Letters.
Academy Award nomination:
- 87th Oscars (2015) – Best Actor, Birdman (2014)
Hugh Michael Jackman (born October 12, 1968) is an Australian actor, singer and producer whose career spans musical theatre, film and television. Best known for playing Wolverine from X‑Men (2000) to Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), he has an Emmy, a Grammy, a Golden Globe and two Tony Awards, plus Oscar, BAFTA and SAG nominations.
Academy Award nomination:
- 85th Oscars (2013) – Best Actor, Les Misérables (2012)
Taraji Penda Henson (born September 11, 1970) is an American actress with one Golden Globe, a Critics’ Choice Award and a SAG Award, plus Oscar and Emmy nominations. She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2019, and Time named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2016 and 2024.
Academy Award nomination:
- 81st Oscars (2009) – Best Supporting Actress, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
Kirsten Caroline Dunst (born April 30, 1982) is an American actress whose work ranges from early child roles to acclaimed adult performances. She has a Cannes acting prize, a SAG Award, a Critics’ Choice Television Award and multiple international honours, plus Oscar, Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.
Academy Award nomination:
- 94th Oscars (2022) – Best Supporting Actress, The Power of the Dog (2021)
Salma Valgarma Hayek Pinault (born September 2, 1966) is a Mexican‑American actress and producer. After early success in Mexican television and film, she became a major figure in Hollywood and international cinema. She has Golden Globe, BAFTA, SAG and Emmy nominations, a Daytime Emmy win for directing The Maldonado Miracle, and honours including the French Legion of Honour and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Academy Award nomination:
- 75th Oscars (2003) – Best Actress, Frida (2002), for her portrayal of artist Frida Kahlo
These nominees prove that an Oscar is only one measure of a remarkable career. From Glenn Close and Michelle Pfeiffer to Margot Robbie and Carey Mulligan, each of these artists has delivered work that will outlast any awards-season storyline.
Which “Oscar-less” performance do you think is the most overdue for a win? Share your pick in the comments – and if you enjoy deep dives into awards history, remember to like the video and subscribe to the channel for more Hollywood stats and stories.
