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It’s basically the most exhausting running joke in Hollywood. You know the one. Every few years, Glenn Close gets dressed up, sits in the front row of the Dolby Theatre, and watches someone else walk away with a gold statue. It’s happened eight times now. Eight.
Honestly, it’s getting a little ridiculous. We’re talking about the woman who turned a pot of boiling water and a rabbit into a cinematic trauma for an entire generation. She has three Tonys. She has three Emmys. She’s arguably the greatest living actress who hasn't won a competitive Oscar, tied with the late Peter O'Toole for a record nobody actually wants to hold.
People always ask: "How is this possible?" Is there a secret club of Academy voters who just have it out for her? Probably not. But when you look at the glenn close oscar nominations over the last four decades, you start to see a pattern of bad luck, stiff competition, and some truly bizarre timing.
The 80s Streak: Three in a Row
Most actors spend their whole lives trying to get one nomination. Glenn Close got three in her first three film roles. It was an unprecedented heater.
In 1982, she made her film debut in The World According to Garp. She played Jenny Fields, the fiercely independent mother of Robin Williams' character. She was 35, which is kind of late for a "breakout" in Hollywood terms, but she was already a seasoned stage pro. She lost to Jessica Lange, who was having a massive year with Tootsie.
Then came 1983. The Big Chill. She played Sarah Cooper, the "mother hen" of a group of mourning friends. It was subtle, moving work. But she lost to Linda Hunt, who did something the Academy usually loves: playing a character of a different gender and ethnicity in The Year of Living Dangerously.
By 1984, she was back again for The Natural. She played Iris Gaines, the literal "woman in white" in the stands. It was her third consecutive nomination for Best Supporting Actress. This time, she lost to Peggy Ashcroft for A Passage to India.
At this point, you’ve gotta think she was feeling pretty good. Three years, three nominations? The win had to be coming soon.
When Villains Don't Win: Fatal Attraction and Dangerous Liaisons
The late 80s changed everything. Close moved from "supporting mother figure" to "leading lady powerhouse."
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In 1987, she gave us Alex Forrest in Fatal Attraction. It’s one of the most iconic performances in the history of movies. Period. She didn't just play a "crazy ex"; she created a character that sparked a national conversation about infidelity and gender. But the 80s were a weird time. The Academy went with Cher in Moonstruck. Look, we all love Cher, and "Snap out of it!" is a great line, but was it a better performance than what Close did? Most critics would say no.
Then came 1988’s Dangerous Liaisons. As the Marquise de Merteuil, she was chilling. The final shot of her removing her makeup in the mirror while her world crumbles is a masterclass in silent acting.
She lost to Jodie Foster in The Accused.
That one hurt. Foster was incredible, but Close was at the absolute peak of her powers. After 1988, the "Oscar drought" officially began. She wouldn't see another nomination for over twenty years.
The Modern Era and the "Overdue" Narrative
When Close finally returned to the Oscar race in 2011 for Albert Nobbs, the vibe had changed. Now, she was a "legend." The movie was a passion project she’d been trying to make for decades. She played a woman living as a man in 19th-century Ireland.
It was the ultimate "give her the Oscar" role. Except for one problem: Meryl Streep was playing Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady.
Meryl hadn't won in 29 years. Glenn hadn't won ever. The Academy chose Meryl.
The 2018 Upset
If you want to talk about the most shocking moment in recent Oscar history (besides the La La Land/Moonlight mix-up), it’s the 2019 ceremony.
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Glenn Close was the frontrunner for The Wife. She had won the Golden Globe. She had won the SAG Award. She gave that incredible speech about women finding fulfillment outside of their husbands. It was her seventh nomination. Everyone—and I mean everyone—thought this was her Leonardio DiCaprio moment. The "we finally owe you one" win.
Then Olivia Colman’s name was called for The Favourite.
Even Olivia looked horrified. Her speech was basically an apology to Glenn. It was a lovely, chaotic moment, but it cemented the idea that Glenn Close might just be cursed.
Hillbilly Elegy and the Eight-Nomination Club
In 2021, she picked up her eighth nomination for Hillbilly Elegy. This one was weird because she was actually nominated for an Oscar and a Razzie (Worst Actress) for the same role. It was a transformative performance—lots of prosthetics and "big" acting as Mamaw.
She lost to Youn Yuh-jung from Minari. It’s hard to be mad about that because Youn was delightful, but it put Close in that tie with Peter O'Toole.
What Most People Get Wrong About Her Losses
The common narrative is that she keeps getting "snubbed." But that’s not really how it works. To be snubbed, you have to not be nominated. Close gets nominated all the time. The industry clearly loves her.
The problem is she often ends up in "split" years where two great performances cancel each other out, or she runs into a "narrative" win. In 1987, the narrative was "Cher is a movie star now." In 2011, it was "Meryl is overdue for a third."
Also, the types of roles she excels at—complicated, often unlikeable, or deeply internal women—don't always trigger the "I must vote for this" reflex in the way a biopic or a physical transformation does.
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Why Glenn Close Still Matters
Despite the lack of a trophy, her legacy is bulletproof. You don't need a gold man to prove you’re a titan.
Think about her range:
- The nurturing Sarah in The Big Chill
- The terrifying Alex Forrest
- The scheming Marquise de Merteuil
- The campy, brilliant Cruella de Vil (which really should have been a nomination, let's be honest)
- The steely Patty Hewes in Damages
She has navigated the industry with a level of grace that’s honestly inspiring. She doesn't complain about the losses. She usually just goes back to work or does a funny dance on the red carpet (remember the "Da Butt" dance at the 2021 Oscars?).
What’s Next for the Chase?
Is she going to win eventually? Honestly, probably. The Academy loves a "Legacy Oscar." At 78, she’s still working constantly.
If you're a fan or a student of acting, the best way to appreciate the glenn close oscar nominations isn't to focus on the loss, but to look at the work itself. Most of these films are available on streaming, and watching them back-to-back is like taking a masterclass in how to command a screen.
How to dive deeper into her filmography:
- Watch the "Big Two" first: If you haven't seen Fatal Attraction and Dangerous Liaisons, start there. They define her "danger" era.
- Check out the early Supporting work: The World According to Garp shows a completely different, softer side of her talent.
- Don't skip the TV work: While the Oscars haven't bitten, the Emmys have. Her run on Damages is some of the best acting of the 21st century.
- Track the 2026/2027 slate: Keep an eye on her upcoming projects. The Academy rarely lets a legend get to ten nominations without a win—the pressure to "fix" the record becomes too high for voters to ignore.
The reality is that Glenn Close doesn't need the Oscar. The Oscar needs Glenn Close. Without her name on that list of winners, the list itself feels a little less prestigious. But for those of us watching at home, the "hunt" remains one of the most compelling subplots in Hollywood history.