2026 PERFORMANCE NOMINEES
The Art of Ensemble Acting
The 2026 Best Supporting Actor category celebrates the art of ensemble performance, recognizing actors who elevate entire films through their craft. These five performers demonstrate that supporting roles are not merely secondary but essential components of cinematic storytelling. From veteran character actors to rising talents, each nominee brings depth, nuance, and complexity to their roles, creating characters that resonate long after the credits roll and demonstrating why supporting performances are fundamental to great filmmaking.
CHARACTER ACTOR
1
BENICIO DEL TORO
1
Oscar Win
3
Nominations
35
Years Career
2026 Oscar-Nominated Performance
"ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER"
as Sensei
Benicio del Toro earns his third Oscar nomination for his role in Paul Thomas Anderson's
black comedy action thriller One Battle After Another. The film follows an ex-revolutionary
(Leonardo DiCaprio) pulled back into conflict when pursued by Sean Penn's corrupt military officer,
blending sharp political satire with kinetic action sequences.
"Del Toro delivers a performance of menacing charisma and moral complexity,
creating a friend who is both hilarious and compelling."
At 58, the Puerto Rican actor demonstrates why he remains one of cinema's most compelling
character actors. His performance balances the film's tonal shifts between black comedy
and political thriller, bringing both menace and surprising depth to his corrupt officer.
Critics praise his ability to create a villain who embodies systemic corruption while
maintaining distinctive human foibles and motivations.
Performance Highlights
Masterful navigation of black comedy and thriller genres
Complex portrayal of institutional corruption and power
Chemistry with Leonardo DiCaprio creates compelling conflict
Physical presence enhances menacing character authority
Notable Filmography
Traffic (2000)
Sicario (2015)
Che (2008)
Oscar Winner • Third Nomination • Character Actor
RISING STAR
0
JACOB ELORDI
0
Oscars
1
Nominations
8
Years Career
2026 Oscar-Nominated Performance
"FRANKENSTEIN"
as The Creature
Jacob Elordi receives his first Oscar nomination for his transformative performance in
Guillermo del Toro's dark fantasy adaptation Frankenstein. The film reimagines Mary
Shelley's classic horror story, exploring the tragic relationship between Victor Frankenstein
and his monstrous creation with Gothic atmosphere and moral complexity.
"Elordi delivers a performance of profound physicality and emotional depth,
creating a monster who is both terrifying and heartbreakingly human."
At 27, the Australian actor demonstrates remarkable range in his breakthrough dramatic
performance. Through extensive prosthetics and physical transformation, Elordi creates
a Creature who embodies both the horror of unnatural creation and the pathos of rejected
humanity. His performance anchors the film's exploration of creation, responsibility,
and what it means to be human.
Performance Highlights
Extensive physical transformation with prosthetics and makeup
Masterful nonverbal communication through physicality
Nuanced portrayal of the Creature's emotional awakening
Chemistry with lead actor creates compelling creator-creation dynamic
Career Highlights
Euphoria (2019-2022)
The Kissing Booth (2018)
Priscilla (2023)
First Oscar Nomination • Breakthrough Performance
VETERAN PERFORMER
0
DELROY LINDO
0
Oscars
1
Nominations
45
Years Career
2026 Oscar-Nominated Performance
"SINNERS"
as Community Elder
Delroy Lindo earns his first Oscar nomination for his role in Ryan Coogler's genre-blending
supernatural drama Sinners. Set in the Jim Crow-era American South, the film follows twin
brothers returning home to build a nightclub who confront a dangerous vampire threat while
exploring themes of culture, music, community, and racial injustice.
"Lindo delivers a performance of commanding authority and deep humanity,
serving as both the film's moral center and its connection to cultural history."
At 73, the British-American actor brings decades of experience to his role as a community
elder. His performance provides historical weight and moral authority to Coogler's ambitious
genre exploration, anchoring the supernatural elements in real historical trauma and cultural
resilience. Critics praise his ability to convey generations of wisdom and struggle through
nuanced delivery and powerful presence.
Performance Highlights
Commanding presence anchors film's historical and supernatural elements
Nuanced portrayal of generational wisdom and cultural memory
Chemistry with younger cast creates believable mentorship dynamics
Physical and vocal authority enhances character's moral weight
Career Highlights
Da 5 Bloods (2020)
Crooklyn (1994)
Get Shorty (1995)
First Oscar Nomination • Career Recognition
HOLLYWOOD LEGEND
2
SEAN PENN
2
Oscar Wins
5
Nominations
45
Years Career
2026 Oscar-Nominated Performance
"ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER"
as Relentless Military Officer
Sean Penn earns his fifth Oscar nomination for his role in Paul Thomas Anderson's
One Battle After Another, marking his return to the awards conversation after more
than a decade. Penn plays a relentless military officer opposing the protagonist, contributing
to the film's intense confrontation between personal loyalty, political intrigue, and survival.
"Penn delivers a performance of focused intensity and moral ambiguity,
creating an antagonist whose conviction is both terrifying and strangely principled."
At 65, the two-time Oscar winner demonstrates why he remains one of American cinema's
most compelling actors. His performance in Anderson's darkly comic thriller showcases
his ability to create complex antagonists who operate within their own moral frameworks.
Critics praise his physical intensity and the focused rage he brings to the role, creating
a formidable opposition that elevates the film's central conflicts.
Performance Highlights
Focused intensity creates formidable antagonist presence
Nuanced portrayal of military ideology and personal conviction
Chemistry with Leonardo DiCaprio enhances central conflict
Physical transformation for military authority and presence
Award-Winning Career
Mystic River (2003)
Milk (2008)
Dead Man Walking (1995)
Two-Time Oscar Winner • Fifth Nomination
INTERNATIONAL STAR
0
STELLAN SKARSGÅRD
0
Oscars
1
Nominations
55
Years Career
2026 Oscar-Nominated Performance
"SENTIMENTAL VALUE"
as Estranged Father
Stellan Skarsgård earns his first Oscar nomination for his work in Joachim Trier's
emotionally rich family drama Sentimental Value. The film explores siblings and their
estranged father confronting personal regrets and unresolved relationships, offering an
intimate portrait of grief, reconciliation, and the complexities of family life.
"Skarsgård delivers a performance of profound subtlety and emotional complexity,
portraying a father's regrets with heartbreaking authenticity and restraint."
At 74, the Swedish actor brings a lifetime of experience to his portrayal of paternal
failure and late-life redemption. His performance is a masterclass in emotional restraint,
conveying decades of regret and unspoken love through minimal dialogue and expressive
subtlety. Critics praise his ability to create a character who is simultaneously flawed
and sympathetic, embodying the complex realities of family relationships and personal regret.
Performance Highlights
Masterful emotional restraint and nonverbal communication
Nuanced portrayal of paternal regret and late-life reflection
Chemistry with ensemble cast creates believable family tension
Physical presence conveys character's history and emotional weight
International Career
Breaking the Waves (1996)
Good Will Hunting (1997)
Chernobyl (2019)
First Oscar Nomination • International Recognition
The Foundation of Great Cinema
The 2026 Best Supporting Actor category demonstrates that supporting performances are not secondary achievements but fundamental components of cinematic excellence. From veteran character actors to rising talents, from Hollywood legends to international stars, these five nominees represent the diverse ways in which supporting roles enrich and elevate storytelling. Their work reminds us that great films are built not just on leading performances but on ensembles where every role matters, every character resonates, and every actor contributes to creating worlds that feel authentic, complex, and emotionally true. In recognizing these performances, we celebrate the collaborative art of filmmaking at its very best.
Who Will Take Home the Oscar?
The Art of Supporting Roles in 2026 Cinema