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« Top Ten Most Important Things About This Photo of The Zeéeeee That Everyone Is Talking About Today | Main | Top Ten: Best of The Boxtrolls »
Tuesday
Oct212014

Lunchtime Poll: Multiple Acting Oscars

I was all prepared to list the most Oscar winning Actors for a quickie top ten list. Until I remembered there were only six with 3 or more Oscars (for acting)

Four Leading Oscars
01 Katharine Hepburn
Three Leading Oscars
02 Daniel Day-Lewis
Three Oscars (Lead/Supporting Mix)
[Three-Way Tie]
03 Ingrid Bergman
03 Meryl Streep
03 Jack Nicholson
Three Oscars (Supporting)
06 Walter Brennan

YOUR TASK: Make it a top ten by filling slots seven through ten. Name the four actors who most deserve to join them as three-timers or the ones who seem most likely?

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Reader Comments (65)

I'll just state the obvious, Cate Blanchett.

October 21, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterMurtada

I bet Blanchett will get her third sooner than we think, and I shudder to at the notion of Christoph Waltz will get his third.

Can we take away Meryl's third Oscar and then give it back for playing Maria Callas?

October 21, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterJoey

7. Nicole Kidman
8. Michael Fassbender
9. Julianne Moore
10. Joaquin Phoenix

I wish I could include Philip Seymour Hoffman. :(

October 21, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterSad man

Isn't the Maria Callas role for a television film? Streep should have about five now anyways. I agree with Blanchett, Moore, and Kidman.

October 21, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterRyan

Give Dame Maggie a role where she's NOT "playing Maggie Smith", and make some room for her in the top ten!

October 21, 2014 | Unregistered Commentermarco70go

I'd love to see Dianne Wiest get another supporting Oscar, but that's probably unlikely. It's not totally outside the realm of possibility that Sally Field gets another meaty role in the Lincoln vein (or something hammy but fun in a big prestige project) that gives her a decent run. There did seem to be a sort of moment during the Lincoln campaign where everyone remembered how much they loved her, and she was *super* fun on the circuit.

Just you wait, though, it'll be Hilary Swank as a some earnest touch person with an accent.

October 21, 2014 | Unregistered Commenterben1283

Most Likely:
Cate Blanchett (she has a LOT of time to make this possible)
Tom Hanks

Robert Deniro, Christoph Waltz, Sean Penn, Denzel Washington, and Hilary Swank all seem like possible three timers, but with more working against them. This group just isn't offered or doesn't play awards bait as much, for a variety of reasons, ranging from their race (Washington) to typecasting (Swank) to a difficult reputation (Penn) to age (Deniro).

Most Deserving
Dustin Hoffman
Gene Hackman

For the women, it's a bit harder. I'm not sure I'd choose any active actress from the two-comer club as "deserving" of a threepeat, even if I do love Wiest and Lange.

October 21, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterKate

7. Cate Blanchett
8. Denzel Washington
9. Dianne Wiest
10. Hilary Swank in Supporting

October 21, 2014 | Unregistered Commenter3rtful

Hillary Swank.

(Nathaniel wakes from nightmare)

October 21, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterCharles O

(I'm going with who I most likely see winning a third based on their trajectory with the Academy and the amount of time they have to possibly win another)

I find Christoph Waltz will probably win a third in the next decade or so,

I mean, Hilary Swank has two, and she's still young, so she could very well get three, with the right role

Daniel Day Lewis will most likely tie Katherine Hepburn's record

Denzel Washington (if he does Fences!!) Could very well win a third

and of course Cate Blanchett will most likely get another

Those for now, the ones who deserve them are people I feel who still needs ONE!!!! And that list is way too long :-)

October 21, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterTory Smith

I can completely see Streep, Day -Lewis, or even Nicholson getting another Oscar before anyone new enters this prestigious list.

October 21, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterJamie

My first thought was that Albert Finney should have three of these golden boys and he doesn't have one. Dumb.

Of the four most likely to get a third, I would say: 7. Blanchett; 8. Michael Caine; 9. Jessica Lange; and 10. Dustin Hoffman.

My most deserving would go like this: 7. Lange; 8. Caine; 9. Hoffman; and 10. Gene Hackman.

October 21, 2014 | Unregistered Commenterbrookesboy

I could certainly see Robert De Niro winning a third. I think he came closer than that people think for Silver Linings Playbook. If he has like some kind of late in life Sunshine Boys nonsense, I wouldn't be shocked if he wins. Do I sound preemptively annoyed?

I could also see Tom Hanks winning a third, especially if it's a Best Picture frontrunner type of thing where everyone seems to agree. They clearly like him a lot.

I also think that if Michael Caine, who has 2 supporting, has a great lead performance, they would give it to him. He's been fairly vocal about wanting to win lead actor.

I could certainly see Robert De Niro winning a third. I think he came closer than that people think for Silver Linings Playbook. If he has like some kind of late in life Sunshine Boys nonsense, I wouldn't be shocked if he wins. Do I sound preemptively annoyed?

I could also see Tom Hanks winning a third, especially if it's a Best Picture frontrunner type of thing where everyone seems to agree. They clearly like him a lot.

I also think that if Michael Caine, who has 2 supporting, has a great lead performance, they would give it to him. He's been fairly vocal about wanting to win lead actor.

My first thought is that Meryl Streep and Daniel Day-Lewis seem likely either to catch up with or surpass Hepburn. If I had to add new names to the list, though, I would say Blanchett (obviously), Washington (just needs his 'As Good As It Gets'), and Clooney (who is not done winning Oscars, I think we can all agree). Also, I wouldn't count out Kevin Spacey or Jessica Lange if they return to the big screen in a plum role.

Another thought: I need to watch more Walter Brennan!

October 21, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterDusty

From most to least likely (from the two-time winners list):

(some time has spent since their wins to make it very probable once they have a great role)
Robert DeNiro
Tom Hanks
Denzel Washington

(because they keep working and they're young)
Sean Penn
Kevin Spacey
Cate Blanchett
Hilary Swank
Christoph Waltz

(they have their projects; but can't you see all of these make it if a good part comes along?)
Jodie Foster
Jane Fonda
Jessica Lange

(if a great role came to these almost-retired actors)
Dianne Wiest
Gene Hackman


I also feel Streep and Day-Lewis will win at least one more to climb to the top-3.

October 21, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterJorge

Pretentious: Yes! Michael Caine! But only if he stops letting Christopher Nolan cast him in everything.

October 21, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterDusty

Bates will join Foster, Thompson, Hunter, and McDormand in the 90's Best Actress winners club with four or more acting Oscar nominations.

October 21, 2014 | Unregistered Commenter3rtful

You didn't specify living or dead.

Vivian Leigh
Jane Fonda
Shelly Winters
Javier Bardem

Any of these as well
Diane Weist
Sally Field
Jodie Foster
Brando
Blancett
G Rush
Thompson
Washington
M Smith
J Lawrence (talk about time to collect more little gold men!)

October 21, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterHenry

Most Likely
7. Tom Hanks
8. Cate Blanchett
9. Denzel Washington
10. Maggie Smith

October 21, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterJoe

Blanchett
Washington
Spacey
Winslet. (Why not?)

October 21, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterSan FranCinema

I don't see Hilary Swank winning a third because of the Jodie Foster in Nell thing (stay with me for just a second). Had Jodie Foster not already had two, I do think that she would have won for Nell, especially in that field where there was no enthusiasm really behind any of the performances and none of them were from Best Picture nominees. I think the Academy in that case really thought about it and said "Does this performer really need THREE Oscars?" Hilary Swank has the same problem, except it's compounded by the fact that she's only been nominated twice (the two times she won). Setting aside Boys Don't Cry and Million Dollar Baby, she hasn't had the type of career where there's a really deep bench of great roles or performances that people have a strong affection for...though I may be projecting.

From the one-time winners...

Anne Hathaway and Jennifer Lawrence seem the most plausible for triple acting wins for a long haul.

I can see Christian Bale getting there too, if he gets another one this decade. If Russell Crowe gets his mojo back, I can see him winning more than another one, too. And Kate Winslet as well.

I like to think that Marion Cotillard will get at least one more (that she already deserved, mind you). And she's french and hot and auteur-savyy, so she'll work forever.

In the Brits division, Carey Mulligan and Keira Knightley will also work forever. Imagine Carey and Keira, like Dame Judi and Dame Maggie? :P

October 21, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterJorge

I can only think of two who are likely to join the above: Cate Blanchett and Denzel Washington. Jennifer Lawrence and Amy Adams might. Streep and Day-Lewis could make it 4

October 21, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterJoe (uk)

I feel the Academy and Hollywood love Denzel Washington and Tom Hanks too much for them not to receive another trophy.

And they've been trying to get DeNiro a third one (last time it didn't bit but I'd bet it was very, very close).

And I also like to think that either Jessica Lange, Michael Caine or Maggie Smith will get a third. Or all, actually. They all have enough popularity with the hip crowd (AHS for Lange, Downton/Potter for Maggie, Batman/Chris Nolan for Caine), Lange and Caine have been vocal about wanting better roles offered to them and Smith is a non-stop working machine...


Now, for most deserved:
Lange; Hanks; Fonda (They Shoot Horses and China Syndrome, among other stuff!) DeNiro (the man's filmography from the 70s to the 90s should ensue 5-6 Oscars)

October 21, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterJay

I dunno. it's been an awfully long time since Hanks was nominated and he even got stiffed for one of his very best performances in CAPTAIN PHILLIPS. which is sad.

October 21, 2014 | Registered CommenterNATHANIEL R

This statement is going to seem a little crazy/confusing, but I actually think that even though Hanks missed for Captain Phillips there are a few years since he was last nominated where had Captain Phillips come out that year, he would have won for it.

if only y'all would comment this much on non Oscar posts haha

October 21, 2014 | Registered CommenterNATHANIEL R

Isn't it amazing how very few people have mentioned Kate Winslet?! Ten years ago we'd all have said she was headed for Streep territory. Now... I personally can't wait for her to turn it around.

October 21, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterTom M

Winslet has one Oscar. She is a plausible two time winner. But until she actually becomes fire again as an actress in film no one is thinking of number three. When earning the first was a task in itself.

Will Bates win a second in Supporting? Will her rival Huston return in Supporting?

October 21, 2014 | Unregistered Commenter3rtful

If Cate Blanchett is going to do it she better do it soon unless it would be in supporting. She's hot right now but just about to age out of big time leads, unless she's another Streep, which is rare.

I'd love to see Jane Fonda get a third but the roles she's been getting lately haven't been award quality. Sally Field would be great too but she's hardly being offered worthy stuff either.

Although I'm not a fan Denzel Washington still has a pretty good shot.

What would be best of all is if someone could lure Olivia de Havilland or Glenda Jackson out of retirement with a great part and they could join the three timers club. Won't happen but would be swell.

October 21, 2014 | Unregistered Commenterjoel6

Blanchett's age is a non-concern. Since she is revered by the Academy. Think Dench continuing to receive Best Actress nominations, and she turns 80 this year.

October 21, 2014 | Unregistered Commenter3rtful

Most Likely to Succeed:

7. Cate Blanchett
8. Tom Hanks
9. Hillary Swank
10. Christian Bale

And I think DDL will catch up with Hepburn by 2020.

October 21, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterPaul Outlaw

Deserving
7. Nicole Kidman - She should have at least 6 nominations at this point, right? Slow and steady, that continued fearlessness will continue to breakthrough and pay off (The Paperboy was this close after all).
8. Joaquin Phoenix - He can't be far off from a win, right? The more I revisit last year, the more I think he should've been the big winner for her.
9. Tilda Swinton - I'm still amazed (and grateful) that she's an Academy Award winner.
10. Viola Davis - Glory be if she even gets to a first one! Already twice a runner-up, and perhaps a Penelope Cruz aside, I don't think a single eye would've been batted if she'd won either or even both of those.

Most Likely - Given how quickly the gain nods in general
7. Tom Hanks - Last year's snub is still a bit surprising to me, but this one only feels like a matter of time before it happens.
8. Sean Penn - Same as above, just a matter of time. Kind of surprising because as respected as he is, no doubt, he certainly doesn't seem as likeable as a Hanks or a number of other actors far less likely to match his achievements.
9. Cate Blanchett - I think she's even embarrassed by some of those nods, but she always seems to have a good humor about herself, which I think goes a long way with that crowd. I see a Streep moment ala The Iron Lady happening in another 15 years or so.
10. Jodie Foster - I think Denzel could, but he really doesn't seem interested. I see Dame Smith garnering another (goodwill) nod at some point, but is she allowed to play anything other than a variation on the Dowager Countess? Maybe an elder statesman (Hackman/Hoffman/Duvall) will, but I think Foster is probably best positioned to make this happen, if she wants to.
***11. Daniel Day-Lewis - Just seems bound to match Hepburn's lead acting wins, which will be even more amazing because it'll likely happen with maybe less than half the number of nominations she had. It's odd that he seems even more likely than Streep, who (as we learned last year) will literally be nominated for anything.

October 21, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterVal

7.Cate Blanchett (the most likely I think)
8.Denzel Washington
9.Kate Winslet (she's still very young and working)
10.Tom Hanks

October 21, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterFernando Moss

Most likely:

Cate Blanchett: her focus is on the director not if the role is lead or supporting. The material and the way Blanchett works will give her many noms and at least one more Oscar. I believe Blanchett does not care about the Oscar hoopla things. And that is why she will be even more respected and beloved. We all know that Blanchett is gonna act until she hits 100 years and still gonna have those cheek bones

Daniel Day-Lewis: He is a living acting legend and will continue do great work...as long as he still wants to work on screen. The biggest threat is Day-Lewis himself

Meryl Streep: I kind of sense a Streep fatigue and I don't think she will be rewarded an acting Oscar but more a honoree one. Some of her noms are undeserving

Jodie Foster: already has two leading Oscars. Also here it is herself who is the biggest threat. If Foster wants to continue and explore and grow as an actress, Foster most pick juicer roles. We all know she can be greatness

Christian Bale: he is gonna win a best actor Oscar in the future. We all know it, just not WHEN. He is mega talented and always likes to challenge himself

Of the younger ones:
Rooney Mara is gonna have a long acting life. She likes to challenge herself
Mia Wasikowska ma be up there
Lupita I hope will be up there. She is already beloved
Emily Blunt may be there
Kristen Stewart if she continues to challenge and work with great directors

October 21, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterManuel

I would love Kate Winslet to have three Oscars eventually!

She should have two, in my opinion: one for Little Children and another for Revolutionary Road.

The Reader was a very good movie, but I don't think she was win worthy in it.

Cate Blanchett should also have three by now. A statue for Notes should be placed on her mantle.

October 21, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterBhuray

Diane Wiest
Holly Hunter
Michael Caine
Idris Elba (he'll get there someday I swear)

October 21, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterQueermyntcritic

The most deserving:
07. Jane Fonda. She should have three by now.
08. Faye Dunaway. With her filmography and so many classics under her belt, it's insane she's only got one.
09. Tommy Lee Jones. Still miffed about his Lincoln loss, and his sole win was for such a weird role! It's not Pacino/Scent of a Woman levels of awful, because the performance is solid, but WTF?? The Fugitive?? THAT's the Tommy Lee Jones performance for the ages? Really, Academy?
10. Cate Blanchett. Not a fan of her performance as Katherine Hepburn, or the Aviator as a whole, but she's had very strong performances in Elizabeth, I'm Not There and Notes on a Scandal, all of which would have been deserving wins, so she makes the list, even if I am not particularly fond of the first role she won for. Re: deserving performers who win for the wrong roles, see also: Davis, Bette.

Honorable mentions to Diane Keaton and Robert DeNiro, whose bodies of work are very richly deserving, but who sadly chose to retire their talents before retiring themselves, thus causing young Blanchett to leapfrog them on this list.

Most likely:
07. Cate Blanchett, next year, for Carol, as she steamrolls for another season and gives us sassy brilliant speeches and cures some cancer too, in the free time, for good measure (sorry folks, after Blue Jasmine I'm quite enamored with her and I think it'll take an Elizabeth:the Golden Age level of atrocity to strip my crush bare).
08. Christoph Waltz, sooner than I'd hope, for playing the same role, this time with a sombrero, in a racially/culturally questionable Quentin Tarantino movie about bloody revenge-seeking in Tijuana or Mexico City.
09. Tom Hanks, in supporting, when he's gray and old, for playing goofy lovable Grampa Tom, heehee, that's adorable, don't you just love him?
10. Denzel Washington as soon as he gets Fences on the big screen, with Viola winning hers to match, and inspiring Sasha Stone to complain that black actresses only win lead Oscars when Denzel wins also, so what will the Racist Academy do after he retires?

Most podcast joy inducing:
07. Sophie Okonedo
08. Sophie Okonedo
09. Sophie Okonedo
10. Sophie Okonedo
Because Okonedo! :)

October 21, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterCarmen Sandiego

Carmen Sandiego, I lol'd at your comment on Denzel Washington!!!

I remember saying that after Streep won her third, Day-Lewis was the most likely actor to be next to do so and I was right. As for the next ones in (if there's ever gonna be), the first two that come to mind are Cate Blanchett and Sean Penn. I would bet DeNiro and Dustin Hoffman as well but they don't seem to be at the top of the game anymore...
I wouldn't bet on Hilary Swank as well... It seems her second win was divisive enough to prevent that for a long, long time.

Now, with great potential for a second win at this point, I think of:
- Kate Winslet (she's been out of the game for sometime now, but if she's in the right movie she could be back easily)
- Jennifer Lawrence (almost won her second back to back and she has a long career ahead of her, not to mention her "star" status... I'd say she wins a second one for sure)
- Tilda Swinton (Dunno why, just a feeling)
- Javier Bardem (He's frequently in good roles/performances, the statuette could land on his lap again)
- George Clooney (Ever since his first acting win he's been nominated once every two years or so. Eventually he's taking the gold again)
- The late Philip Seymour Hoffman would've been right at the top of this list...

October 21, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterGage Creed

Marisa Tomei will join Dianne Wiest and Shelley Winters in the two timers club for Supporting Actress.

October 21, 2014 | Unregistered Commenter3rtful

Why is no one talking about OLIVIA DE HAVILLAND?

October 21, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterJohn

Bhuray -- ooh no. because category fraud! She was a leading actress in that movie. and she wasn' tbetter than Meryl or Judi or Penelope or or ;)

3rtful - if only.

John --she retired many aeons ago.

everyone -- just a hunch but i don't see kate winslet winning again. I think people who win "overdue" oscars do not usually repeat (with the notable exception of Sean Penn). which is why i don't think meryl wins again either. I could easily see Jennifer Lawrence winning again though.

October 21, 2014 | Registered CommenterNATHANIEL R

If they could get a film camera into the nursing home, why not Luise Rainer?! Man, that would be an absolute kick. If I was an aspiring filmmaker I'd really give it a shot, can you imagine the publicity?

Other than that crazy idea, yeah, duh, I guess Cate Blanchett or Jodie Foster would be my choices. Cate could get it sooner since she's considered a master thespian, but Jodie would have to turn in a truly grand or wierd performance.

October 21, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterDave in Alamitos Beach

Nathaniel- you seriously believe that Meryl Streep will never win another Oscar? Really??!!
If there is one thing the Academy loves is to award a " narrative" over a " performance" - and if she keeps acting- after everyone's Streep fatigue is gone- in 15 to 20 years they will want to award " the living legend."
She still has a better chance of winning a 4th than some of this site's favorite actresses winning a first.

October 21, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterJamie

Most Likely:
Cate Blanchett
Colin Firth--he has had some stinkers lately, but I thought he was very good in The Railway Man. I wouldn't count him out for a couple more lead BA statues before he retires in 20-30 years.
Nicole Kidman

And, I agree with others re Marisa Tomei for supporting.

My personal hopefuls:
Idris Elba
Tilda Swinton
Gary Oldman
Jake Gyllenhaal
‎Chiwetel Ejiofor
Lupita Nyong'o
Emma Thompson (though her next win might be for screenplay; so prolific these days!)

(wow, my list is really heavy on non-Americans...)

October 21, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterPam

Jamie -- i just think that "overdue" feeling forces their collective3 hand and there is almost always backlash/resentment. Kate Winslet experienced it. Susan Sarandon experienced it and has never been back. Etcetera. It's just very common. It's much much healthier for careers to just win for a good performance than win because you're "overdue". Once it's for that reason and not the performance people feel 'they've had their due!' But yes, she has a better shot at a fourth than most of the older actresses we love that have never won. That much is very true since Oscar does not like actresses once they hit 50. Julianne Moore will only be the second 50something to ever win Best Actress (in 87 years!!!) if she pulls it off.

October 21, 2014 | Registered CommenterNATHANIEL R

oh and i meant to add that Streep, like Hepburn, does not follow the normal rules so her age is not a deterrent.

October 21, 2014 | Registered CommenterNATHANIEL R

True-most women after getting their overdue Oscar never get nominated again or for a very long time. But Streep just got her 18th and if she is great in Into the Woods or Ricki and the Flash she will get a 19th nomination. I feel like oscars, despite Iron Lady win being overdue, keeps wanting to invite her to the party- which for me- is at least a good sign for a 4th win.

Streep defies all the rules.

October 21, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterJamie

And Nathaniel, like Hepburn, Meryl can trump the 'overdue' card IF she gives a performance as good as The Lion in Winter's Hepburn one. That's how one deals with 'overdue' status.

October 21, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterJay
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