Vegetarian and Vegan Oscar Nominees (and Winners!)

This year, veg actors and causes were represented at the Academy Awards, with vegan actor Woody Harrelson’s nod for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his work in The Messenger, and The Cove’s win for Best Documentary. The Cove, which has been awarded worldwide, follows a group of activists as they try to expose the dolphin slaughter that occurs in a cove in Taijii, Japan. The film beat out fellow nominee Food, Inc., which examines the corporatizing of the nation’s food supply and the industries behind factory farms. 

Although the curtains have swept closed, the last golden statue has been doled out, and the tears from acceptance speeches have finally dried from this year’s ceremony, there’s no need to retire the Champagne flutes and wait another 12 months for the red carpet to unfurl. Instead of watching immobile faces spout best and worst dressed commentary, appreciate these veg actors’ performances in the roles that garnered them Academy recognition.

James Cromwell: Nominated, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Babe (1995)
Cromwell removed meat from his diet in 1974, but it took his role as Farmer Hoggett in Babe to transform him into an ethical vegan. After the film, Cromwell worked with PETA to promote animal welfare, specifically to speak out against animal cruelty toward pigs. He later appeared onscreen alongside vegetarian Kim Basinger in L.A. Confidential.

Dustin Hoffman: Nominated, Best Actor, The Graduate (1967); Nominated, Best Actor Midnight Cowboy (1969); Nominated, Best Actor, Lenny (1974); Won, Best Actor, Kramer vs. Kramer (1979); Nominated, Best Actor, Tootsie (1982); Won, Best Actor, Rain Man (1988); Nominated, Best Actor, Wag the Dog (1997)
This vegetarian actor’s prolific career proves a plant-based lifestyle can fuel award-winning performances. Hoffman earned an Academy nod after only his second film, The Graduate, and was able to pick up six more Best Actor nominations during his career, with two wins along the way.

Joaquin Phoenix: Nominated, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Gladiator (2000); Nominated, Best Actor, Walk the Line (2005)
Say what you will about erratic behavior and the announcement that he’d be retiring from Hollywood to pursue a rap career, there’s no denying that Joaquin Phoenix has been a vocal proponent for an animal-free lifestyle. He appeared in a PETA PSA against eating turkey on Thanksgiving, and refused to wear leather sandals for his Oscar-nominated portrayal of Emperor Commodus in Gladiator. Although he didn’t win a Best Actor Oscar for his turn as country crooner Johnny Cash, he lost to 2006’s only other meat-free nominee: Forest Whitaker.

Kate Winslet: Nominated, Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Sense and Sensibility (1995); Nominated, Best Actress, Titanic (1997); Nominated, Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Iris (2001); Nominated, Best Actress, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004); Nominated, Best Actress, Little Children (2006); Won, Best Actress, The Reader (2008)
Although it may have taken six nominations before finally winning that golden statue, Kate Winslet’s vegetarian lifestyle must have given her the energy to continually tackle challenging roles and complex characters.

Other Veg Nominees and Winners:

Casey Affleck: Nominated, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
Kim Basinger: Won, Best Actress in a Supporting Role, L.A. Confidential (1997)
Angela Bassett: Nominated, Best Actress, What’s Love Got to Do With It? (1993)
Diane Keaton: Won, Best Actress, Annie Hall (1977)
Ian McKellen: Nominated, Best Actor, Gods and Monsters (1998); Nominated, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Tatum O’Neal: Won, Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Paper Moon (youngest winner ever in category)
River Phoenix: Nominated, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Running on Empty (1988)
Natalie Portman: Nominated, Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Closer (2005)
John C. Reilly: Nominated, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Chicago (2003)
Naomi Watts: Nominated, Best Actress, 21 Grams (2003)
Forest Whitaker: Won, Best Actor, The Last King of Scotland (2006)