When a given movie is incredibly well acted, you just feel like the people involved must have earned some form of reward for it. And if you see the same faces over and over that elicit that feeling, then they just have to be filled to the brim with awards and nominations, right?Well, reality doesn’t work like that. Earning an award isn’t only up to how much the actor sold the character to the audience, it also has to do with the genre, themes, and competition the movie faces at any given year. These are just some iconic actors without much to show for it.cnx.cmd.push(function() {cnx({playerId: "106e33c0-3911-473c-b599-b1426db57530",}).render("0270c398a82f44f49c23c16122516796");});IMDbGlenn CloseGlenn Close has earned eight Academy Award nominations for incredible films like Fatal Attraction and The Wife without a single competitive win. At least she has three Emmys and three Tonys to keep her company.IMDbAmy AdamsFans have watched Amy Adams get snubbed over and over. She racked up six Academy Award nominations, including a Best Actress nod for American Hustle in 2013, but Oscar voters have never actually handed her the trophy.IMDbWillem DafoeWith four Oscar nominations for unforgettable roles in films like Platoon and The Florida Project, Willem Dafoe is a true master of his craft. He did take home an Honorary Golden Bear in 2018, which is something.IMDbSaoirse RonanEarning your first Oscar nod at age thirteen for Atonement is wild. Saoirse Ronan racked up four competitive Academy Award nominations by the time she was twenty-five, but she is still waiting to actually win one.IMDbSamuel L. JacksonDespite being one of the most recognizable faces in cinema, Samuel L. Jackson only has one competitive Oscar nomination for 1994’s Pulp Fiction. He finally got an Honorary Oscar in 2022, plus a BAFTA for playing Jules.IMDbEdward NortonEdward Norton grabbed the industry’s attention immediately, scoring an Oscar nomination for his 1996 debut in Primal Fear. He landed another nod for his intense work in 1998’s American History X, but the actual trophies remain elusive.IMDbSigourney WeaverWeaver scored a groundbreaking Best Actress nomination for 1986’s Aliens. In 1989, she pulled off dual Oscar nominations for Gorillas in the Mist and Working Girl. She won neither, though she did sweep two Golden Globes instead.IMDbMichelle PfeifferMichelle Pfeiffer dominated the late 80s and early 90s, securing Oscar nominations for Dangerous Liaisons, The Fabulous Baker Boys, and Love Field. Even with all that momentum and star power, she never got to give an acceptance speech.IMDbIan McKellenIt feels wrong that Gandalf doesn’t have an Oscar. Ian McKellen has a staggering stage and screen legacy, earning Academy Award nominations for Gods and Monsters in 1998 and The Fellowship of the Ring in 2001.IMDbRalph FiennesRalph Fiennes has delivered some of the most chilling performances in cinema history. He received a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for playing Amon Göth in 1993’s Schindler’s List, but the Academy ultimately passed him over.IMDbHarrison FordYou would think Han Solo and Indiana Jones would come with a little more hardware. Harrison Ford has been carrying massive franchises for decades, but his single Academy Award nomination came from the 1985 thriller Witness.IMDbJohn MalkovichJohn Malkovich brings a totally unique energy to every single project. He earned Best Supporting Actor Oscar nominations for Places in the Heart in 1984 and In the Line of Fire in 1993, but never took one home.IMDbJake GyllenhaalJake Gyllenhaal goes incredibly hard for his roles, yet he only has a single Oscar nomination on his resume for 2005’s Brokeback Mountain. He did manage to win a BAFTA for that performance, but the Academy looked away.IMDbBradley CooperBradley Cooper is essentially the poster child for modern Oscar snubs. He has racked up 12 nominations across acting, writing, and producing for massive hits like American Sniper and A Star Is Born, but keeps striking out.IMDbAngela BassettAngela Bassett famously missed out on a competitive Oscar for 1993’s What’s Love Got to Do with It and 2022’s Wakanda Forever. Thankfully, the Academy finally handed her an Honorary Oscar at the Governors Awards in 2024.IMDbWoody HarrelsonWoody Harrelson is always a welcome addition to any cast. He earned three Oscar nominations for films like The People vs. Larry Flynt and Three Billboards. He does have a 1989 Primetime Emmy for Cheers, though.IMDbEthan HawkeEthan Hawke is a quiet force in Hollywood, earning Oscar nominations for acting in Training Day and Boyhood. He also scored writing nods for Before Sunset and Before Midnight, proving his talent goes way beyond just acting.IMDbHelena Bonham CarterHelena Bonham Carter always brings a wonderful eccentricity to her characters. She earned Academy Award nominations for The Wings of the Dove and The King’s Speech, eventually winning a BAFTA for the latter, but no Oscar yet.IMDbAnnette BeningAnnette Bening has been delivering powerhouse performances for decades, earning five Academy Award nominations along the way. From American Beauty to Nyad, she constantly reminds audiences of her brilliance, but she keeps missing out on the win.IMDbBill MurrayBill Murray landed his sole Academy Award nomination for Sofia Coppola’s 2003 film Lost in Translation. He did win a BAFTA and a Golden Globe for it, plus he has two Emmys from his long comedy career.The post 20 Iconic Actors Without the Hardware to Show for It appeared first on Den of Geek.