10. Marion Cotillard: Starting off my list is Marion Cotillard who recently won Best Actress back in 2008 for her turn as Edith Piaf in La Vie En Rose. Cotillard may have won for her only nomination thus far, like many ingénues before her (Halle Berry, Gwyneth Paltrow, Reese Witherspoon), but Cotillard would go on to find a balance between smaller, critical acclaim (Rust and Bone, Midnight in Paris) and commercial success (Inception, The Dark Knight Rises). Plus, she would work with directors among the likes of Woody Allen, Steven Soderbergh, Michael Mann, and Christopher Nolan.
9. Sandra Bullock: Another recent Best Actress winner, Sandra Bullock was already a box office queen by the time of her win, and still is. But after her win for The Blind Side, she would still go the commercial route while still capitalizing on her Oscar win with a recent second nomination in the same category for Gravity.
8. Frances McDormand: Yet another Best Actress winner, this versatile character actress won back in 1997 for her performance in Fargo. Not only would McDormand receive two subsequent nominations for Best Supporting Actress for her performances in Almost Famous and North Country, but she would stay loyal to her indie sensibilities and even take her talents to the stage, winning a Tony. She is just an Emmy away from completing her Triple Crown.
7. Denzel Washington: Now onto a two-time Oscar winner, for Best Supporting Actor for his work in Glory and Best Actor for Training Day, Denzel Washington has proven himself to be an artistic master of his craft and a master at the box office as well, like other actors on this list. He has won 2 out of 6 nominations, and I'm sure if he continues acting, there'll be more nods on the horizon.
6. Geoffrey Rush: Rush first burst onto the Hollywood scene when he won Best Actor for his first nomination back in 97 for his role in Shine. Since then, he would receive three subsequent nods, for Best Supporting Actor for Shakespeare in Love and The King's Speech, and Best Actor for Quills. All showcasing his range as an actor. Plus, not only would he find a balance between box office dollars (Pirates series, Finding Nemo) and critical acclaim, but he would complete his Triple Crown of Acting by winning an Emmy and a Tony afterward.
5. Cate Blanchett: Next is the great Cate Blanchett, who won Best Supporting Actress for her role as Katharine Hepburn in The Aviator. Fresh from her Oscar win, she would receive another nod two years for her supporting turn in Notes on a Scandal, then the year after, receive two acting nods, for BSA for I'm Not There and Best Actress for Elizabeth: The Golden Age. Before and after her win, she would find commercial success with the Lord of the Rings series and the latest Indiana Jones sequel, while maintaining her indie cred and even her stage sensibilities back in her home country. I'm starting to think there is no such thing as an Oscar curse.
4. Jack Nicholson: Now onto someone who is not only a famous movie star but is the most nominated actor in history with 12 nominations, Mr. Jack Nicholson, who has not 1, not 2, but 3 Oscars on his mantle: 2 for Best Actor and 1 for Best Supporting Actor. Not only has he proven himself as a critically acclaimed actor and a box office power, but he has showcased his range in various genres: Horror, Superhero, Comedy, Crime Drama, Sci-Fi, and even Fantasy.
3. Tom Hanks: Tom Hanks, the ultimate everyman next to James Stewart, has not only won 2 Best Actor Oscars, but is one of the few to win two Oscars back-to-back. He won his first Oscar in 94 for Philadelphia and his second for Forrest Gump the year after. Plus, he would even star in multiple Best Picture nominees and winners: Apollo 13, The Green Mile, Saving Private Ryan, Forrest Gump, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Captain Phillips, and Toy Story 3. Plus, he would even find success on TV by producing many miniseries' like Band of Brothers, John Adams, and Game Change. winning Emmys for it. The fact that his films have also grossed 8.5 billion worldwide doesn't hurt either.
2. Daniel Day-Lewis: DDL may not work as heavily as some of the other people on this list, but when he does, he wins awards for it. He is as of now, the only actor to win 3 Best Actor Oscars. He won for his performances in My Left Foot, There Will Be Blood, and Lincoln, with each performance different from the other. He even has 2 other nominations in the same category for his roles in In the Name of the Father and Gangs of New York.
1. Meryl Streep: Was there any doubt? This acting dynamo now has 18 Oscar nominations with 3 wins, and even other awards that I'll list some of: 2 Emmys, 2 BAFTAs, 8 Golden Globes, a Grammy nod, a Tony nod, a Cannes Award for Best Actress, and more that I won't list. It's no wonder she is labeled the greatest modern actress working today.
Now onto some honorable mentions that didn't quite make the list:
Marisa Tomei
Helen Hunt
Dustin Hoffman
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Al Pacino
Kevin Spacey
Jodie Foster
Anthony Hopkins
Emma Thompson
Gene Hackman
George Clooney
Matt Damon
Charlize Theron
Ingrid Bergman
Sissy Spacek
Sidney Poitier
Javier Bardem
Angelina Jolie
Robert De Niro
So, that was my list of the top 10 actors who had some of the best post-Oscar careers. If there is anybody you would've added or if you disagree, please feel free to write in the comments section. Thanks for reading!
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