10 Underrated Oscars Acting Contenders From 2023
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Awards Circuit Column: Memo to Oscar voters: Please don’t overlook these standout performers.
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Every awards season, certain performances shine brighter than others, dominating nominations and positioning a lucky few to accept some golden hardware. But what about those unsung heroes? We see them every year, actors whose brilliance might slip under the radar. In this year’s awards race, a couple subtler turns may be overshadowed by “louder” performances in more buzzy titles.
Read: Variety’s Awards Circuit for the latest Oscars predictions in all categories.
It’s not just about what’s deemed “the best” when it comes to the Oscars. It’s often about what’s the most watched. The voters are made up of working industry folks who don’t have the luxury of dedicating infinite hours to watching hundreds of films in the calendar year. However, screener piles will accompany industry voters during the holidays to their respective destinations, allowing them to catch up on “that movie” or “that performance” they heard was “really good.”
It’s impossible to pack an entire year’s worth of cinema in only the final five weeks, but many will still try. There are many performances that deserve consideration. Here are 10 under-the-radar acting contenders the Academy Awards should embrace.
Honorable mentions: Jamie Bell (“All of Us Strangers”); Nicolas Cage (“Dream Scenario”); Kathryn Hunter (“Poor Things”); Cara Jade Myers (“Killers of the Flower Moon”); Peter Sarsgaard (“Memory”); Moon Seung-ah (“Past Lives”); Myra Lucretia Taylor (“American Fiction”)
Holt McCallany (‘The Iron Claw’)
Category: supporting actor
A quintessential “that guy” performer in the eyes of most audience members, this veteran character actor boasts over 80 credits in a three-decade career, including turns in “Nightmare Alley” and Netflix’s “Mindhunter.” As the hardened patriarch of a family of pro wrestlers in A24’s sports drama, McCallany exudes an intense and thorny power, expertly revealing the dangers of a particular form of pressurized ambition. It’s a performance that’s reminiscent of J.K. Simmons Oscar-winning turn as the abusive music teacher in “Whiplash.”
Teyana Taylor (‘A Thousand and One’)
Category: best actress
As Inez, a born and bred New Yorker returning from a prison stint on Rikers Island, Taylor brings humanity, grace and a ferocious spirit to a woman displaying a relentless determination to remain in her son’s life and preserve her family. Her spirit burns bright, as does her character’s desire not to be defined by her struggles.
John Magaro (‘Past Lives’)
Category: supporting actor
One of the most extraordinary twists in “Past Lives” is that Arthur, the husband of Nora, a woman who’s trying to understand her intense and romantic connection to a childhood friend, isn’t the villain of the story. In Magaro’s capable hands, Arthur is an understanding and supportive spouse, who gets that this whole thing is weird, but who loves his wife enough to give her the space she needs to make sense of this enduring connection. Magaro has been a standout in films like “First Cow” and “Not Fade Away,” but while his work has been praised, it’s under heralded. Could that change? With “Past Lives,” the raw vulnerability he displays lingers long after the credits roll.
Erika Alexander (‘American Fiction’)
Category: supporting actress
Alexander made a name for herself in sitcoms like “The Cosby Show” and “Living Single.” Those shows displayed her talent for landing punchlines, but as the neighbor and love interest to Jeffrey Wright’s Monk in the dramedy “American Fiction,” Alexander goes deeper. Here, she plays a newly divorced woman resisting the triggering pitfalls of her previous relationship. And acting against no less a heavyweight than Wright, Alexander more than holds her own. In fact, she steals every scene she’s in.
Chris Messina (‘Air’)
Category: supporting actor
David Falk, the larger-than-life sports agent played by Messina has the brash confidence of a Jerry Maguire. And why shouldn’t he? After all, he’s representing rookie basketball player Michael Jordan, a singular talent with the skills necessary to dominate the court and transform the sport. Slicing and dicing the screen with each available moment he’s afforded, he’s a standout in a star-driven ensemble that includes Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. That’s no easy feat. “Air” came out last April, an eternity in any Oscar race, but voters can’t forget the fresh spin that Messina is able to put on the kind of wheeling-and-dealing agent that should be a familiar presence in many of their professional lives.
Jesse Garcia (‘Flamin’ Hot’)
Category: best actor
As Richard Montañez, the former Frito Lay executive who invented the successfull Flamin’ Hot Cheetos brand, Latino actor Garcia leads Eva Longoria’s directorial debut with an assured confidence. Along with a stellar ensemble that includes Annie Gonzalez, Dennis Haysbert and Tony Shalhoub, the charisma and heartwarming story of determination is a welcomed addition to the year’s strong movie slate. His performance should be given its proper consideration.
Trace Lysette (‘Monica’)
Category: best actress
Along with veteran actor Patricia Clarkson, Lysette delivers a strong, and internalized performance in the poignant indie drama “Monica.” From Italian director Andrea Pallaoro, her portrayal of a young trans woman returning home to care for her dying mother, is more timely today than people realize. Every awards season, The Little Movie That Could starts to poke out in certain places in the parts of the race. With IFC Films backing, Lysette’s vibrancy could strike a chord with voters if they give it a proper chance.
Niecy Nash-Betts (‘Origin’)
Category: supporting actress
Niecy Nash-Betts plays Marion, the cousin of author Isabel Wilkerson (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor), who sets out to write her acclaimed non-fiction book, “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontent.” Coming on the heels of her career-best work on Netflix’s murder series “Dahmer,” the veteran actress infuses multiple one-line zingers and offers a needed lens into the lead character’s personal story. It’s one of the most surprising and enriching deliveries she’s executed yet. She deserves her flowers.
America Ferrera (‘Barbie’)
Category: supporting actress
America Ferrera delivers a one-two punch pair of performances this year: as the single mother and nurse in Craig Gillespie’s “Dumb Money” and as Gloria, a Mattel employee who ventures out on an adventure with her daughter (Ariana Greenblatt) and the titular “Barbie” (Margot Robbie).
In her stunning monologue toward the end of Gerwig’s billion dollar comedy, Ferrera captures the contradictory status of women in society, a speech that will be delivered by aspiring actors for years to come. The Emmy winner for “Ugly Betty” is more than deserving of one of the five coveted slots.
Milo Machado-Graner (‘Anatomy of a Fall’)
Category: supporting actor
Remember when Freddie Highmore (“Finding Neverland”), Jacob Tremblay (“Room”) and Jamie Bell (“Billy Elliot”) first entered the Hollywood scene and ran away with each of their respective movies? Their breakout turns led to careers that have continued throughout the entertainment industry. We would be so lucky if the same happens for young Milo Machado-Graner, the young actor who steals your heart in Justine Triet’s courtroom drama. Opposite Sandra Hüller as a woman accused of murdering her husband, Machado-Graner plays Daniel, her blind son who could offer key testimony that could acquit or imprison his mother. His stunning and impassioned delivery toward the end of the film more than proves his ability as an actor, and will hopefully be invited to do more features over his career. It should also start with an Oscar nomination.
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