The renowned English actor Ralph Fiennes has been nominated for the Academy Awards three times but has yet to win. Following the conclusion of the 2025 Academy Awards, comedian Conan O’Brien echoed the sentiments of many fans regarding his long-overdue Oscar. So, without further delay, let’s see what O’Brien had to say about him.
Conan O’Brien feels Ralph Fiennes might never get an Academy Award
Ralph Fiennes is a fine actor. Who could forget his chilling portrayal of N— officer Amon Göth in Schindler’s List? Or his haunting depiction of Voldemort in the Harry Potter series. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognizes him as an outstanding talent and has nominated him three times—Best Supporting Actor for Schindler’s List, Best Actor for The English Patient, and Best Actor for Conclave. However, each time, he has fallen short.
After the conclusion of the 97th Academy Awards, O’Brien, who hosted the show, gave him his flowers for his acting chops on his podcast, Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend. “He is a terrific actor. He is great in everything he has ever done.”
The comedian then noted that it was unfortunate that an actor like him had never won an Academy Award. “When I hosted the Oscars recently, he was in the audience, and it was like his fifth time (third) being nominated. He is clearly the best actor in the room. He is an amazing actor…. he will probably never get an Academy Award,” he said.
The former late-night TV show host sympathized with talented UK actors who attend the Oscar ceremony and go home empty-handed. Mimicking a British accent, he joked, “Well, still, I enjoyed my visit, ta-ta.”
At the 97th Academy Awards, Fiennes was nominated in the Best Actor category for his portrayal of the character Cardinal Thomas Lawrence in Conclave, nearly three decades after his last nomination for The English Patient (1996). He lost out to Adrien Brody for his performance in The Brutalist.
Lamentably, his Oscar drought continues, but one can never say never. The 63-year-old actor still has a lot more impressive work to do ahead of him, and if the stars align, he might as well bag the most prestigious prize that Hollywood has to offer.
