In the days leading up to the 86th Academy Awards, FilmBuffOnline will be offering profiles on all the nominees in the major categories. Some may be well known, others might be new to you, but if you need a refresher on these talented nominees, here it is.
Christian Bale
Nominated for: Playing a con man who works with the FBI to investigate ABSCAM in American Hustle.
Other honors for this role:
Nominated, Best Actor, Australian Film Institute.
Nominated, Best Leading Actor, 2014 BAFTA Awards.
Nominated, Best Actor, Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards.
Nominated, Best Actor, 2013 Critics’ Choice Awards.
Nominated, Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, The 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
Nominated, Best Actor, Satellite Awards.
Where you might know him from:
He was the Batman after Clooney but before Affleck. Also, has had a long and productive career in films that didn’t require him to wear a cowl or codpiece.
History with Oscar:
This is Bale’s second nomination.
2011: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, The Fighter (Won)
Bruce Dern
Nominated for: Playing an elderly man on a road trip with his son in Nebraska.
Other honors for this role:
Nominated, Best Leading Actor, 2013 BAFTA Awards.
Nominated, Best Actor, Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards.
Won, Best Actor, Cannes Film Festival
Nominated, Best Actor, Chicago Film Critics Association Awards.
Nominated, Best Actor, 2014 Critics’ Choice Awards.
3rd Place, Best Actor, Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards.
Nominated, Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, The 71st Annual Golden Globe Awards.
Nominated, Best Male Lead, Independent Spirit Awards.
Nominated, Actor of the Year & British Actor of the Year, London Critics Circle Film Awards.
Won, Best Actor, National Board of Review.
Nominated, Best Actorin a Leading Role, Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards.
Nominated, Best Actor, San Francisco Film Critics Circle Awards.
Nominated, Best Actor, Satellite Awards.
Nominated, Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role, 2014 Screen Actors Guild Award.
Where you might know him from:
Dern has a fifty-plus year acting career to his credit. Some of his more memorable films are The Cowboys, Black Sunday, That Championship Season, and Family Plot.
History with Oscar:
Bruce Dern has one previous Oscar nomination.
1979: Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Coming Home (Lost to Christopher Walken, The Deer Hunter)
Leonardo DiCaprio
Nominated for: Playing Wall Street tycoon Jordan Belfort in The Wolf Of Wall Street.
Other honors for this role:
Nominated, Best Actor, Australian Film Institute.
Nominated, Best Leading Actor, 2014 BAFTA Awards.
2nd Place, Best Actor, Boston Society of Film Critics Awards.
Won, Best Actor in a Comedy, Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards.
Nominated, Best Actor, Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards.
Won, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Motion Picture-Musical or Comedy, The 71st Annual Golden Globe Awards.
Nominated, Actor of the Year, London Critics Circle Film Awards.
Nominated, Best Actor, San Francisco Film Critics Circle Awards.
Nominated, Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Satellite Awards.
Nominated, Best Actor, Washington DC Area Film Critics Association.
Where you might know him from:
DiCaprio is one of the most famous actors working today, thanks largely to his role in the blockbuster, Titanic. He has also appeared in Catch Me If You Can, Django Unchained and The Great Gatsby.
History with Oscar:
Leonardo DiCaprio has three prior Oscar nominations and is also nominated for Best Picture this year as a producer of The Wolf of Wall Street.
1994: Best Actor in a Supporting Role, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape ( Lost to Tommy Lee Jones, The Fugitive).
2005: Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role, The Aviator (Lost to Jamie Foxx, Ray)
2007: Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role, Blood Diamond (Lost to Forest Whitaker, The Last King of Scotland)
Chiwetel Ejiofor
Nominated for: Playing Solomon Northup an free, Northern black man who is kidnapped and forced into slavery in 12 Years a Slave.
Other honors for this role:
Won, Best Actor, Austin Film Critics Association.
Won, Best Actor, Australian Film Institute.
Won, Best Leading Actor, 2014 BAFTA Awards.
Nominated, Outstanding Actor, Motion Picture, Black Reel Awards.
Won, Best Actor, Boston Society of Film Critics Awards.
Nominated, Best Actor, Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards.
Won, Best Actor, Central Ohio Film Critics Association Awards.
Won, Best Actor, Chicago Film Critics Association Awards.
Nominated, Best Actor, 2014 Critics’ Choice Awards.
Nominated, Best Actor, Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards.
Won, Best Actor, Florida Film Critics Circle Awards.
Nominated, Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama, The 71st Annual Golden Globe Awards.
Nominated, Best Actor, Gotham Awards.
Nominated, Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture, Image Awards.
Nominated, Best Male Lead, Independent Spirit Awards.
Won, Best Actor, Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards.
Won, Actor of the Year, London Critics Circle Film Awards.
2nd Place, Best Actor, Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards.
2nd Place, Best Actor, National Society of Film Critics Awards.
2nd Place, Actor of the Year, New York Film Critics Circle Film Awards.
Won, Best Actor, Online Film Critics Society Awards.
Nominated, Best Actor in a Leading Role, Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards.
Nominated, Best Actor, San Diego Film Critics Society Awards.
Won, Best Actor, San Francisco Film Critics Circle.
Nominated, Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Satellite Awards.
Nominated, Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role, 2014 Screen Actors Guild Award.
Won, Best Actor, Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards.
2nd Place, Best Actor, Toronto Film Critics Association Awards.
Nominated, Best Actor, Vancouver Film Critics Circle Awards.
Won, Best Actor, Washington DC Area Film Critics Association.
Where you might know him from:
Ejiofor’s big break was in the film version of Kinky Boots. He also appeared in films such as Serenity, Redbelt and 2012.
History with Oscar:
This Chiwetel Ejiofor’s first Oscar nomination.
Matthew McConaughey
Nominated for: Playing an electrician who is diagnosed with AIDS and then goes on to help other AIDS patients in Dallas Buyers Club.
Other honors for this role:
Nominated, Best Actor, Australian Film Institute.
Won, Best Actor, Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards.
2nd Place, Best Actor, Central Ohio Film Critics Association Awards.
Nominated, Best Actor, Chicago Film Critics Association Awards.
Won, Best Actor, 2014 Critics’ Choice Awards.
Won, Best Actor, Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards.
Won, Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama, The 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards.
Won, Best Actor, Gotham Awards.
Won, Actor of the Year, Hollywood Film Festival.
Nominated, Best Male Lead, Independent Spirit Awards.
Won, Best Actor, Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards.
Won, Desert Palm Achievement Award, Palm Springs International Film Festival.
Won, Best Actor in a Leading Role, Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards.
Won, Best Actor, Rome Film Fest.
Nominated, Best Actor, San Diego Film Critics Society Awards.
Nominated, Best Actor, San Francisco Film Critics Circle.
Nominated, Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Satellite Awards.
Won, Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role, 2014 Screen Actors Guild Award.
2nd Place, Best Actor, Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards.
3rd Place, Best Actor, Toronto Film Critics Association Awards.
Nominated, Best Actor, Vancouver Film Critics Circle Awards.
Nominated, Best Actor, Washington DC Area Film Critics Association.
Where you might know him from:
McConaughey burst on the scene with an iconic role in Dazed and Confused and has built a leading man career in films such as A Time to Kill, Sahara, Failure to Launch and Magic Mike.
History with Oscar:
This Matthew McConaughey’s first Oscar nomination.
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OSCARS 2014: Know Your Nominees: Best Actor http://t.co/kAtXPwaab9