Meaning, do actors ever get the Oscar for the best work of their career? Paul Newman; Russell Crowe didn’t. It may be a silly observation. We all know the Oscars often don’t get the best performance of the year right (according to our own opinions, of course). Can someone come up with some examples of actors or actresses getting the Oscar for the very best work of their careers to that point? Of their careers to date? or of their lifetime?
Robert De Niro - Raging Bull
Harold Russell, The Best Years of Our Lives
Tatum O’Neal, Paper Moon
Anna Paquin The Piano