4. Michael Fassbender Hunger (2008)
Michael Fassbender starved himself to lose 30 pounds in ten weeks, and he was playing a man who starved himself to death, so that makes sense. In Hunger, Fassbender portrayed Bobby Sands, an Irish Republican Army activist who staged a hunger strike to protest his treatment in prison. Whats more, Hunger has gotten rave reviews. Still no Oscar gold for Fassbender. Meanwhile, he picked up a few lesser awards for the role, and it has helped catapult him into the realm of serious actors. One reason for the Oscar snub might have been the packed field of other actors who underwent dramatic transformations. Sean Penn won for Milk, and nominees included Brad Pitt (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) and Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler).