A rule change means the 49-year-old could land two nominations in the same category, for his roles in the D-Day drama Pressure and the forthcoming Elsinore.
Andrew Scott looks set to be the first actor in almost a century to compete against himself at the Oscars. The Irish actor is seen as a near certainty for a Best Actor nomination for the yet-to-be-released Elsinore, and has also impressed critics in the Second World War film Pressure. A rule change for the 2027 Academy Awards makes a double nomination in the same category possible for the first time since 1930. The nominations have not been announced, so the prospect remains speculative.
The two performances
In Pressure, which is in cinemas now, Scott plays the Scottish meteorologist James Stagg. His expertise, and his bravery in standing up to General Eisenhower, helped ensure the D-Day landings succeeded. The film is directed by Anthony Maras and based on a play by David Haig, who co-wrote the screenplay. Brendan Fraser plays Eisenhower, Kerry Condon plays Kay Summersby and Damian Lewis plays Bernard Montgomery. It was released in the US on 29 May and in the UK on 11 September, and has an 89% critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 147 reviews and a 95% verified audience rating.
In Elsinore, due for release in January, Scott plays the late Chariots of Fire actor Ian Charleson, who spent his last months playing Hamlet at the National Theatre. Charleson stepped in at short notice when Daniel Day-Lewis famously walked off stage in September 1989 with exhaustion, never to return. Charleson gave breathtaking performances but died from Aids in January 1990, only eight weeks after his final appearance.
Elsinore, directed by Simon Stone, opened the 70th BFI London Film Festival at the Royal Festival Hall on 7 October and drew strongly positive reviews, particularly for Scott’s portrayal. Olivia Colman, Johnny Flynn, Billie Piper, David Dawson and Peter Mullan are in the cast. Scott is also a producer. He worked with screenwriter Stephen Beresford, who wrote Pride, in which Scott appeared, and the project became more meaningful after the death of his mother, Nora, in 2023.
The rule change
On 1 May 2026, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences approved the change. An actor can now receive two nominations in the same acting category in a single year, provided both performances rank among the five highest in nomination voting. It applies to the leading and supporting categories. Previously only an actor’s highest-ranked performance in a category could be nominated.
Elsinore is due for release in the US on 20 November and in the UK on 29 January 2027. The eligibility period for the 2027 ceremony covers qualifying theatrical releases between 1 January and 31 December 2026, so the UK date does not by itself rule it out. Full eligibility remains subject to the usual rules.
A 1930 precedent
Scott would not be the first. At the third Academy Awards in 1930, three actors were nominated twice for Best Actor: George Arliss for Disraeli and The Green Goddess, Ronald Colman for Bulldog Drummond and Condemned, and Maurice Chevalier for The Love Parade and The Big Pond. Arliss won for Disraeli. Greta Garbo and Norma Shearer also received two Best Actress nominations that year. Two Best Actor nominations would revive a distinction absent from the category for 97 years.
The system does not combine votes for an actor’s separate performances, so a double nomination could split support at the final vote. It would be an achievement in itself, but not necessarily an advantage in winning.
Other milestones
Scott’s performance in Elsinore has prompted talk of him becoming the first openly gay man to win Best Actor. LGBTQ+ actors have won Oscars, but not in the leading actor category. No nominations or awards for the film have been confirmed.
