10 Great Actors Never Nominated For An Oscar

A seminal comedic star, Jim Carrey’s knack for slapstick in films such as Dumb and Dumber, The Mask, and Me, Myself & Irene made him a household name in cinema. Often astonishing in regards to his impressions, timing and physical comedy, Carrey’s great work is one of many examples of the Academy often turning their nose up at the comedy genre. On top of his gift for funniness however is his penchant for serious fare.

Carrey’s poignant portrayal of Truman Burbank, a man realising his whole life is a reality TV deception, in The Truman Show revealed his dramatic chops for the first time to many audiences. He followed it up with a self-destructively dedicated performance playing one of his comedic heroes, Andy Kaufman in Man On The Moon the next year. Carrey grew so immersed in his portrayal of the comic legend that he has admitted in the years since to almost completely forgetting his true self by the time shooting of the film wrapped.

Both films garnered him near universal praise, Golden Globes for Best Actor and controversial snubs from the Academy. Of course, an article on Carrey’s performances is hardly complete without a mention of his astounding work in Charlie Kaufman's Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind. A maddening study of memory and romance, the film showcases one of Carrey’s most sensitive performances as heartbroken introvert, Joel Barish.

All these and more cement Carrey as one of the definitive talents of his generation and one the Academy has consistently (and we dare say, unfairly) ignored.