With the Oscars right around the corner, four amazing actors will take home gold for powerhouse performances on Sunday, April 25 on ABC. Among the incredible talent nominated this year is Frances McDormand (“Nomadland”), Amanda Seyfried (“Mank”), Daniel Kaluuya (“Judas and the Black Messiah”) and the late Chadwick Boseman for his final performance in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.”
But not every amazing performance has been rewarded by year’s end. In fact, over the years, some of the greatest performances in film history have been snubbed at the annual ceremony. Here’s ten performances from the last ten years of Oscar that were never nominated and probably would’ve won if they were.
2019- Adam Sandler, “Uncut Gems” | Let’s be honest: When word got out that Adam Sandler was acting in a gritty crime drama, everyone was skeptical. But to Sandler’s credit, he not only delivered in the Safdie Brothers’ “Uncut Gems,” he brought down the house in a phenomenal F-Bomb laden performance that earned raves from everyone, including Daniel Day-Lewis. Unfortunately, the Oscars snubbed the film, which Sandler took personally.
2018- Olivia Cooke, “Thoroughbreds” | As a potentially sociopathic teenager in “Thoroughbreds,” Olivia Cooke held her own against great actors such as Anya Taylor-Joy and the late Anton Yelchin. Her character was willing to do whatever it took to stand out from the crowd, even murdering bad people and something unspeakable involving a horse. She was not nominated for her work, which her character would take issue with.
2017- James McAvoy, “Split” | James McAvoy is one of the most versatile actors of the decade. He can play a child, an OCD pedophile, an English woman, and if he’s feeling dangerous, all three in one film. In M. Night Shyamalan’s thriller, McAvoy gave a high wire act acting tour de force, but the Oscars did not agree when they snubbed him from Best Actor.
2016- Hailee Steinfeld- “The Edge of Seventeen” | Six years after receiving her first nomination for her star making performance in “True Grit,” Hailee Steinfeld outdid herself in the teen comedy, “The Edge of Seventeen.” Though her character’s social life was a train wreck, her performance was not, but the Oscars seemed to take issue with that assessment.
2015- Alicia Vikander, “Ex Machina” | Though Swedish actress Alicia Vikander did win an Oscar that year for “The Danish Girl,” she was far more memorable as a manipulative robot in “Ex Machina.” Vikander herself dubbed the film her favorite of her own and it’s easy to see why, but despite an Oscar win for Best Visual Effects, the film was snubbed in acting categories.
2014- Jake Gyllenhaal, “Nightcrawler” | When casting for a creepy as hell drifter who will literally kill for a good story, odds are Jake Gyllenhaal is not at the top of the list. And yet, he pulled off Louis Bloom in such a great way, that no one else could play the part. There was an audible outcry when he was snubbed by the Oscars.
2013- Emma Thompson, “Saving Mr. Banks” | Already an Oscar winner, Emma Thompson outdid herself in the drama depicting the journey of the classic film, “Mary Poppins.” As PL Travers, the creator of the magical nanny, Thompson was demanding, yet understandable, irritating, yet emotional. Although she was not nominated, it was nonetheless a great performance.
2011- Elizabeth Olsen, “Martha Marcy May Marlene” | Before she was Wanda Maximoff, Elizabeth Olsen made her name as a damaged cult survivor struggling to reintegrate into society. She wasn’t nominated for her work, even though she went through the wringer in the film.
2011- Shailene Woodley, “The Descendants” | 2011 had multiple great performances from women that the Oscars ignored and the other great actress from that year was Shailene Woodley as George Clooney’s traumatized and difficult daughter who informs him that his wife was cheating on him.
The Oscars air 8pm eastern/5pm pacific on Sunday, April 25 on ABC.