Did You Know They Have An Oscar?

I never knew Cher for anything more than being a former singer who occasionally made the headlines for erratic behaviour but apparently she was once an actress and a good one too. She won the Oscar for best actress in a leading role back in 1988.

Growing up I thought Nicolas Cage was one of the best actors out there. Con Air, The Rock, Gone In Sixty Seconds to name a few were some of my favourite movies. However as the years have passed my estimations of him have plummeted so much so that I almost avoid any movie he appears in. However way back in the day, 1996 to be exact, he was actually impressive enough to get an Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role.

First let me say I've never seen Precious and Mo'nique's inclusion here has nothing to do with whether or not she deserved her Oscar. She's simply here because I always knew her as that funny lady on that kids tv show, certainly not as an Oscar winner. Fair play to her though.

One of the most beautiful actresses in Hollywood in her day and not a bad actress but I never had her up there with the best. Surprised to see she has an Oscar as I always felt a lot of her success was due to her looks. Guess I was wrong.

Known more for her role in True Blood, or possibly as Rogue in X-Men, Anna Paquin actually came to the fore when she was just 12 years old, in The Piano, winning the academy award for Best Supporting Actress.

Won his Oscar in 2003 for an extraordinary lead performance in The Pianist but I almost forget how good this guy is because I've barely seen him since and anything I have seen hasn't nearly matched up to that great achievement. (I have heard he is good in Detachment though so I'll have to check that out sometime)

Another lady who I feel has come a long way due to her great looks but I must admit she was very good in Chicago (she was up against Meryl Streep that year). But I often struggle to take those certain seriously when it comes to a performance requiring proper acting, when they are usually just on the screen as eye candy. Catherine has managed to make the transition very well however.

Most people aren't too surprised to hear he won an Oscar because everyone remembers that fantastic, ecstatic acceptance speech. However when I review his career since Jerry Maguire it shocks me that he was once one of the best. He has been in some awful movies since (Boat Trip, Shadowboxer, Way of War to name a few) and hasn't come close to a similar performance.

I must admit I've always had a thing for Goldie Hawn! Even now in her late 60's she's still a looker but I never knew her for much of an actress. To be honest though I have never really seen much of her movies either. Still, I was surprised to see she has an Oscar, which she won back in 1970!

I enjoy Billy Bob Thornton movies for the most part. However he has never won an Oscar for acting. His academy award was for writing a screenplay (Sling Blade), based on his own short story! Very impressive and surprising.

Never seen Jamie Foxx as an actor in the highest echelons but do enjoy watching him in movies. I always think of "Steamin' Willie Beamen" when I think of him. He got his Oscar in 2005 for his portrayal as Charles Ray.

Another beauty but there is no doubting her acting prowess. A great actress and felt she should have won in 2009 for her role in Changling. I only recently realised though that she already had an Oscar from 2000 for her performance in Girl, Interrupted.

I'm a big fan of Arrested Development and this is the only place I can think of where I've seen Liza Minnelli act but back in 1973 she actually won the Oscar for Best Lead Actress.

I always thought of Kevin Kline as a quirky, likable actor but I've rarely seen him play the type of role that attracts Oscar attention but then again I have yet to watch A Fish Called Wanda in which Kevin Kline performs so well that he landed himself the award for Best Supporting Actor.

Another great actress, who has actually won an Oscar for writing, rather than acting. Some people are just multi-talented I guess!

Her Oscar for her performance in Walk the Line was well deserved but again she is another performer who rarely seems to take on such riveting roles.

Many would argue that she should have at least two Oscars to her name but I had never really took note of her talents until I seen her in The Wrestler. She gained her Oscar 15 years prior to that performance however in her supporting role in My Cousin Vinny.

Another actress who I always saw as a light-hearted enjoyable actress to watch but she has put on her acting shoes more than once with three Academy Award nominations and one win, for a leading role!

He actually has two Oscars now, both of which he shares with others. The most recent was for his overseeing of Argo which won Best Picture in 2013. However it was his first Oscar for co-writing Good Will Hunting that surprises me. A brilliant, uplifting, intelligent movie co-written by Ben, a relatively unknown young actor at the time that shot to blockbuster stardom soon after.

His Oscar was for Best Original Song, not acting, but not many may realise that he actually has one. Quite an achievement for the Detroit rapper.

A fine actress but I rarely see her much in a potential Oscar winning role. Admittedly that may be my fault seeing as she has four nominations! (Another surprise to me). That Oscar winning role did come along in 1997 when she won Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Fargo.

Certainly deserved his Oscar for playing a slightly psychotic gangster in Goodfellas but I always think of him as the token funny guy in films (I'm thinking lethal weapon, home alone etc) which is why his Oscar glory is kinda surprising.

I have never been overawed by a performance by Whoopi Goldberg and have always seen her as more of a comedy actress than anything else but in 1990 she managed to act her socks off and garner that most sought after award.

The living legend that is The Boss. One of the greatest musicians of all time, I suppose I shouldn't be so surprised that he has an Oscar too; for Best Original Song, in Philadelphia.

A great actress, no doubt, but known more to me for her roles in Downton Abbey and Harry Potter. So it was a bit of a surprise when I found out she actually won her first Oscar way back in 1969! And then another in 1978! Who knew?