In these merry times of winter holidays and gift-giving, there's no better present than the gift of hope. For Oscar obsessives, this can come in many forms. One of them can be the reminder that the precursors aren't everything when it comes to the race for Hollywood's most coveted little golden man.
Even if your favorite performance of the year hasn't been getting any sort of awards love, that doesn't mean its Oscar chances are dead and buried. Remember the case of Marcia Gay Harden, a surprise nominee that became a surprise victor when she conquered the Academy Award for Pollock. What a thrill.
She's the patron saint of Oscar surprises. In honor of her, here's a list of those lucky actors who scored an Oscar nomination despite having no nod whatsoever from the Globes, the SAGs, the Critics Choice Awards, or the BAFTAs...
Marina de Tavira, ROMA
Best Supporting Actress Nominee (2018)
Laura Dern, WILD
Best Supporting Actress Nominee (2014)
Jonah Hill, THE WOLF OF WALL STREET
Best Supporting Actor Nominee (2013)
Jacki Weaver, SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
Best Supporting Actress Nominee (2012)
Max von Sydow, EXTREMELY LOUD INCREDIBLY CLOSE
Best Supporting Actor Nominee (2011)
Maggie Gyllenhaal, CRAZY HEART
Best Supporting Actress Nominee (2009)
Michael Shannon, REVOLUTIONARY ROAD
Best Supporting Actor Nominee (2008)
Laura Linney, THE SAVAGES
Best Actress Nominee (2007)
Tommy Lee Jones, IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH
Best Actor Nominee (2007)
William Hurt, A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE
Best Supporting Actor Nominee (2005)
Clint Eastwood, MILLION DOLLAR BABY
Best Actor Nominee (2004)
Shohreh Aghdashloo, HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG
Best Supporting Actress Nominee (2003)
Djimon Hounsou, IN AMERICA
Best Supporting Actor Nominee (2003)
Ed Harris, POLLOCK
Best Actor Nominee (2000)
Marcia Gay Harden, POLLOCK
Best Supporting Actress Winner (2000)
Toni Collette, THE SIXTH SENSE
Best Supporting Actress Nominee (1999)
Edward Norton, AMERICAN HISTORY X
Best Actor Nominee (1998)
Julie Christie, AFTERGLOW
Best Actress Nominee (1997)
Robert Forster, JACKIE BROWN
Best Supporting Actor Nominee (1997)
Armin Mueller-Stahl, SHINE
Best Supporting Actor Nominee (1996)
James Cromwell, BABE
Best Supporting Actor Nominee (1995, the first year when all these precursors where handed)
Maybe one of your favorite performances of the year can join this list come January. There's always hope.