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A night of glory, then the void: 10 victims of the ‘Oscar curse’

Adrien Brody’s nomination for ‘The Brutalist’ may demonstrate that the challenges often associated with winning an Academy Award can be overcome. While many great actors have struggled to navigate the weight of such recognition, a select few have managed to rise above it

Jan 24, 2025 - 18:23CET

Can an award that every actor dreams of actually ruin a career? Given the number of stars who have suffered from it, the answer seems clear. While calling it a "curse" may be melodramatic, many who believe they’ve fallen victim to it refer to it that way, perhaps because coming to terms with their missteps — often driven by inflated egos and an inability to properly navigate their careers — can be more painful. Over the years, it’s also been dubbed "F. Murray Abraham syndrome," after the Oscar-winning supporting actor of 'Amadeus,' now a familiar face from 'Homeland,' 'Mythic Quest,' and 'The White Lotus.' It's also been called "Halle Berry's curse," referencing the artistic decline of the 'Monster's Ball' star. Some, like Berry, have never managed to regain the level of success their Oscar seemed to promise. Others, like Brody, have risen from the ashes.TIMOTHY A. CLARY (AFP via Getty Images)

Adrien Brody is this year's main Oscar contender, with Timothée Chalamet and his Bob Dylan portrayal as worthy competition, for his role as an architect in 'The Brutalist.' This success marks a remarkable comeback after years of relative obscurity — an outcome unimaginable when, at just 29, he became the youngest actor in history to win the Oscar for Best Actor thanks to 'The Pianist.' Before that, he had appeared in Spike Lee’s 'Summer of Sam,' Terrence Malick’s 'The Thin Red Line,' and Ken Loach’s socially charged 'Bread and Roses,' but it was Roman Polanski’s film that thrust him into the most demanding role of his career. His portrayal of pianist Władysław Szpilman changed his life forever. 'The Pianist' transformed him: "I unplugged my phone, broke up with my girlfriend, sold my car... I didn’t know what I was doing, but I stripped away all the comforts. I was young, I could afford it, I guess. The feeling was exciting, but also very intense. Since then, I haven’t been the same," he confessed to EL PAÍS. After a grueling promotional tour, as the most recognizable face in the film, Brody found himself facing a void. He couldn’t find anything that compared. Notable, however, was his participation in M. Night Shyamalan's 'The Forest,' while his turn in the Spanish film 'Manolete' was largely forgettable. Since then, he has become a staple in Wes Anderson's films and appeared in acclaimed TV shows like 'Succession' and 'Peaky Blinders.' Now, his role in 'The Brutalist' will determine whether the curse has finally dissipated — or whether he might suffer from it again. Below, we revisit other stars who have fallen victim to this same phenomenon.Frank Micelotta (Getty Images)

Halle Berry – The Oscar: 'Monster's Ball' (2002), a story of love and sex between a widowed Black waitress and her husband's executioner, a racist prison guard, was as melodramatic and over-the-top as its synopsis suggested. However, it helped put director Marc Forster on the map and showcased a new, previously unseen acting range in Halle Berry, who had been known mainly for comedies like 'Boomerang,' and 'The Flintstones,' and her role as Storm in 'X-Men'. The well-deserved Oscar made her the first (and still the only) Black actress to win the Oscar for Best Actress. What happened after the Oscar? She became one of the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood, and her career seemed unstoppable. However, while it didn't technically halt, it certainly entered a slowdown. Perhaps it was a combination of the "Oscar curse" and the "Bond girl curse" — the latter earned for her role in 'Die Another Day.' The impact of both the Oscar and her bikini tribute to Ursula Andress even sparked talk of a spin-off for her character, something unprecedented in the James Bond franchise. But that spin-off never materialized, and neither did the incredible opportunities she had hoped for. “I think it's largely because there was no place for someone like me,” she told 'Variety' in 2020. “I thought, ‘Oh, all these great scripts are going to come my way; these great directors are going to be banging on my door.’ It didn’t happen. It actually got a little harder. They call it the Oscar curse.” she concluded. It didn’t help that she took on projects like the laughable 'Catwoman,' which took her from Oscar to Razzie (and she humorously went to collect the award), 'Gothika,' or the unclassifiable 'Movie 43.'Frederick M. Brown (Getty Images)

Hilary Swank – When she appeared at the casting for 'Boys Don't Cry' (1999), director Kimberly Peirce initially turned her down. Swank was considered too feminine and too “popular.” Few knew her name, although she had appeared in 'Beverly Hills, 90210' and had been Ralph Macchio’s successor in 'The Next Karate Kid,' the visionary revitalization of the character that preempted the public's interest in action roles for women. These were far removed from the dramatic experience of Brandon Teena, a trans man who was brutally raped and murdered at age 21. After Pierce’s rebuff, Swank returned with a “nine-dollar haircut that made her look like Matt Damon,” and the role was hers. She did not disappoint. An unknown actress leading an independent film made on a shoestring budget defeated the heavily favored Annette Bening, who was riding high on the success of 'American Beauty.' What happened after the Oscar? Neither the ensemble 'The Gift,' directed by Sam Raimi, nor the period film 'The Affair of the Necklace' succeeded. But when the "Oscar curse" rumor began to gain traction, 'Million Dollar Baby' came along — the adaptation of F.X. Toole’s play that had almost been handed over to Isabel Coixet and Sandra Bullock. Under Clint Eastwood’s direction, Swank gave yet another masterful performance. Everything worked in the twilight film that marked the peak of Eastwood’s career as a director. This time, the Oscar for playing the determined and tenacious Maggie Fitzgerald was no surprise. However, the lack of success of the long-awaited but disappointing 'The Black Dahlia,' an adaptation of Brian De Palma’s work, was. Other films like 'The Harvesting' and her portrayal of the legendary Amelia Earhart, which had seemed poised to put her back on the Oscar trail, failed to revive her career. Her film roles began to lose relevance, and her most notable recent project was the canceled Disney series 'Alaska Daily.' This February, Swank will return to the screen in 'Yellowjackets,' the cannibal drama that has already brought 1990s stars like Christina Ricci and Juliette Lewis back into the spotlight.Ken Hively (Los Angeles Times via Getty Imag)

CUBA GOODING JR. – He had to compete with Tom Cruise’s charisma and Renée Zellweger’s pouts in 'Jerry Maguire' (1996), and he came out on top. When audiences left Cameron Crowe’s sports drama, everyone was shouting “Show me the money!” — the mantra of the hyper-energized and brash Rod Tidwell. Who was Cuba Gooding Jr., they wondered, as the actor dominated the film’s promotion? Few could remember him from his earlier roles in hits like 'Coming to America,' 'A Few Good Men,' and 'Outbreak.' What happened after the Oscar? The magic quickly faded, and the actor is well aware that he played a part in his own downfall. Years later, he admitted that he made poor decisions and that several projects that seemed promising ultimately failed. He himself confessed that winning the Oscar had been “a curse,” acknowledging that his role in 'Jerry Maguire' had catapulted him to such heights that it would be impossible to top. “So I turned down a lot of directors,” he admitted. Among them were Steven Spielberg, who wanted him in Liberty; Michael Mann; and Taylor Hackford, who had him in mind to play Ray Charles—the role that ultimately earned Jamie Foxx an Oscar. “I was banished to the wilderness of direct-to-video films,” he told Page Six. Other films, like Boat Trip: This Boat is a Danger, did make it to the big screen, although he probably would have preferred they hadn’t. Not only did it earn him a Razzie nomination, but it also came under fire for its homophobic content. The sentimental They Call Me Radio and the cringe-worthy Norbit didn’t fare any better. “I was angry. It was tearing my soul apart. I would scream and shout, but it was God’s will for the eight or ten years I did it, because in every film I learned something.” Redemption finally came through television, which at first seemed like a step backward in his career. After nine years in “free fall,” he agreed to play O.J. Simpson in American Crime Story, where he had a chance to relive the brief but shining moments of his past success.Barry King (Getty Images)

JEAN DUJARDIN – At the start of the last decade, the world fell in love with a French film that paid homage to the early days of Hollywood and, quite transparently, to silent film legend John Gilbert. 'The Artist' (2011) became a sensation despite having everything working against it: it was silent (or almost—just one word is spoken) and black-and-white, a combination typically considered box office poison. Yet it triumphed, thanks in large part to the charm of its leads, especially Jean Dujardin. His talent for physical comedy, paired with his undeniable charisma, made him irresistible. He was already a star in France, but Hollywood recognized his brilliance with an Oscar. What happened after the Oscar? Ironically, Dujardin’s trajectory mirrored that of Gilbert after the advent of sound films. Once Hollywood heard his heavily accented, difficult-to-understand English, his appeal diminished in the eyes of producers. He appeared in George Clooney’s 'Monuments Men,' a misfire that failed to live up to expectations, and made a brief appearance in 'The Wolf of Wall Street.' After that, he shifted the focus of his career back to France, where he remained a prominent figure. And he seems content with his decision. “I don’t miss it at all. The brain is very well made—it always keeps the best,” he said during a French television interview last December. He also expressed satisfaction with his choice to stay rooted in France: “Culturally, I’m not sure I would be very comfortable there [in the U.S.]. My family is here, my life is here, my papers are here, and my friends are here.”ROBYN BECK (AFP via Getty Images)

CHER – Cher’s Oscar win is even more impressive when you consider the competition: Meryl Streep and Glenn Close, whose iconic performance in 'Fatal Attraction' made her a heavy favorite. (If Close couldn’t win that year, many would argue she never would.) But Cher had no equal: her portrayal of Loretta Castorini, a dowdy Italian-American widow resigned to a passionless engagement, who unexpectedly falls for Nicolas Cage’s volatile Ronny in Norman Jewison’s inspired romantic comedy 'Moonstruck,' charmed both critics and audiences. What happened after the Oscar? It’s hard to associate Cher with anything negative about the Oscars, given that Cher is the Oscars. Her unforgettable and often indescribable red carpet looks remain one of the most iconic aspects of the ceremony, endlessly fascinating fans and giving fashion writers plenty to celebrate. Yet, few stars have seen their film careers falter as dramatically post-Oscar as Cher’s. Between her first nomination for 'Silkwood' — where she played Meryl Streep’s loyal best friend — and her 'Moonstruck' triumph, she delivered a trio of stellar performances: Peter Bogdanovich’s poignant 'Mask,' the sharp legal thriller 'Suspect' (opposite Dennis Quaid and Liam Neeson), and the delightfully mischievous 'The Witches of Eastwick' (alongside Susan Sarandon and Michelle Pfeiffer). However, her later filmography couldn’t maintain that momentum. Notable titles were scarce, with 'Sirens,' the campy 'Burlesque,' and her brief cameo in 'Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again' standing out in an otherwise uneven slate.Images Press (Getty Images)

ROBERTO BENIGNI - Every so often, Hollywood embraces a foreign film, and audiences overcome their aversion to subtitles to make it a box-office success. Such was the case in 1997 with the Italian film 'Life Is Beautiful,' a heart-wrenching depiction of a concentration camp seen through the eyes of a father and son. The movie left few dry eyes in theaters, winning over critics and audiences alike. Benigni, who both directed and starred in the film, became the unlikely darling of the Oscars season, his infectious energy and heartfelt performance captivating voters. What happened after the Oscar? The charm began to wear thin almost immediately after Sophia Loren announced his name for Best Actor. Benigni climbed over audience seats to reach the stage, and his exuberant declaration that he wanted to make love to everyone left some viewers questioning their enthusiasm. Though Benigni wasn’t a newcomer — he had long been a fixture in Jim Jarmusch’s films and even starred in Blake Edwards’ regrettable 'Son of the Pink Panther' (earning him a Razzie) — he had largely flown under Hollywood’s radar until 'Life Is Beautiful.' And after his Oscar win, he remained under the radar. His 2002 version of 'Pinocchio' remains one of the most infamous flops in recent memory, rejected by both critics and audiences alike. With his larger-than-life personality proving too polarizing for mainstream Hollywood, Benigni returned to Italy, where his distinctive brand of humor continues to be celebrated in his highly successful career as a comedian.TIMOTHY A. CLARY (AFP via Getty Images)

ALICIA VIKANDER – In 2015, 'The Danish Girl' became a modest sensation, though it now faces scrutiny in the ongoing debate about whether trans roles should only be played by trans actors. At the time, however, the delicate love story, inspired by the lives of Danish artists Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener, earned four Oscar nominations. Spanish costume designer Paco Delgado was among those recognized, but it was Vikander who took home the statuette. Hollywood saw her as a dream come true: young, stunning, and immensely talented, she seemed to channel the elegance of classic stars like Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich, whose glamour revitalized the box office during the 1930s. What happened after the Oscar? That same year, Vikander had dazzled audiences in her cybernetic role in 'Ex Machina' and won acclaim for her work in Anna Karenina and 'A Royal Affair.' Her Oscar win for 'The Danish Girl' appeared to cement her status as one of Hollywood’s brightest stars. Yet, her post-Oscar choices didn’t align with the lofty expectations. She appeared in big-budget blockbusters like 'Jason Bourne' and 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.,' and was tapped to replace Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft in a reboot of 'Tomb Raider.' However, the attempt to reframe her as an action heroine failed to resonate. Today, Vikander seems more at ease with personal, artistic projects, such as the TV adaptation of Olivier Assayas’ 'Irma Vep,' while enjoying a quieter life in Lisbon with her husband, Michael Fassbender. For some, the so-called "Oscar curse" hardly seems like a curse if it involves marriage to the German-Irish heartthrob.Steve Granitz (WireImage)

GWYNETH PALTROW - The Oscar she won for 'Shakespeare in Love' has always been surrounded by controversy, and even more so after the Weinstein scandal revealed the mogul’s manipulative tactics to promote his productions. In an appearance on the podcast Call Her Daddy, Paltrow opened up about how winning the award triggered a deep identity crisis, which she described as “unhealthy.” “Once I won the Oscar, it put me into a bit of an identity crisis, because if you win the biggest prize, like what are you supposed to do? And where are you supposed to go?” she explained. “It was hard the amount of attention that you receive on a night like that and the weeks following, it’s so disorienting. And frankly, really unhealthy. I was like, ‘This is crazy. I don’t know what to do, I don’t know which way is up.’ It was a lot. Not that I would give it back or anything, it was an amazing experience, but it kind of called a lot of things into question for me.” What many didn’t know was that Paltrow was privately dealing with her father’s battle with cancer, which he lost in 2002. “ I was 26. I cried and people were so mean about it and I just thought, ‘Wow there’s this big energy shift that’s happening. I think I’m going to have to learn to be less openhearted and much more protective of myself and filter people out better.’” She also recalled a difficult time working in England when the British press relentlessly criticized her. “I remember the British press being so horrible to me because I cried. And they didn’t necessarily know that my father was dying of cancer,” she said.Evan Agostini (Getty Images)

MARCIA GAY HARDEN – Known for her chameleon-like talent, Marcia Gay Harden embodies every role with uncanny authenticity, whether playing a gangster’s moll, a Southern housewife, or a Brooklyn artist. Her standout performance as Lee Krasner, the strong yet deeply complex wife of Jackson Pollock in 'Pollock' (2000), earned her widespread acclaim. Starring alongside and directed by Ed Harris, Harden’s portrayal garnered an Independent Spirit Award nomination, a New York Film Critics Circle Award, and the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2001. Reflecting on her surprise win over fellow nominees Judi Dench, Julie Walters, Frances McDormand, and Kate Hudson, Harden quipped, “Vegas had me at 12-to-1 odds. I sure do wish I had bet on myself and made a little money.” What happened after the Oscar? Harden candidly admitted that the win came with unexpected challenges. In an interview with 'Premiere' magazine, she said the award was the worst thing to happen to her career. “The Oscar is disastrous on a professional level,” she revealed. “Suddenly, the parts you're offered become smaller, and the money less. There’s no logic to it.” Despite this, Harden continued to deliver strong performances. She had a notable, if understated, role in 'Mona Lisa Smile' (2003) and earned another Academy Award nomination for her role in 'Mystic River' (2003). Kevin Winter (Getty Images)