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Academy Awards Explorer

This year's nominees in the Best Actor category.

George Clooney in Michael Clayton

  • Portrayed: Michael Clayton
  • Previous Oscars: Clooney won Best Supporting Actor in 2006, for his role in "Syriana." That same year, he was nominated for co-writing and directing "Good Night, and Good Luck."
  • Clooney Fact: The once-divorced, former Sexiest Man Alive has previously dated some well-known Hollywood women, including Renee Zellweger and Kelly Preston.
  • Resources: Film Clip  |  Review

Daniel Day-Lewis in There Will Be Blood

  • Portrayed: Daniel Plainview
  • Previous Oscars: This is his fourth nomination; he took home a Best Actor trophy in 1990 for "My Left Foot."
  • Day-Lewis Fact: He is married to Rebecca Miller, daughter of renowned playwright Arthur Miller.
  • Resources: Film Clip  |  Review

Johnny Depp in Sweeney Todd

  • Portrayed: Sweeney Todd
  • Previous Oscars: This is his third nomination in this category. He has never won.
  • Depp Fact: The actor honed his musical chops before he got into acting; he played guitar for the band The Kids.
  • Resources: Film Clip  |  Review

Tommy Lee Jones in In the Valley of Elah

  • Portrayed: Hank Deerfield
  • Previous Oscars: This is his third nomination. He won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 1994 for his role in "The Fugitive."
  • Jones Fact: While attending Harvard University, Jones roomed with one of last year's Oscar winners: Al Gore.
  • Resources: Film Clip  |  Review

Viggo Mortensen in Eastern Promises

  • Portrayed: Nikolai
  • Previous Oscars: This is his first nomination.
  • Mortensen Fact: He previously dated Lola Schnabel, daughter of another of this year's Oscar nominees, director Julian Schnabel.
  • Resources: Film Clip  |  Review