Doug Jones doesn’t think he’ll win an Oscar, let’s change that!

Doug Jones might have a common name but he is far from being ordinary. The actor has starred in countless features for impressive directors and has yet to be recognized for his abilities. In my opinion, this needs to change.

Doug Jones is a recognizable name for fans of genre entertainment. From science-fiction to horror, the actor has worked with some of the best talent in Hollywood. His frequent collaborations with Guillermo del Toro are masterpieces and critically acclaimed.

Last year, The Shape of Water won an Academy Award and yet, Doug’s beautiful work wasn’t recognized. The same thing can be said of Andy Serkis. Another actor who has appeared in some world-renowned films like The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Gollum) is also underappreciated.

In a recent interview with IndieWire, Doug Jones talked candidly about actors in “rubber bits” which refers to the costumes and make-up that transform human performers into otherworldly beings . He doesn’t foresee an Oscar nomination in his future but he has very strong feelings about what constitutes acting:

"“The guys and the ladies under rubber bits are just often not thought of. It seems like people like to categorize in their mind, ‘Well, that’s not the same thing.’ I’m here to tell you that it really is the same thing. We are all acting.”"

He is absolutely right! The idea behind the Academy Awards was to honor ALL professionals in the film industry for their contributions. So, why exclude a performance that is worthy because the actor’s face isn’t visible?

Jones’ Amphibian Man was the heart and soul of The Shape of Water. He made del Toro’s vision come to life. It takes quite a bit of skill to portray creatures and monsters. Because one of the tools of the trade, namely an actor’s face isn’t discernible doesn’t negate his or her ability to move an audience.

The mere fact that skilled performances are discounted by the powers that be is really amazing and disappointing to me. But then again, it seems to always come back around to the lack of respect that horror and science-fiction films get within the industry.

You would have thought that would have changed with Jordan Peele and Guillermo del Toro’s wins last year but sadly, no, as evidenced by the lack of genre representation at this year’s ceremony. Maybe when Hollywood comes around to recognizing the art of storytelling again, then we will see thespians like Jones get their due. Here’s to hoping…

Do you feel it is about time for actors like Doug Jones to be recognized by the Academy? Let us know your thoughts in the section below. We want to hear from you.