Being honoured with an Oscar is seen as a career defining moment for most Hollywood actors, but surprisingly, some of the biggest A-listers in Hollywood still haven’t had an Academy Award
With the 98th Academy Awards kicking off in a matter of hours, many of Hollywood’s greatest actors will be crossing their fingers, hoping that tonight is the night their childhood dreams come true. Tonight (Sunday 15 March) from 7pm ET/4pm PT in the U.S – or 11pm for UK viewers – film fans will watch as Hollywood giants like Leonardo DiCaprio go up against new talent, including Timothee Chalamet.
But while bagging an Oscar is seen as a career defining moment, there are plenty of A List actors who are yet to receive the coveted accolade. Here we look at the unlikely stars to have so far missed out on an Oscar…
Ian McKellen
Widely seen as one of the greatest actors of our time, Sir Ian McKellen has never actually been recognised with an Oscar. He has been nominated, once for Best Actor thanks to his role in 1998’s Gods and Monsters, and for Best Supporting Actor after playing Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001).
He missed out on both, first to Roberto Benigni, and then to Jim Broadbent. But it’s not all bad news for Ian, who was knighted in 1991 and then appointed to the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) in 2008 for services to drama and equality. He has bagged a slew of other well-respected awards, including five Laurence Olivier Awards, two Screen Actors Guild gongs and a Golden Globe to top it off.
Tom Cruise
Mission Impossible star Tom Cruise is the epitome of a Hollywood actor, but shockingly, he hasn’t ever collected an Oscar. Although he’s been recognised with nominations for Best Actor twice, Best Supporting Actor and Best Picture after producing Top Gun: Macerick (2022) – he’s never actually taken one home. However, he did get an Honorary Oscar in 2025, which he claimed for lifetime achievement and commitment to film.
Michelle Pfeiffer
Another critically acclaimed Hollywood star to have been knocked back when it comes to the Academy is Michelle Pfeiffer. She has earned herself three Oscar nominations over the years, but has always been pipped to the post by other stars. Her first momination was for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Dangerous Liaisons (1988), but lost out to Geena Davis for The Accidental Tourist. She was also up for Best Actress for both The Fabulous Baker Boys, in 1989, and Love Field, in 1992, but was beaten by Jessica Tandy and Emma Thompson.
Jim Carrey
Although he’s known as a comedy actor, Jim Carrey has also appeared in some cult classics and critically acclaimed movies, including The Truman Show in 1998, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, 2004. However, Carrey has never even been nominated for an Academy Award, with the star snubbed, despite being a prolific actor for many years. But he has been recognised by other organisations and awards, including the Golden Globes, for which he’s been nominated six times, and won twice.
Samuel L. Jackson
Despite Samuel L. Jackson’s extensive filmography, the widely respected actor and producer has never received an Oscar. He’s only been nominated once for Best Supporting Actor in Pulp Fiction, but he missed out, with Martin Landau claiming it in 1995. He was however awarded an Honorary Oscar in 2022 for his lifetime achievement.
Michael Keaton
Another Hollywood stalward, Michael Keaton also has no Oscar wins. In fact, he wasn’t even nominated until 2015, when he was put forward for the Best Actor gong after his performance in Birdman (2014). But sadly for Keaton, he lost out to Eddie Redmayne, with Birdman getting an award for Best Picture. The actor also starred in Spotlight, which won Best Picture, but he wasn’t nominated for an individual award.
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