Russian actor misses out on historic Oscar

Russian nominee Yura Borisov missed his chance to make history at the 97th Academy Awards on Sunday, losing out on the Oscar in the best supporting actor category for his performance in the movie ‘Anora’. The film won five other awards, however, including for best picture.

Borisov, 32, was the first Russian-born performer to be nominated in the category. He was recognized for his portrayal of Igor, a ruthless yet layered henchman in ‘Anora’, a film exploring class divides and power struggles. His “scene-stealing” performance earned critical acclaim and established him as a breakout star.

However, it was Kieran Culkin’s turn in ‘A Real Pain’ that ultimately secured the Academy Award. His portrayal of Benji Kaplan – a sharp-witted yet troubled man traveling through Poland with his cousin to reconnect with their Jewish heritage – earned widespread praise. Balancing humor and emotional depth, his performance was a standout in the film, leading to wins at the Golden Globes, BAFTA, and Screen Actors Guild Awards.

The Best Supporting Actor category also featured Edward Norton (A Complete Unknown), Guy Pearce (The Brutalist), and Jeremy Strong (The Apprentice), making it one of the most competitive races of the night.

READ MORE: Breaking barriers: How Yura Borisov earned his place at the Oscars

Born in December 1992 in Reutov, a suburb of Moscow, Borisov had no family ties to the acting world. He began his journey in a school theater group before earning a place at the prestigious Shchepkin Higher Theater School at just 16. He showed promise early, winning the Golden Leaf Theater Award at 20, but he spent years in minor roles before breaking through with The Road to Berlin in 2015.

Despite the loss, Borisov’s nomination adds to Russia’s long history at the Academy Awards, where the country has received over 160 nominations and 30 wins across various categories.

The Soviet Union’s first Oscar came in 1943 when ‘Moscow Strikes Back’ won Best Documentary Feature. In the Best International Feature Film category, four Russian movies have secured victory, including ‘War and Peace’ (1969), ‘Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears’ (1981), and ‘Burnt by the Sun’ (1994). Nikita Mikhalkov, one of Russia’s most celebrated filmmakers, won Best Foreign Language Film for Burnt by the Sun and was previously nominated for ‘12’ (2007).

‘Anora’ premiered at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in May 2024 to critical acclaim and was released theatrically by Neon in October. It grossed $41 million worldwide on a $6 million budget, making it Baker’s highest-grossing film.

The movie received six nominations and took home five Oscars, including for Best Picture, Best Editing, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for Baker, as well as Best Actress for Mikey Madison.