Veteran actor Brian Cox has spoken out about his frustration with the Oscars, criticizing the politics and timing behind the journey towards recognition. Despite winning a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Logan Roy in HBO’s Succession, Cox has yet to receive recognition from the Academy Awards.
Cox recalled the time he played Winston Churchill around the same time Gary Oldman won Best Actor for his portrayal of the same character in Joe Wright’s Darkest Hour. Cox’s film, Churchill, was released in the summer and was a relatively independent film, whereas Oldman’s film was released during the “Oscar season” between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Cox argued that the Academy disproportionately focuses on high-profile, studio-backed films released during this time, dismissing equally deserving performances that fall outside this narrow window. He pointed out that his film never received a look from the Oscars, despite his performance being a better one, and that the awards are a “fallacy” because they only consider films released during a specific time period.
Cox’s frustration highlights a common criticism of the Oscars, which is that independent films released outside the traditional awards season window often struggle to compete with big-budget, studio-backed campaigns. The actor’s comments come as the awards season heats up, with many films vying for recognition.
Cox’s legacy as an actor remains undeniable, and his willingness to call out the industry makes him an essential voice in the conversation surrounding visibility and independent work in Hollywood. As the awards season continues, it will be interesting to see what other ways this year mimics Darkest Hour’s awards year, including the Academy’s preference for biopic performances that are great impersonations.
