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The 95th edition of the Academy Awards will take place on March 12 in Los Angeles.
The Best Actor category features a number of talented performers in memorable roles, but only one of them will collect an Oscar at the Dolby Theater.
Here are our Best Actor odds for the Academy Awards.
Best Actor odds
| Actor | Movie | Odds |
| Brendan Fraser | The Whale | -167 |
| Colin Farrell | The Banshees of Inisherin | +250 |
| Austin Butler | Elvis | +275 |
| Paul Mescal | Aftersun | +3,300 |
| Bill Nighy | Living | +4,000 |
Odds as of 3:12 p.m. on 01/27/2023.
Brendan Fraser (-167) – Bet here
After rising to prominence by leading a number of popcorn action flicks in the 1990s and early 2000s — most notably heading up The Mummy franchise — Fraser’s role in The Whale has granted him a career renaissance.
There’s plenty of Oscar buzz around his portrayal of a morbidly obese recluse dealing with depression and desperately trying to connect with his daughter. From a betting standpoint, it’s worth noting that he’s favoured by a significant margin for a performer who was passed over for Austin Butler at the Golden Globes in January.
Colin Farrell (+250) – Bet here
Farrell is another actor whose stock has risen, albeit more gradually than Fraser’s. After taking some pedestrian roles early in his career, the Irish leading man has consistently delivered award-winning performances in more challenging parts.
For all the plaudits he’s received in the last decade, this is his first Oscar nomination. Farrell excelled as a dull but well-meaning man fighting for his life’s important relationships in The Banshees of Inisherin — earning him a Best Actor nod at the Golden Globes in the comedy/musical category.
Austin Butler (+275) – Bet here
Butler has already brought home some hardware in awards season with a somewhat surprising Best Actor win at the Golden Globes in the drama category.
While the movie Elvis itself earned a somewhat mixed reception, Butler’s ability to inhabit the role of Elvis Presley convincingly was widely celebrated. The 31-year-old has been lauded for his commitment to becoming Elvis, a process that resulted in the up-and-comer taking no other roles in 2020 or 2021.
Best Actor long shots
Paul Mescal (+3,300) – Bet here
Mescal is far from a household name, but he’s been a critical darling since his breakout role in the TV series Normal People in 2020. The 26-year-old’s day may come, but it would be a surprise to see him vault over the higher-profile competition to win this award.
His performance in Aftersun is worthy of praise, but his status as a relative newcomer to the scene isn’t helping him.
Bill Nighy (+4,000) – Bet here
Nighy was nominated for both a Golden Globe and SAG award for his role in Living — a film about an aging bureaucrat searching for joy in the final days of his life.
As good an actor as the 73-year-old is, it’s tough to envision him pulling an upset here via a little-publicized period piece. This is Nighy’s first nomination and his best hope of winning is the Academy seeing this as something of a lifetime achievement award for his outstanding career.
Disclaimer This content was produced as part of a partnership and therefore it may not meet the standards of impartial or independent journalism.
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