Most Oscar-nominated Black actor

Denzel Washington (USA) picked up his 10th Academy Awards nomination in February 2022, for The Tragedy of Macbeth (USA, 2021). His nominations have come in the Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor and Best Picture categories and date back to Cry Freedom (UK/Zimbabwe, 1987).

Washington’s 10 Oscar nominations in full: Best Actor (Malcolm X, 1993; The Hurricane, 2000; Training Day, 2002 – winner; Flight, 2013; Fences, 2017; Roman J. Israel, Esq., 2018; The Tragedy of Macbeth, 2022), Best Supporting Actor (Cry Freedom, 1988; Glory, 1990 – winner) and Best Picture (Fences, 2017, as a credited co-producer).

The Tragedy of Macbeth, featuring Washington as Lord Macbeth alongside Frances McDormand as Lady Macbeth, would give Washington a third Oscars triumph – his first for 20 years – if he can see off competition from Javier Bardem, Benedict Cumberbatch, Andrew Garfield and bookies’ favourite Will Smith for Best Actor at the 94th Academy Awards on 27 March 2022.