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Samuel L. Jackson Jokes About Oscar Nominations: “It’s Only an Honor If You Win”
Nov
Samuel L. Jackson, the cinematic legend with a career spanning decades, isn’t mincing words when it comes to the often-heard sentiment about the honor of an Oscar nomination. As awards buzz builds around his performance in The Piano Lesson, Jackson joked that the “honor” of being nominated only matters if you actually win.
“We’ve been in the business long enough to know that, you know, the folks who go, ‘Well, it’s just an honor to be nominated.’ No it ain’t,” Jackson quipped during a joint interview with Piano Lesson co-star Michael Potts. “It’s an honor to win.”
A Storied Career, A Single Nomination
Despite being one of the most recognizable and influential actors of his generation, Jackson has only been nominated for an Oscar once, in 1995, for his iconic performance as Jules Winnfield in Pulp Fiction. He ultimately lost to Martin Landau for Ed Wood.
In 2021, Jackson received an Honorary Oscar, recognizing his contributions as a “cultural icon whose dynamic work has resonated across genres and generations.” However, he humorously brushed off the significance of even being nominated: “Most people forget, you know. Generally, it’s a contest you didn’t volunteer to be in.”
The Piano Lesson and More Oscar Buzz
The Piano Lesson, adapted from August Wilson’s Pulitzer-winning play, is generating significant awards chatter, with Jackson delivering a powerful turn as Doaker Charles, a Great Depression-era patriarch mediating a family conflict over a treasured heirloom piano. The film is produced by Denzel Washington and Todd Black and co-stars John David Washington and Danielle Deadwyler.
Deadwyler, who was controversially overlooked for an Oscar nomination last year for her role in Till, has already picked up festival accolades for The Piano Lesson and is nominated for Outstanding Supporting Performance at the Gotham Awards.
A Legacy of Excellence
While Jackson may downplay the importance of nominations, his career speaks for itself. He recently starred in the Tony-nominated 2022 Broadway revival of The Piano Lesson, earning a nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Play.
Now, as The Piano Lesson streams on Netflix, the possibility of another Oscar nod looms — but as Jackson jokes, it’s all about the trophy: “When it’s all said and done, people have a hard time remembering who even won.”
Win or not, Jackson’s legacy as a cultural icon remains unshakable. His humor and candor are just as legendary as his unforgettable performances.
