How to bag yourself an Oscar

What does it take to win an Academy Award? Acting skills? Yes. Good looks? Usually. A role in a film that reflects the social experiences of the judges? Bingo.

In a recent study at the University of Queensland, researchers analysed Best Actor and Best Actress winners at the Oscars and Bafta awards in the past four decades, and found some trends when it came to lifting the trophy.

The psychologists found most winners were actors who shared social characteristics with Academy members.

In other words, American actors in American films about America are more likely to win an Oscar, and British actors in British films with a British storyline are usually frontrunners for a Bafta.

But while this particular research looked at how judges perceive performances based on their own social identity, there are more factors that should be considered.

Get a leading role in a feature film

An obvious one. Your chance of winning awards for being a leading actor in a film is vastly improved if you are, for real, a leading actor in a film.

Play someone with a big problem

Poverty. War. Serious illness. These are humanity’s most challenging crises but, on the screen, they are awards-night gold.

If Julianne Moore had had chickenpox instead of Alzheimer’s in Still Alice, there’s no way should would have been standing on the podium in 2015.

Be a good crier

You never really learn to act until you learn to cry — and I’m talking good, solid, big-screen sobbing.

Think of Matthew McConaughey, sitting in a car racked with agony in Dallas Buyer’s Club. Or Meryl Streep’s sending-your-daughter-to-thegas-chamber anguish in Sophie’s Choice. If you can get a bit of face-mucus happening without smudging your makeup, the prize is as good as yours.

Stick something on your face

What’s a feature film without extra features? Charlize Theron’s winning performance as Aileen Wuornos in Monster was aided by prosthetic teeth. Jamie Foxx wore fake eyelids for his brilliant portrayal of Ray! And Natalie Portman owes at least a little of her success in Black Swan to her painted contact lenses.

Try not to die

Russell Crowe succumbed to his injuries in Gladiator, and Tom Hanks didn’t make it to the last scene in Philadelphia, but they hung out long enough to make the story work.

By contrast, if the bear in The Revenant had succeeded in offing Leonardo DiCaprio, I doubt the actor would have a statuette in his cupboard.