Skip To Content
BuzzFeed Homepage
Sign In
Search BuzzFeed

    17 Actors Who Gave The Performance Of Their Lives, But Didn't Get Any Credit For Them

    They deserved so much better.

    Ehis Osifo
    by Ehis Osifo

    BuzzFeed Staff

    Today, I was minding my own business, when this tweet popped up on my radar...

    niggathée chalamet @haaniyah_

    Rachel McAdams deserved an Oscar for playing Regina George, change my mind.

    Reply Retweet Favorite

    ...to which I thought:

    Paramount Pictures

    Simply iconic.

    AND THEN this tweet came across my radar...

    Clarkisha Thee Auntie @IWriteAllDay_

    This is exactly how I feel about Sarah Michelle Gellar in ‘Cruel Intentions’. https://t.co/8hEiShT5Px

    Reply Retweet Favorite

    ...to which I thought:

    Columbia Pictures

    Truly is disrespectful that SMG didn't get an Oscar for this.

    Which got me to thinking, there are A LOT of performances that I think that the Academy overlooked. So, I'm here to list some performances that I think were worthy of an Academy Award:

    1. Reese Witherspoon, Best Actress for Legally Blonde

    MGM

    Reese has made a career out of playing the overachiever who's also overlooked, but there was no role better than Elle Woods. She's a feminist icon who singlehandedly changed my perception of our justice system. Anyone who can convince me that all you need in order to get into Harvard Law is a few weeks of studying and a fleeting whim deserves ALL THE AWARDS!

    2. Jaime Lee Curtis, Best Actress for Freaky Friday

    Buena Vista

    I was actually convinced that Jaime Lee Curtis became a young person in this film. Her ability to embody the the ~teen spirit~ was simply iconic. IDK how Brad Pitt was nominated for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Jaime Lee Curtis was snubbed for this.

    3. J.K. Simmons, Best Supporting Actor for Spider-Man

    Marvel

    Broke: Whiplash. Woke: Spider-Man 2. J.K.'s embodiment of a Gilded-age-media-tycoon was, in a word, legendary.

    4. Amy Adams, Best Actress for Enchanted

    Walt Disney

    I know, I know. But hear me out! Amy Adams' portrayal of the campy-to-a-fault princess is a performance for the ages. ESPECIALLY when you juxtapose it next to her dramatic roles. It's not hard for Amy to play someone in a dramatic role — re: Sharp Objects and Arrival — but this happy-go-lucky doe-eyed princess? That was the REAL challenge. And this girl SOLD IT!

    5. Devon Sawa, Best Actor for Casper

    Universal Pictures

    Not ONLY was he a human — he was also a ghost! "Can I keep you?" If those four words didn't shake you to your core, then I don't know what to tell you. Brava, Devon. Brava.

    6. Omar Epps, Best Actor for Love & Basketball

    New Line Cinema

    Q's entire storyline in this film is an Oscar-worthy performance. His struggles, his successes, his realization that love is, in fact, more important than basketball — all of these factors had my eyes glued to the screen every time he was on it. It truly was an epic performance, one that didn't get NEARLY enough acclaim.

    7. America Ferrera, Best Supporting Actress for Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants

    Universal Pictures

    Besides the fact that Carmen's storyline was the most compelling of the quad, America took her role to a whole other level. Carmen and I don't have much in common — besides the fact that we're both women who would do anything for a pair of perfect-fitting jeans — but her story resonated with me the most. I FELT THAT PAIN WHEN SHE ASKED HER DAD WHY HE WAS ASHAMED OF HER. Ugh, phenomenal job.

    8. Meryl Streep, Best Actress for The Devil Wears Prada

    20th Century Fox

    This is, and I don't say this lightly, my favorite role Meryl has ever done. This film changed my perception of Meryl. I know she's a sweet, seasoned actor who everyone adores. But she played Miranda Priestly a little too well and now I'm afraid of her.

    9. Gabrielle Union, Best Supporting Actress for Bring It On

    Universal Pictures

    The fact that Gabs was able to play a convincing 17-year-old at the age of 27 merits every award out there.

    10. Will Ferrell, Best Actor for Elf

    New Line Cinema

    Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf is pop culture. Like, I know elves aren't real, but this tongue-in-cheek Christmas movie really had me second-guessing myself. Will's depiction was comedic, but also had heart.

    11. Steve Carell, Best Actor for The 40 Year Old Virgin

    Universal Pictures

    Talk about going above and beyond! Anyone who's willing to wax their hairy-ass chest for a role deserves an Academy Award.

    12. Parminder Nagra, Best Actress for Bend It Like Beckham

    Redbus Film

    Fly-as-heck soccer moves aside, Parminder brought a subtle, yet effective, energy to her character, Jess. I was captivated by her story and the way Parminder brought it to life. There was nuance, there was strength, and there was humor. The holy trinity.

    13. Alexa PenaVega, Best Actress for Spy Kids

    Dimension Films

    APV being only 12 when Spy Kids first graced our screens still blows my mind. Yes, it was a kids movie. Yes, Alexa was a child. But that doesn't mean that she didn't rock the hell out of this role! You say James Bond? I say Carmen Cortez.

    14. Jon Heder, Best Actor for Napoleon Dynamite

    20th Century Fox

    Hot take: this is one of the best performances of the 21st century. How Jon Heder was able to take this script and evoke this iconic oddball still has me scratching my head, years after this movie came out.

    15. Ellen Wong, Best Supporting Actress for Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

    Universal Pictures

    Her role was small, but mighty, and boy did it have an impact. I always felt like the character Knives Chau was overlooked, not only in pop culture, but in general. Her mercurial mood swings were a lil' frightening, but also captivating to watch. I still think about her performance over Michal Cera's and he played the titular character in this movie.

    16. Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Best Supporting Actress for Sky High

    Buena Vista Pictures

    The twist of the CENTURY was Gwen Grayson turning out to be the villain in Sky High and BOY did she hide it well. I thought she just your typical one-note popular girl, but this woman had an AGENDA! I'm here for more female villains, and Mary Elizabeth, for me at least, paved the way.

    17. Regina King, Best Supporting Actress for A Cinderella Story

    Warner Bros.

    Regina deserved her Oscar WAY BACK in 2004 for her role as Rhonda in a lil' flick called A Cinderella Story. She changed the game for any and all actors who dare play fairy godmothers. They can try to give as amazing of a performance as she gave, but they won't succeed.

    Well, there ya have it, folks. Those are some roles I think should have deserved an Oscar. Let me know in the comments below which roles you think were snubbed for an Academy Award!