10 Incredible Performances The Academy Ignored This Year

10. Lupita Nyong'o (Us)

Jordan Peele's next outing, after tearing up the horror/thriller/comedy rulebook (if there even was such a thing) with his breakout hit Get Out, landed on cinema screens in 2019 and it went by the name of Us.

Centred around a family who head out for a vacation in the woods - like they do every year - things start to take a turn when they are faced with themselves dressed in red jumpsuits.

Tackling themes such as oppression and the darker side of what it is to be human, the film is anchored by the central performance of Lupita Nyong'o as Adelaide Wilson.

Playing both Adelaide and her clone Red (who is revealed to be more than what she seems - even though what she seems is still pretty damn terrifying) Nyong'o created two distinct characters who both forced you to empathise with their plights and motivations throughout the feature.

Yet, one of the most compelling, nuanced and downright chilling performances of the year was completely overlooked in the 2020 Best Actress category and it makes you wonder what more she needed to do in order to be considered for a nomination, at the very least.

You could argue that this performance was even more impressive than her Oscar winning turn in 12 Years a Slave...though the Academy obviously didn't think so.