The Academy Awards have long been considered the ultimate benchmark of excellence in cinema. But even the most prestigious stage has its blind spots. Over the years, several powerhouse performers have consistently delivered unforgettable roles, earned critical acclaim and racked up multiple nominations. Yet the coveted golden statuette has remained just out of reach. Amy Adams to Edward Norton to modern icons like Timothée Chalamet and Margot Robbie, these stars highlight the unpredictability, and occasional unfairness, of the prestigious Academy. Fierce competition, genre bias or sheer bad luck, their Oscar journeys remain some of Hollywood’s most talked-about near-misses.
Glenn Close
Glenn Close holds the record of most acting nominations at the Oscars without a win. Arguably the most famous “never-won,” Close has been nominated 8 times for films like Fatal Attraction and The Wife. Each time, she came heartbreakingly close.
Amy Adams
Amy Adams has received six nominations at the Oscars over the years, for movies like Junebug (2005), Doubt (2008), The Fighter (2010), The Master (2012), American Hustle (2013) and Vice (2018). Adams is known for being a versatile actor but the Academy hasn’t crowned her yet.
Jake Gyllenhaal
Despite powerful performances in Nightcrawler and Brokeback Mountain, he has just one nomination and no win. Many critics are of the opinion that he frequently takes on roles in psychological thrillers, dark dramas and independent films, which are genres that typically attract less attention from the Academy compared to conventional historical or mainstream dramatic performances.
Willem Dafoe
Willem Dafoe has had great competition from other actors during his nominated years. For those unaware, the actor has been nominated four times, including for The Florida Project and Platoon.
Saoirse Ronan
Saoirse is expected to win eventually, but it hasn’t happened yet. However, she has received multiple nominations before turning 30, in movies like Lady Bird and Little Women.
Edward Norton
Edward Norton has not won an Oscar despite four nominations, for movies like Primal Fear, American History X, Birdman and A Complete Unknown. He remains one of the most respected actors without a win.
Michelle Williams
Michelle Williams faced intense competition during her nominated years. She has received five nominations till date, including for Manchester by the Sea, My Week with Marilyn and more. However, she is still waiting to receive her first Oscar.
Annette Bening
A four-time nominee for movies like American Beauty, The Kids Are All Right, Bening is long overdue for a win.
Bradley Cooper
Despite multiple nominations across acting and producing, Cooper hasn’t secured a win yet.
Ian McKellen
He is beloved for The Lord of the Rings and Gods and Monsters. He has received two nominations but no Oscar victory yet.
Sigourney Weaver
Despite earning three Oscar nominations, for Aliens (1986), Gorillas in the Mist (1988) and Working Girl (1988), Sigourney Weaver has never won. This is largely due to strong competition and a long-standing bias against science fiction and action roles.
Ralph Fiennes
He was nominated thrice – for Best Supporting Actor for Schindler’s List (1993), Best Actor for The English Patient (1996) and Best Actor for Conclave (2024). However, he is yet to win his first Oscar.
Angela Bassett
She has received an honorary Oscar in 2024 for her extraordinary lifetime achievement and exceptional contributions to the film industry. But still no competitive win.
Tom Cruise
Despite three acting nominations (Born on the Fourth of July, Jerry Maguire, and Magnolia), Cruise has never taken home the gold. His most egregious snub remains the Best Supporting Actor in 2000 for Magnolia, where he lost to Michael Caine.
Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp has been nominated three times, but remains Oscar-less despite cultural impact. He also stated that he did not want to win and views acting as a non-competitive art.
Harrison Ford
Harrison Ford is a cinematic legend with films like Indiana Jones and Star Wars. He has had received only one nomination and no win.
Jim Carrey
If there is a single actor whose career can be used to point at the Academy’s deep-seated bias against comedy, it is Jim Carrey. In the late 90s and early 2000s, Carrey delivered a trio of dramatic performances that should have made him an Oscar darling: The Truman Show (1998), Man on the Moon (1999), and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004).
Michael Keaton
Michael Keaton missed out on the 2015 Best Actor Oscar for Birdman largely because the Academy leaned toward Eddie Redmayne’s performance as Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything.
Richard Gere
Richard Gere has never won an Oscar, in part because he was informally sidelined by the Academy for nearly two decades after criticizing China’s human rights record in Tibet during an unscripted moment at the 1993 ceremony. The controversy reportedly made him unwelcome in certain industry circles and affected his access to major film opportunities.
Meg Ryan
The queen of romcoms has had no nominations and no wins. Many critics are of the opinion that the Academy often overlooks actors whose careers excel in comedies and light-hearted romantic fare.
Ethan Hawke
Timothée Chalamet
As per fans, the biggest Oscar snub in the recent history is Chalamet not winning the Best Actor Award for Marty Supreme. In 2026, Michael B. Jordan won in the category for his double role in Sinners.
Margot Robbie
Margot Robbie is a critically acclaimed actress. She is hugely influential, but still without an Oscar. She known for her performances in The Wolf of Wall Street, Suicide Squad, I, Tonya, Barbie and more.
Zendaya
An Emmy winner and cultural force. While Oscar glory feels inevitable, it hasn’t happened yet. She is known for Challengers, Malcolm & Marie, Dune movies and Spider-Man movies.
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