Is it possible to be nominated for multiple Oscars for playing the same role?

It’s definitely possible. It’s akin to a sequel.

Al Pacino for The Godfather I and II comes immediately to mind.

Yes. Only example I know is Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth (1998) and Elizabeth: The Golden Age. It's about the individual performance, not playing the same character

Thanks R2!

OP here, interesting, thanks guys and cool examples. Has anyone actually won?

R5 I don't think so. There are some examples of different actors who've each won for playing the same character. Here's a list of actors nominated twice for the same character

[quote]There are some examples of different actors who've each won for playing the same character.

Marlon Brando and Robert DeNiro each won acting Oscars for playing Vito Corleone, in The Godfather and The Godfather Part II, respectively.

Also two different actors won for playing the Joker (Heath Ledger, Joaquin Phoenix) and Anita from West Side Story (Rita Moreno, Ariana DeBose).

Most pundits think Grande is a dead cert for a nomination. Erivo, not so much, just because it’s already a crowded field.

R9 Erivo is a lock

Others agree that the answer is Yes, but it needs to be pointed out that the nomination is for a performance in a given year, not restricted by role. I suppose that if two Godfather movies had come out within the same nomination period (which wouldn't have been allowed to happen in reality), Pacino could have been nominated for both.

R11 no actor can be nominated twice in the same category though. Lead and supporting yes

R17 I didn’t know that

You most certainly didn't R13 and you still don't.

Peter O'Toole was nominated for playing young Henry II in Becket (1964) and again, playing old Henry, in The Lion in Winter (1968), which was not officially a sequel.

Bing Crosby was nominated for playing Father O'Malley twice - in Going My Way (1944) and in its sequel, The Bells of St. Mary's (1945).

Equally geeky question. *IF* they both were to win, would it mark the biggest higher pay day difference weighted towards the supporting actor compared to the leading actor in Oscar history? (For reference Ariana was paid $15 million to Cynthia’s $1 million).

The story about the $1 million vs $15 million Wicked paydays came from some dubiously sourced clickbait site—and social media ran with it.

I doubt it's accurate

R17 If that pay disparity were true, Erivo would have let us all know about it already.

R18, let’s just say it was the case though. Would it mark the biggest pay disparity FAVOURING the supporting actor?

R17, this isn't exactly the same situation because he won as a Writer (but was nominated as Lead), but Robin Williams made $5 million for Good Will Hunting, while Matt Damon made $325,000.

Yes they can.

Yes r21 but that film catapulted Damon into one of the highest paid actors today. Just sayin.

R17, I think I have your answer.

Hilary Swank was paid only $3,000 for Boys Don't Cry, her first Leading Oscar. That same year, Angelina Jolie won for Girl, Interrupted in Supporting.

I can't find how much Jolie made for the film, but considering that film's budget ($40 million) and her stature at the time (she already won a Golden Globe, and had a few major roles), Angelina had to have earned a decent amount. Even a $50,000 salary would be more than 15 times what Swank made, and that seems far too low. It had to have been in the six figures.