Samuel L. Jackson Calls Out Oscars Myth: “It’s an Honor to Win, Not Just to Be Nominated”

The Iconic Actor Reflects on Awards, Legacy, and Prioritizing Joy Over Accolades

Samuel L. Jackson is dispelling the age-old myth about the Oscars: the idea that just being nominated is enough for creatives. In a candid interview with the Associated Press, the veteran actor and Marvel star humorously dismantled the notion, asserting that true honor lies in victory.

“Folks will say, ‘Well, it’s just an honor to be nominated.’ No, it ain’t,” Jackson quipped, sparking laughter from his The Piano Lesson co-star Michael Potts and the interviewer. “It’s an honor to win.”

Jackson, who received an honorary Oscar in 2022 from his longtime friend Denzel Washington, has long been vocal about his approach to awards. Though nominated for Best Supporting Actor for Pulp Fiction, he joked about the fleeting nature of nominations: “People might say, ‘What was that movie they nominated him for?’ and then forget who even won.”

Despite his candid remarks, Jackson emphasized that he never allowed the Oscars to define his career. Speaking to the Los Angeles Times in 2022, he explained, “My yardstick of success is my happiness. Am I satisfied with what I’m doing? I’m not doing statue-chasing movies. I’d rather be Nick Fury or Mace Windu with a lightsaber in my hand.”

Jackson’s latest project, The Piano Lesson, adapts August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play as part of the writer’s Century Cycle, exploring the Black experience across 20th-century America. Directed by Malcolm Washington, the Netflix film stars John David Washington and Danielle Deadwyler as siblings grappling with the decision to sell a family heirloom piano steeped in their shared history.

Jackson’s reflections, both on awards and acting, underscore his commitment to meaningful roles and his enduring impact in Hollywood. For him, legacy and joy matter far more than trophies.