Film: Sexy Beast
Previous wins for role: best supporting actor, Boston Society of Film Critics
Previous Oscar wins/nominations:
Nominated for Best Supporting Actor, Bugsy (1991)
Won for Best Actor, Gandhi (1984)
Character bio: Kingsley plays ex-con Gary “Gal” Dove, who has served his time behind bars and is now blissfully retired to a Spanish villa paradise with a wife he adores. The idyll is shattered by the arrival of an arch rival intent on persuading him to return to London for one last big job. Desperate not to sacrifice his enchanted existence, Dove is drawn into a shocking and explosive battle of wills with Logan, a battle that redefines his notions of love, honor and commitment.
Oscar odds: Although Kingsley performed insatiably in Sexy Beast, he faces stiff competition in this category, including Jim Broadbent, who won a Golden Globe Award for his role in Iris. There is also speculation that Ethan Hawke could be the surprise winner for his part in Training Day. —Guylaine Cadorette