Film: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Previous wins for role None
Previous Oscar wins/nominations:
Nominated for Best Actor, Gods and Monsters (1998)
Character bio: In The Fellowship of the Ring, McKellen plays the mysterious Gandalf the Grey, an old but wise and powerful wizard who mentors the hobbit Frodo in his quest to destroy the all-powerful Ring–a small cricle of gold that could destroy Middle-Earth.
Oscar odds: Of the 13 nominations The Fellowship of the Ring earned this year, it received only one acting nod–this one. Sadly, it’s unlikely McKellen will take this category. His performance is fantastic, a part he seems destined to play, but the odds are leaning more towards his competition, especially Jim Broadbent, who already won a Golden Globe Award for best supporting actor for Iris. —Guylaine Cadorette