50 Greatest Actors / Actresses Never To Win An Oscar

God I love this woman. A truely captivating actress. Thought she was going to get it for The Kings Speech but alas she'll have to try again.

He has done serious, funny, quirky and seriously quirky. No matter what the character though, he seems to capture (or maybe even create?) the essence of the movie everytime.

Wow, does this guy know the secret of great acting or what? I love to watch this guy. He was brilliant in Pulp Fiction, Swordfish, Mad City, Saturday Night Fever... the list goes on. I just hope he hasn't given up on searching for that performance worthy of an Oscar.

First took notice of Ed after watching his performance in Fight Club and I thought he was amazing. I have since watched American History X and Primal Fear and my estimations of him have only risen. He could have won an oscar for anyone of those performances. I am slighty dismayed by his lack of movie appearances in last few years but I eagerly await his return.

There is something very honest and real about Laura Linney on screen. Whatever she has, it always seems to engross me and I am hooked. She's been nominated three times but can she overcome that final hurdle?

Tom turned 50 in July 2012 which is almost as shocking as his lack of oscars. He's been making movies for almost 30 years and has to have been up with the best for at least fifteen of those. I know he's been in some pretty poor stuff (War of the Worlds isn't my favourite movie) but those movies are few and far between and I still believe him to be a great oscar worthy actor.

Yes he already has an oscar for co-writing Good Will Hunting with Ben Affleck which I am sure he is very proud of but this guy deserves at least a few more nominations for his acting than he already has. He was fantastic in Bourne, transforming what we want to see from a spy (and Bond has taken note) and I really enjoyed his performances in Departed and Mr Ripley

She has been close before, recieving three nominations in her time for Dangerous Liasons, Fabulous Baker Boys and Love Field but certainly deserving of a few more ie One Fine Day, What Lies Beneath and Batman Returns.

He has been nominated twice, for The English Patient and Schlinders List and he has put in fantastic performances in movies such as Red Dragon, Harry Potter, The Constant Gardner and as the hilariously evil Harry in In Bruges. Is his talent worthy of an Oscar though? I think so.

I think it is only a matter of time with this one. I still remember her from her days on Dawson's Creek but she rocketed to Hollywood stardom since then with some provoking performances whilst portraying often troubled characters.

He has one nomination to his name for Schlinders List back in 1994 but lost out to Tom Hanks for his role in Philadelphia. I don't think he can argue but may feel a little hard done by considering he put in possibly the best performance of his career only for Tom and Daniel Day Lewis (also nominated in '94) to decide they were going to act their asses off too. He was brilliant in Taken, Kinsey and Michael Collins to name a few and I feel he certainly deserves more than a single nomination.

Paul Giamatti was one of those too often underrated actors. That was, I think, until his performance in the TV mini-series John Adams. Don't get me wrong he was brilliant in many films before hand and even recieved an nomination for his supporting role in Cindarella Man but I think after John Adams people realised this guy wasn't riding his luck, overachieving, and actually is one of the great actors in Hollywood. I certainly enjoy his performances and know I will not be let down.

With three nominations already and hopefully a healthy career ahead of her I don't imagine she'll be on the list too long.

First of a few actors on this list not to even have recieved a oscar nomination. He's been about for 30 odd years and maybe has an action hero tag he can't shake off but I still feel he deserves more.

Probably best known for his role as Aragorn in LOTR's but this man can act. He is one of those actors who can make sure a film is riveting rather than boring. His performances are absorbing (The Road, History of Violence, Eastern Promises). He has recieved one oscar nomination to date.

He has two nominations to his name, both for supporting actor, in Shadow of the Vampire and, of course, for that iconic performance in Platoon. There is no doubting this man's talent but he partakes in too many wish-wash roles for me.

Mel grabbed his first Oscar in '95 for Best Director, and his second (shared) a few minutes later for Best Picture for Braveheart but he has never even recieved a nomination for acting. I think this is a bit harsh and maybe he was unlucky to get nothing for his roles as William Wallace (nomination at least) or Bret Maverick (one of my fav's). He seems to be one of the most hated men in Hollywood now but I still enjoy his performances and will be interested to see if the Oscar people are going to snub him again despite a sturdy performance in The Beaver.

Not even a nomination! Really? Even when playing small parts he executes his role with uther believability (is that a word?). Plays the bad guy very well as in River Wild and Sleepers and has made many and more great performances in his time. Even if he never gets himself an Oscar he can still be proud of a illustrious career.

She has been part of a few cult classics ie. Alien and Ghostbusters and is now part of Avatar but do oscars ever come from these type of movie series? Rarely (I'm thinking LOTR's, Terminator, Harry Potter, James Bond, Bourne). She has played some roles exceptionally well in her time and has recieved three nominations (one for Alien btw) so she can't feel hard done by.

Oh my God, this guy is seventy five years old! He got an Honorary oscar in '02 and has been nominated three times; once for acting back in '73. He also won an oscar in 1980 for Directing. This man has been churning out Oscar worthy performances for over fourty years and is still going strong. Could someone please give this man an oscar for acting?

She has one nomination so far, for her role in Crazy Heart but if she keeps going the way she's going (up, if you don't know) there'll be more where that came from.

She has been nominated four times, the last of which was in 2011 for her role in The Kids Are Alright, for which she was hotly tipped but lost out to Natalie Portman. I think it was fair but hopefully another great performace is on the way.

He has done a lot of corny movies I must admit but I still believe he is a good actor. Good performances include Primal Fear, Chicago and An Officer and a Gentleman. He has never got a nomination.

For some reason I just assumed Brolin already had himself an oscar. He has put in some quality performances in the last decade but actually has only gained one nomination (Milk).

Who doesn't like Ewan McGregor? Unfortunately popularity doesn't (and shouldn't) equate to Oscar Nomination. He can do action, thriller, war, musical, comedy... I am running out of genres. The point being he is an extremely versatile actor and I love to watch him. I would love to see this man get that role he deserves so he can just blow us away and then get his oscar.

He has been nominated twice for Actor in a Leading role for Pursuit of Happiness and Ali but twice the Oscar has eluded him. He has become a big Hollywood name over the years but will he ever get himself an Oscar?

This guy is one of the best actors about now. I find him absolutly capitivating. Shockingly he has never even been nominated despite excellent performances in Frost/Nixon, Damned United, The Queen and Beautiful Boy.

She has one nomination for her part in Pulp Fiction. She is no longer the big name she once was due to a string of less than impressive performances but will a third volume of Kill Bill be her can to revitalise her career?

Like Mel Gibson, Costner also recieved his first two Oscars in quick succession for Directing and Best Picture with Dances With Wolves. This was also where he recieved his first and only Oscar nomination for acting but lost out to Jeremy Irons. He has been in so many movies and had a lot of great performances I am slightly surprised by his lack of nominations.

Airforce One, The Fugitive, Indiana Jones, Blade Runner... the list goes on. How has he not got an Oscar already? He was nominated once in '86 for his role in Witness but lost out to William Hurt.

I always think of 'Bull' McCabe when I think of Richard Harris, so iconic was the role. He did of course have plenty of other spellbinding performances but it was this one that got him his second ever nomination; an amazing 26 years after his first. RIP.

She has come CLOSE (get it?) five times, all in the eighties, but no luck unfortunately. Still 5 nominations isn't bad.

An underrated actor in my opinion. Very enjoyable to watch and he has put in some mighty performances, such as John Malkovich and High Fidelity. He has never recieved a nomination.

One of the funniest men in the world but maybe not one of the best actors. He has comedy down to a tee though but maybe needs to try a different tact if he wants an Oscar. Plenty of Golden Globe nominations but no oscar's.

She was hotly tipped to win in '04 for her role in 21 Grams but lost out to Charlize Theron for her brilliantly disturbing portrayal of a female prostitute, serial killer. She has contined to create fantastic performances such as Eastern Promises and The International.

She has been nominated three times but never has got that elusive Oscar.

He has been nominated four times. A great actor who I hope will come again. I'm looking forward to seeing him in Man On A Ledge.

His acting career began way back in '62 but he has never managed to get himself nominated for an oscar. I thought he was very good in 1900, Ordinary People and JFK.

Best known as a comedy actor although he has dabbled in some serious acting and didn't let himself down. In Eternal Sunshine I was surprisingly impressed by his performance and although 23 wasn't great it was no fault of his. Add this to Man on the Moon and The Truman Show and I could understand if he was dissappointed with his lack of nominations.

She has been nominated once for her leading role in Casino but lost out to the great Susan Sarandon, in a category packed with great actresses (Meryl Streep and Emma Thompson also). She has gone off the boil of late but can she ever get to the heights of Oscar success?

Another great actor (Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?, Barton Fink) who has not yet recieved an Oscar. He has yet to get a nomination but he is becoming more popular every year and hopefully will land the right role in the near future.

Another actor never to recieve a nomination although his list of great performances is extraordinary, such as his role in Michael Collins, Sense and Sensibility, Sweeney Todd, Robin Hood and of late as Professor Snape in Harry Potter. All great performances but not good enough for the Oscars unfortunately.

To me he will always be Jed Bartlet 'POTUS' but to a older generation he is Captain Benjamin L Willard from Apocalyse Now. In the time between, before and after he has also had some fine acting performances but never one good enough to get him an Oscar nomination. He did get a deserved Golden Globe for Jed Bartlet at least.

He is really coming to the fore lately with some intimidating performances as Nucky Thompson in Boardwalk Empire. The one time funny man has really put on his acting shoes now and hopefully will bring this to the big screen sometime soon so he get can himself his first Oscar.

Got a deserved nomination in 2010 for his role as the creepy murderer in the Lovely Bones. Unfortunately for him Christopher Waltz also had a good year and he won the Oscar. So close but yet so far for Tucci but he will come again.

Her best performance to date was probably in Crash but she missed out on a nomination. A great actress but seemingly lacks that extra factor that would make one of THE greats.

The man is a living legend. I still remember him as being my favourite Ghostbuster, when I was a kid! He was nominated once, for Lost in Translation in 2004.