Michael Fassbender (2 Oscar Nominations)

After years on the periphery, German actor Michael Fassbender really began to make waves in the early 2010s, proving he could lead both big tentpole films and indie fare with strong dramatic performances. His previous working relationship with Steve McQueen in Shameless helped him land his first Oscar-nominated role in McQueen’s following film, 12 Years a Slave. Unfortunately for Fassbender and his co-star Chiwetel Ejiofor, both actor categories were swept up at the Oscars by the Dallas Buyers Club duo of Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto respectively. His next nomination for Steve Jobs, also his first for Best Actor, would see him lose out to Leonardo DiCaprio, who won his first elusive Oscar for his role in Alejandro G. Iñárritu's The Revenant.