Adam Aalderks

What Do Judges Look for in a Best Actor Performance?

Choosing the Best Actor involves more than just identifying a standout performance. Judges evaluate several criteria to determine which actor best exemplified the craft of acting in their role. Here are some of the key factors they consider:

1. Acting Technique:
   • Judges often look for technical proficiency in the actor’s performance. This can involve a variety of acting methods, such as method acting, Stanislavski’s system, or naturalistic performance. Method acting, for instance, involves the actor fully embodying the character, often drawing on personal experiences or undergoing significant physical and emotional transformations. Famous method actors like Daniel Day-Lewis are often highly regarded in this context.
2. Emotional Depth:
   • A standout Best Actor performance usually captures the emotional complexity of the character. Judges assess how well the actor conveys a range of emotions and whether those emotions resonate with the audience. Performances that offer a multi-layered portrayal, with subtle emotional shifts, are often favored.
3. Character Transformation:
   • Actors who undergo significant transformations, either physically or mentally, are frequently praised. This could involve gaining or losing weight, changing their appearance, or adopting an accent or mannerisms to fully immerse themselves in the character. Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of the Joker is a prime example of a performance that showcased both physical and psychological transformation, earning him the Oscar for Best Actor in 2020.
4. Range and Versatility:
   • Judges value actors who display a wide range of skills in their performance, handling both dramatic and comedic moments with equal effectiveness. The ability to shift between genres and styles within the same role, or across different roles, can also factor into the decision.
5. Authenticity and Believability:
   • The authenticity of the actor’s portrayal is a key consideration. Can the audience believe this person is truly the character? This is particularly important in roles that are based on real-life figures or historical characters, where inaccuracies or exaggerated performances can detract from the performance. Rami Malek’s portrayal of Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody is an example where judges rewarded authenticity, leading to his Oscar win in 2019.

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How Do Performances Get Nominated for Best Actor?

The road to a Best Actor nomination is not a simple one. Several steps, behind-the-scenes efforts, and campaigns are often involved in securing a spot on the nomination list. Here’s how the process typically unfolds:

1. Studio Submissions:
   • For most major awards, it is up to the studios, producers, or distributors to submit an actor’s performance for consideration. Each submission is usually accompanied by a formal application, which includes a screener (the film or series for voters to watch), publicity materials, and sometimes even a letter campaigning for the actor’s consideration.
2. Campaigning for Nominations:
   • An effective awards campaign can significantly increase an actor’s chances of being nominated. Studios often spend millions of dollars on “For Your Consideration” (FYC) ads in trade publications, setting up interviews, arranging meet-and-greets with key voters, and hosting special screenings. This marketing blitz can keep the actor’s performance at the forefront of voters’ minds. For example, Matthew McConaughey’s campaign for his role in Dallas Buyers Club (2013) played a crucial role in his eventual win, with the actor making numerous appearances during award season.
3. The Role of Film Festivals:
   • Early buzz generated at prominent film festivals (like Cannes, Toronto, or Sundance) can also propel an actor toward a Best Actor nomination. Performances that receive standing ovations or significant media attention at these festivals often go on to become strong contenders during award season. A good example is Joaquin Phoenix’s performance in Joker, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival and quickly gained momentum leading up to his Oscar win.

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The Voting Process for Best Actor

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Who Votes for the Best Actor?

Different awards have unique voting bodies that determine the Best Actor winner. Here’s a breakdown of how the process works across some of the most significant awards:

• Academy Awards (Oscars): The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences consists of over 9,000 members, most of whom are professionals in various fields within the film industry. Only members of the Actors Branch can nominate for the acting categories, but the entire Academy votes on the final winner.
• Golden Globes: The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), a relatively small group of around 90 international journalists, votes on the Golden Globes. Their selection process can sometimes differ significantly from that of the Oscars due to their smaller voting body and broader separation of comedy and drama categories.
• BAFTAs: The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has over 6,500 members who vote on the nominations and winners. Like the Oscars, it draws from a wide range of industry professionals, but its focus tends to be more UK-centric.
• SAG Awards: The Screen Actors Guild Awards are decided by members of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), making it a peer-to-peer recognition. This makes the SAG Awards particularly meaningful to actors, as the voters are fellow performers.

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How Is the Best Actor Winner Decided?

Once the nominations are set, the voting bodies for each award go through a process that can include multiple rounds:

1. Nomination Process:
   • In the first round of voting, members of specific branches (like the Actors Branch in the Academy Awards) cast their votes to determine the nominees. Typically, this results in a shortlist of 5 actors for Best Actor.
2. Final Ballots:
   • Once nominations are announced, the final round of voting occurs. At this stage, all voting members (not just actors) in the respective organizations can vote for the winner of the Best Actor category.
3. Anonymous Voting:
   • The voting process is typically anonymous, which is intended to prevent external influence or bias. However, some awards, like the People’s Choice Awards, allow for public voting, which brings a different dynamic to how the winner is chosen.

The actual method of tallying votes can vary by organization. For example, the Oscars use a preferential voting system for Best Picture but a straightforward majority vote for the acting categories.

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Are There Any Controversies in the Voting Process?

While the process is designed to reward artistic excellence, controversies do arise from time to time, leading to debates about fairness, bias, and even ethics:

1. Bias and Popularity:
   • One of the most frequent criticisms is that voters are swayed by an actor’s popularity or a film’s overall buzz, rather than solely on performance merit. For instance, high-profile actors with well-funded campaigns can often outshine equally deserving but lesser-known talents.
2. Lack of Diversity:
   • Historically, many awards shows, especially the Oscars, have been criticized for a lack of diversity in the Best Actor category. The #OscarsSoWhite movement in 2015 highlighted the underrepresentation of actors of color in major categories, prompting changes within the Academy to increase diversity in its membership.
3. Snubs and Surprises:
   • Each year, debates arise over who was snubbed or who unexpectedly took home the award. For instance, Leonardo DiCaprio’s long journey to finally winning an Oscar became a running joke in Hollywood, despite his many deserving performances before his win for The Revenant.

Factors That Influence a Best Actor Win

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Is Campaigning a Key Part of Winning Best Actor?

Campaigning plays an enormous role in securing a Best Actor win. In fact, it’s often said that winning an Oscar, or any major acting award, isn’t just about talent—it’s also about strategy. Behind the scenes, studios and actors engage in months-long efforts to increase the visibility of the performance and sway voters. Here’s how campaigning impacts the Best Actor selection:

1. For Your Consideration (FYC) Campaigns:
   • Studios typically spend millions of dollars on “For Your Consideration” (FYC) ads, which are placed in industry trade publications like Variety and The Hollywood Reporter. These ads remind voters about the performance and often include pull quotes from glowing reviews. Billboards, online ads, and even direct mailings of screener DVDs or digital access codes are also part of the process.
2. Interviews and Media Appearances:
   • Actors often embark on extensive press tours and media appearances during award season to keep their performance in the spotlight. Interviews with key publications, guest appearances on talk shows, and even viral social media campaigns are used to ensure voters and the public are constantly reminded of their work. For example, Matthew McConaughey was heavily involved in promoting Dallas Buyers Club, attending screenings, interviews, and even intimate dinners with key voters.
3. Hosting Special Screenings:
   • Studios organize private screenings for voting bodies, often accompanied by a Q&A session with the actor. These events are particularly common in the lead-up to nominations and are targeted at members of the Academy, HFPA, SAG, and other voting organizations.
4. Events and Award Show Circuits:
   • Attending other award shows is another tactic. Winning or even being nominated for precursor awards, such as the SAG Awards, Critics’ Choice Awards, or BAFTAs, creates momentum for a Best Actor win. Voters in these earlier awards may overlap with those who vote for the Oscars or Golden Globes, making these appearances crucial.
5. Case Study: McConaughey’s Campaign for Dallas Buyers Club:
   • McConaughey’s transformation into an AIDS patient in Dallas Buyers Club (2013) was already garnering critical praise, but the actor and his team didn’t rely on reviews alone. He appeared at numerous screenings, participated in long-form interviews, and even used his personal charm to connect with voters on a personal level. His win was as much about his tireless campaign efforts as it was about the performance itself.

Do Critical Reviews Play a Role?

While reviews alone don’t guarantee a Best Actor win, they are often the foundation for building buzz around a performance. Critical reviews shape public perception, and more importantly, industry insiders’ opinions. Here’s how reviews influence the selection:

1. Establishing Early Buzz:
   • Positive reviews, particularly from respected film critics, often set the tone for an actor’s award season campaign. If a film or performance premieres to raves from outlets like The New York Times, The Guardian, or RogerEbert.com, it builds early momentum.
2. Award Season Predictions:
   • Many film critics release award season predictions, sometimes months before nominations are announced. These predictions are based on the critical reception of films and performances, helping shape the narrative about which actors deserve recognition. The louder the critical acclaim, the more likely voters are to pay attention to the performance.
3. Case Study: Rami Malek’s Reviews for Bohemian Rhapsody:
   • Rami Malek’s portrayal of Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) was initially met with mixed reviews regarding the film itself, but almost all critics agreed that Malek’s performance was exceptional. His transformation and dedication to embodying Mercury were highly praised, and this consistent praise led to an Oscar nomination—and eventual win—despite lukewarm reception to the film as a whole.

Are Politics or Social Issues Considered in the Decision?

In recent years, politics and social issues have become more prominent factors in determining who wins the Best Actor award. Voting bodies are increasingly mindful of the broader cultural conversation, which has had a direct impact on who is chosen for these prestigious awards. Here are some of the ways that social issues have played a role:

1. Diversity and Inclusion:
   • The entertainment industry has been under scrutiny for its lack of diversity, particularly in acting categories. Movements such as #OscarsSoWhite brought this issue into the public eye, with the Academy making efforts to diversify its voting body by inviting more women and people of color to join. As a result, more diverse performances have gained recognition. In 2021, Chadwick Boseman posthumously won a Golden Globe for his role in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, with many viewing it as a recognition of his entire body of work as well as a nod to the growing movement for representation in Hollywood.
2. Cultural Moments:
   • Sometimes, performances take on additional significance because of the cultural moment in which they are released. For instance, Joaquin Phoenix’s win for Joker (2020) resonated with a cultural conversation around mental health, class disparity, and societal alienation. His performance wasn’t just judged for its technical brilliance but also for how it captured the mood of the time.
3. Political Stances:
   • Actors who take strong political or social stances can see those positions influence their award season chances, either positively or negatively. For example, Sean Penn’s win for Milk (2008) came at a time when LGBTQ+ rights were a major political issue in the U.S., and his portrayal of Harvey Milk, an openly gay politician, became more than just a performance—it was a statement.

Case Study: 2020 Best Actor Race and Cultural Relevance

The 2020 Best Actor race, which saw Joaquin Phoenix win for Joker and Antonio Banderas nominated for Pain and Glory, highlighted how social issues can intersect with performance evaluation. Phoenix’s portrayal of a man grappling with mental illness amidst social unrest was viewed not just as a performance but also as a commentary on broader social issues. Meanwhile, Banderas’ performance was deeply personal, resonating with themes of aging and self-reflection. The cultural weight carried by these performances ultimately shaped their recognition.