Kelly Macdonald and other Oscar-Less Wonders
Tuesday, November 15, 2016 at 12:30PM by Kyle Stevens
I was finishing up the new season of Black Mirror --which is alternately smart and smarmy, somehow managing to exaggerate reality to the point of smugness rather than satire-- when, lo and behold, who should pop up in the finale but Kelly MacDonald. And she's magnificent in it. Not being a Boardwalk Empire watcher, I hadn't really thought about her since her spectral turn as Rowena Ravenclaw in the Harry Potter movies. Then I remembered just how good she was in No Country for Old Men, Gosford Park, and even Nanny McPhee. I surprised myself by starting to fantasize Oscar-winning roles for her -- as one does.
But there are so many worthy actresses without the big award. So to get our minds off the horrors of this past week, let's retreat into some good old-fashioned actressexual playtime. Who are your top five working actresses you'd love to see win an Oscar?
Off the top of my head, and in no particular order, mine are:
- Annette Bening
- Maggie Cheung
- Sally Hawkins
- Isabelle Huppert
- Kelly MacDonald
CAVEAT: I've not said Viola Davis, because her status will probably change soon!
Reader Comments (68)
1. Glenn Close
2. Sigourney Weaver
3. Amy Adams
4. Joan Allen
5. Annette Bening
And Charlotte Rampling, Judy Davis, Toni Collette, Laura Linney, Isabelle Huppert, Gong Li
My top (of the head) three don't have a single nomination between them:
Eva Green, Margo Martindale, Olivia Williams.
Top 5:
Catherine Deneuve
Catherine Deneuve
Catherine Deneuve
Catherine Deneuve
Catherine Deneuve
But for real:
1 Catherine Deneuve
2. Kristin Scott Thomas
3. Sonia Braga
4. Anette Bening
5. Jessica Chastain
Gong Li for me as well.
Keeping it Aussie all the way -
Judy Davis
Naomi Watts
Jackie Weaver
Toni Collette
Rose Byrne
Previously Nominated:
- Cicely Tyson
- Michelle Pfeiffer
- Catherine Deneuve
- Angela Bassett
- Keira Knightley
- Glenn Close
Never Nominated:
- Regina King
- Emily Blunt
- Scarlett Johansson
- Kirsten Dunst
- Naomie Harris
Such fine choices. Leave it to TFE community to mine the best of winless actresses.
My picks for the ladies I'd be happiest to see recognized who aren't in contention this year:
Michelle Pfeiffer
Naomi Watts
Emily Watson
Keira Knightly
Jennifer Jason Leigh
Sally Hawkins
Parker Posey
Rooney Mara
Eva Green
And this selection excludes foreign language film actresses.
Debra Winger (Terms of Endearment & An Officer and a Gentleman)
Glenn Close (Fatal Attraction & Dangerous Liaisons)
Michelle Pfeiffer (The Fabulous Baker Boys & Dangerous Liaisons)
Diane Lane (Unfaithful)
Isabelle Huppert (Elle)
And Gena Rowlands, Theresa Russell, Ellen Barkin, Barbara Hershey, Lesley Ann Warren, Judy Davis, Helena Bonham Carter, Annette Bening, Amy Adams, Jessica Chastain
Bette Midler
Glenn Close
Kirsten Dunst
Drew Barrymore
Angela Bassett
Of course Viola Davis, but I'm hoping she'll have an Oscar come early next year.
Ooh, and Angela Bassett too.
I wouldn't say I want them to WIN one, but I would love for Lisa Kudrow, Sarah Paulson, Leelee Sobieski, and Cameron Diaz to be Oscar nominated.
Judy Davis
Glenn Close
Isabelle Huppert
Toni Collette
Lisa Kudrow
or to make room for other actresses:
Fernanda Montenegro
Geraldine Chaplin
Olivia Colman
Eileen Atkins
Emmanuelle Riva
Isabelle Adjani should have won twice already with The story of Adelh H and Camille Claudel
Emily Watson for Breaking the wave
Sigourney Weaver for Gorillas in the mist
Judy Davis for Hudsband and wives
Amy Adams for Junebug
Not mentioned yet:
Not nominated for Acting yet but should have been a couple of times:
Rarely acts anymore:
Under 40:
Sarah Polley
*Loved Kelly McDonald since Trainspotting - had to look at the credits to see Who's That Girl!?!
Top 5 Oscar-less Actresses:
Annette Bening
Joan Allen
Michelle Pfeiffer
Charlotte Rampling
Laura Dern
So many are talented, this list is for my particular favourites.
Kristin Scott Thomas
Miranda Richardson
Keira Knightly
Emily Blunt
Olivia Coleman
+ Annette Benning
Maribel Verdú, in my opinion...
Amantes (Lovers) 1991, Winner Best Supporting Actress - Mercedes Ruehl won for The Fisher King
La Buena Estrella 1997, Winner Best Lead Actress - Helen Hunt won for As Good as it Gets
Y tu mamá también 2001, Winner either Lead Actress - Halle Berry won for Monsters Ball or Supporting Actress if you go for probably cathegory fraud, where Jennifer Connelly won for A Beautiful Mind
El Laberinto del Fauno (Pan's Labyrinth), 2006, Winner or nominee, Best Supporting Actress - Jennifer Hudson won, for Dreamgirls.
Blancanieves, 2012 - Nominee Best Supporting Actress.
Yes, I think Maribel Verdú should have 4 Oscars already, and at least have been nominated once more. The AMPAS sure noticed it, because they invited her to be a member, long ago.
After her, Gong Li comes close second (Raise the Red Lantern, Qiu Ju) and then Catherine Deneuve, most likely.
Obviously
Gena Rowlands
Glenn Close
Angela Lansbury...Honorary Oscars don't really count IMO
I would add Jeanne Moreau, who still does a film here and there
& maybe Claire Bloom (also a bit of a cheat) or Jessica Walter
As far as actresses working steadliy today:
Jennifer Ehle
Helena Bonham Carter (though her roles are getting a bit caricature-ish)
Sarah Paulson
Jessica Chastain
Isabelle Huppert
I'm also fond of Vera Farmiga, Carey Mulligan, Allison Janney, Ellen Barkin, and Patricia Clarkson- they really haven't had a great film/role in the last 4-5 years.
Glenn Close, Sigourney Weaver,Michelle Pfeiffer, Mia Farrow, Parker Posey ,Liv Ullmann.
Elizabeth Banks, Zoe Saldana, Catherine Deneuve, Kimberly Elise, Judy Davis, Angie Dickinson, Diahann Carroll, Emily Mortimer.
But I also would like to see some true supporting actresses get their due: Jacki Weaver, Jeannie Berlin, Tracey Ullmann, Celia Weston, and Diane Ladd, who rightfully was annoyed with the leading actresses in her category last year.
1. Glenn Close
2. Laura Linney
3. Toni Collette
4. Isabelle Huppert
5. Amy Adams