9 Times Actor Pairs Portrayed The Same Characters In Different Roles And Were Nominated For An Oscar
The goal of the Oscars is to honor the best work.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences selects recipients of the annual Oscars, commonly known as the Academy Awards, for outstanding film work. These awards are fiercely coveted by almost everyone in the film industry and are widely regarded as the most prestigious honor in the industry.
Since their debut in 1929, the Oscars have grown to be the premier event for film awards. Nominated films or works are typically considered groundbreaking or exceptional.
Despite their large box office returns, action, fantasy, and science-fiction films frequently miss out on performance awards, despite their popularity. Regardless of the genre or level of financial success, prizes should ideally be awarded for excellence.
The Oscar nomination and selection process is handled with considerable care because it is a prestigious and significant accolade. Every actor aspires to win an Oscar, but for many, just being nominated is a remarkable accomplishment.
An Oscar nomination can open doors to more ambitious projects—those with higher salaries and budgets—thereby increasing the likelihood of receiving another nomination. The chances of an actor being nominated for Best Actor or Best Supporting Actor appear to grow with each character they portray.
Some Oscar nominees, however, have played the same role. We now know which actors were nominated for the part and which actors won an Oscar for it.
1. Rita Moreno and Ariana DeBose
Rita Moreno, who played Anita in "West Side Story," became the first Hispanic woman to win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 1962. DeBose's performance in the 2022 rendition of "West Side Story" earned her a nomination in the same category six decades later.
SILVER SCREEN COLLECTION/GETTY2. Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro
Marlon Brando received the Oscar for Best Actor for his outstanding work in "The Godfather" as Vito Corleone, the head of the Corleone crime family. In "The Godfather: Part II," released in 1974, Robert De Niro took on the lead role of a young Vito Corleone.
It came as no surprise that he also won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
PARAMOUNT/KOBAL/SHUTTERSTOCK;3. Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix
Actors Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix both received Oscar nominations for portraying the same role in different films. After his untimely passing in January 2008, Ledger posthumously received the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in "The Dark Knight" in 2009.
Phoenix portrayed the Batman villain in "Joker" more than ten years later, winning the Best Actor Oscar in 2020 for his performance.
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4. John Wayne and Jeff Bridges
In "True Grit," Rooster Cogburn was portrayed by John Wayne in 1968 and by Jeff Bridges in 2010. Bridges left without receiving an Oscar, whereas Wayne did.
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5. Cate Blanchett and Judi Dench
Both Cate Blanchett and Judi Dench received Oscar nominations for portraying Queen Elizabeth, the same role. Judi Dench won Best Supporting Actress for "Shakespeare in Love," while Cate Blanchett was nominated for Best Actress for "Elizabeth."
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6. Anthony Hopkins and Frank Langella
Former President Richard Nixon was portrayed by Anthony Hopkins in the 1995 film "Nixon" and by Frank Langella in the 2008 film "Frost/Nixon." Although both men were nominated for Best Actor, neither won the award.
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7. Kenneth Branagh and Laurence Olivier
Henry V was portrayed by Kenneth Branagh in 1989 and Laurence Olivier in 1944. Both were nominated for Best Actor Oscars for their remarkable performances.
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8. Kate Winslet and Gloria Stuart
One of the all-time great films, "Titanic," featured both women. Stuart portrayed the role of the woman near the end of her life, while Winslet portrayed her in her youth. Winslet was nominated for Best Actress, and Stuart was nominated for Best Supporting Actress.
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9. Kate Winslet and Judi Dench
In "Iris," Kate Winslet and Judi Dench each played the title character at various points in her life. Dench was nominated for Best Actress, and Winslet was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in the same year.
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An Oscar Award not only confers respect and international recognition, but it also significantly contributes to the success of the major winners. The goal of the Oscars is to honor the best work in terms of performance, production, and technical merit.
A nomination for an Academy Award can greatly advance a career, regardless of who ultimately takes home the trophy.
