10 Fantasy Performances That Should Have Been Nominated for the Oscar but Weren’t
In 1929, the first Academy Awards were held to acknowledge and celebrate achievements in cinema. Other award ceremonies have appeared since, such as the Golden Globe Awards in 1944 and the Annie Awards in 1972, but the Academy Awards, or Oscars, remain the most prestigious. That said, the Oscars also have their fair share of critics who believe that they have biases, and several of the Academy’s choices have left audiences shaking their heads in disgust.
Within the fantasy genre, several actors have been overlooked by the Academy for awards like Best Actor and Actress. This list isn’t to say that the people who won the awards in those respective years didn’t deserve it (though no doubt there are plenty of debates that could be had). Rather, this is just acknowledging fantastic actors who put their all into the most creative genre of films and maybe deserve a second look, especially because the Academy arguably has a bias, often refusing to acknowledge fantasy performances simply for the genre they belong to.
Paige O’Hara for ‘Beauty and the Beast’ (1991)
The Academy has never acknowledged voice acting, and even today, there is no Oscar for Best Voice Actor. Thus, numerous fantastic performances have been overlooked for live-action ones, even though the process of matching voicework to animation is a delicate balancing act. One example of an actress who deserves recognition for her vocal talents is Paige O’Hara. A Broadway actress inspired by the likes of Judy Garland, she made her film debut in 1991 when she voiced Belle in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, the first animated film nominated for Best Picture, and the only one nominated when the Oscars had five nominees.
O’Hara was chosen for Belle entirely because of her fantastic speaking and singing voice, which brought Broadway-style flair and emotion to the film, realizing Belle like nobody else could. Her performance highlights Belle’s courage, inquisitive nature, and maturity, emphasizing that the character would be different from the princesses that came before her. Not to mention her fantastic camaraderie with Robby Benson‘s Beast, which resulted in one of cinema’s greatest love stories. The success of the film and O’Hara’s performance led to future princesses taking inspiration from Belle’s example, and she has consistently ranked among the best Disney Princesses and best animated characters.
Alan Rickman for the Harry Potter Films (2001-2011)
Based on the hit young-adult book series, the Harry Potter films have become one of the most well-known and profitable film franchises. One reason was the all-English casting, made up of strong, up-and-coming talent and powerhouse veterans of film and theatre. Among those was Alan Rickman, known among action fans for his iconic role in Die Hard, whom Rowling had envisioned playing the complex antihero, Severus Snape. Rowling shared key details with Rickman about Snape’s character that had not yet been revealed in the books, particularly his love for Lily Potter, which helped Rickman tap into Snape’s inner thoughts and deliver perhaps the best performance out of the main cast.
Rickman’s take on Snape is phenomenal. When introduced in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, he is cold and at times cruel, but ultimately established as a heroic character. As the films went on, and Snape became more complicated with each new secret revealed, Rickman immersed himself deeper into the character, especially when it came to how his love and his duty often pulled him in two different directions. This comes to a head in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 when the final puzzle piece is seen. Rickman pours his heart and soul out during this final revelation, letting Snape’s decades of pain spill forth, which culminates with one word that has audiences reaching for tissue paper: “always.”
Tilda Swinton for ‘The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe’ (2005)
Fantasy saw a revival in the early millennium, spearheading a new wave of fantasy films in the 2000s, especially if they were based on books. One of the most successful was The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, which adapted the first book in release order of C. S. Lewis‘ The Chronicles of Narnia series. For the role of the White Witch, Jadis, the filmmakers chose Tilda Swinton, who at the time was known for appearing in more avant-garde films like Caravaggio and Orlando. Her role as Jadis helped introduce her to mainstream audiences and gave her a chance to play a truly despicable villain.
Swinton’s performance is a masterclass in how less is more. For the most part, she is just standing in place and rarely changes her facial expression, but her word choices and condescending tone of voice help to create an aura of absolute power. She dominates every scene she’s in with an icy, almost mystifying exterior that does little to hide the malice that boils inside. Plus, Swinton cuts an incredibly striking figure during the climax of the film, where she goes into battle wearing an outfit made from the mane of the great lion, Aslan.
Lewis MacDougall for ‘A Monster Calls’ (2016)
Beginning with the 7th Academy Awards, the Oscars would award noteworthy actors under 18 with the honorary Academy Juvenile Award. Recipients of this honorary award include Shirley Temple, Judy Garland, Bobby Driscoll, and Hayley Mills. The award was done away with in 1963, when then-16-year-old Patty Duke won Best Supporting Actress at the 35th Academy Awards for her role in The Miracle Worker. Tatum O’Neal would win the same award in 1973 (becoming the youngest person to win an Oscar at 10), and Anna Paquin (11 at the time) in 1993, but since then, no young actor has won an Oscar. If one case can be made in recent films, it’s Lewis MacDougall for his amazing work as Conor O’Malley in A Monster Calls.
This criminally underrated fantasy film sees O’Malley interact with a tree-like monster as he struggles to accept the inevitable death of his terminally ill mother. MacDougall’s performance is stunning: he captures each of the five stages of grief with such raw emotion that you forget that you’re watching a performance and instead a young boy going through the universal pain of loss. It’s so good that MacDougall stands equally alongside veteran actors like Liam Neeson and Sigourney Weaver, who give killer performances as well. There are other amazing young actors out there deserving of recognition, and hopefully, the Academy will return to acknowledging them soon.
Bill Nighy for ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: The Dead Man’s Chest’ (2006)
Another spot that the Oscars tend to ignore is motion capture performances. While at first it might seem understandable, since the character on screen is brought to life via CGI, their movements are based on the performance of the actor beneath. Thus, how different is it from, say, burying an actor in prosthetic makeup to turn them into monsters like Boris Karloff in Frankenstein (which also didn’t win any Oscars, sorry horror fans)? One of the best examples of motion capture comes from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, where powerhouse actor Bill Nighy played Davy Jones. While the effects won an Oscar at the 79th Academy Awards, Nighy himself was excluded, despite his near-universal approval from fans and movie critics.
Nighy does everything you could hope for in a villain, making Jones an equally sympathetic and monstrous character. He delights in spreading cruelty and mystery through his “life is cruel” worldview, but the more his past is delved into, his actions become understandable, if not excusable. Nighy excels in both areas, making Jones a laughing, sadistic bastard who enjoys watching the last hope leave someone’s eyes before they die, and a broken man living through centuries of heartbreak and loss. And he does this all while speaking in a thick Scottish accent to boot.
Mandy Patinkin for ‘The Princess Bride’ (1987)
In 1973, William Goldman released his fantasy book The Princess Bride. Once it found some success, Hollywood was eager to make a film adaptation, but the idea was never finalized until Rob Reiner joined in the 1980s. The result is widely considered one of the greatest fantasy films ever made, thanks to its lighthearted tone, beautiful love story, endearing characters, and utterly quotable dialogue. The most iconic comes from Inigo Montoya, played by Mandy Patinkin.
One of the reasons why Inigo’s line sticks with people is because Patinkin channelled his grief when he said it. He used the film as a chance to process the loss of his father, who died of cancer when Patinkin was 18. This raw emotion can be felt throughout Inigo’s scenes, but especially when he confronts the six-fingered Count Rugen. Even when he’s not channelling grief, Patinkin’s natural charisma oozes out of Inigo, making him the type of character you can’t help but love. Given the phenomenal cast in The Princess Bride, it’s a testament to Patinkin’s talent that he made Inigo stand out the most, and it remains his most beloved film role.
Robin Williams for ‘Aladdin’ (1992)
Robin Williams was one of Hollywood’s biggest movie stars in the 1990s, beloved for his stand-up comedy, television series like Mork & Mindy, and acclaimed films such as Dead Poets Society and Good Morning, Vietnam, both of which earned him Oscar nominations for Best Actor. When Disney approached him to voice the Genie in their next film, Aladdin, he was hesitant but was ultimately convinced to come on board when animator Eric Goldberg did test animation of the Genie set to one of Williams’ stand-up routines. While Disney broke their contract with Williams regarding the Genie’s use in advertisements, he received universal praise from critics and audiences.
Williams’s work as the Genie is perhaps the greatest example of the Academy turning its nose up at voice acting roles. It’s nothing short of iconic, with Williams seamlessly shifting between a bombastic, larger-than-life personality and a more grounded and heartfelt one when he bonds with the protagonist, Aladdin. Not to mention the sheer number of rapid-fire jokes and celebrity impressions that remain hilarious to this day, and were only a drop in the bucket of material Williams gave the filmmakers. The Genie not only remains one of the most iconic animated characters put to film, but his success forever changed animated films by encouraging other studios to hire celebrities for their movies.
Gene Wilder for ‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’ (1971)
Roald Dahl is one of the most successful English authors of children’s literature, praised for his inventive stories, distinct art style, and how well he blends whimsical adventure and dark comedy. He was also known for despising nearly every film adaptation of his work released during his lifetime, including Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, based on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. One point of criticism was the casting of frequent Mel Brooks collaborator Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka over his choice, comedian Spike Milligan. While Dahl had his misgivings, audiences were the exact opposite, and often cite Wilder as the best part of the film.
Wilder’s portrayal of Wonka is legendary, constantly jumping between a whimsical guide through a magical world and a sassy, cynical trickster. The lack of concern he shows as the children who won his contest start dropping off one by one leads to so many hilarious lines thanks to his deadpan delivery, and makes it feel like he’s just trolling everyone. This makes the blowup he has at the end of the film even more effective and further highlights Wilder’s ability to portray multiple emotional extremes. At least the Golden Globes recognized Wilder’s talent and gave him a nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy at their 29th award show.
Andy Serkis in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers’ (2002)
If there’s one actor above all who deserves recognition for motion capture work, it’s Andy Serkis. His fantastic talent has brought to life numerous characters, including King Kong in the 2005 film by Sir Peter Jackson, Caesar in the first three rebooted Planet of the Apes films, and Captain Haddock in Steven Spielberg‘s The Adventures of Tintin. However, his most famous character is Gollum from Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Both Jackson and producer Barrie M. Osborne campaigned for Serkis to get a nomination for Best Supporting Actor, but the Academy refused.
It’s hard not to call the Academy fools for this choice when you watch the films and the behind-the-scenes documentaries, where you can see Serkis acting out the scenes in his motion capture suit. Not only is his physical acting immersive, but he loses himself in the vocal side of things as well. It’s astounding how much emotion Serkis can get across while making his voice so raspy and gargled, especially when he switches back and forth between the cruel Gollum persona and the kind remnants of Sméagol. With a new movie that focuses on Gollum in production, one can’t help but speculate on how amazing Serkis will be with two decades’ worth of technological advancement to bring his movements to life.
Bengt Ekerot for ‘The Seventh Seal’ (1957)
One of the most powerful sources of creative inspiration is the inevitability of death. Artists and storytellers have long tried to make sense of this final adventure, and none have had as much of an impact on cinema as Ingmar Bergman‘s The Seventh Seal. Here, the spirit of Death is played by Bengt Ekerot, dressed only in a black robe that accentuates his pale face. Yet, once again, less is more, and Ekerot’s take on Death has inspired countless portrayals since.
There is something alien about Ekerot’s performance, which sets him apart from Max von Sydow‘s knight, who challenges Death to a chess game for his life. His emotions never shift from calm indifference, capturing the impartiality of death. There is no judgment and no malice, just a cold adherence to his job. Ekerot embodies this approach in every facet of his performance, with slow, ponderous body movements and a face that draws the eye without changing too much. It’s a legendary performance from a legendary film, and it makes no sense why the Academy didn’t acknowledge Ekerot’s talent.
