LOS ANGELES – The Globes, the Oscars, the Critics Choice Awards, the SAGs – it’s all such a big deal in Hollywood, but according to Morgan Freeman getting nominated for these highly-desired accolades really isn’t all its cracked up to be.
“It does nothing,” he told Tarts at last week’s Critics Choice Awards. “It hasn’t done anything for my career.”
But that doesn’t mean the actor, who has been nominated for an Oscar four times and a Golden Globe five times, doesn’t like the ego boost.
"When you get nominated for anything, you’re getting pats on the back. Someone is saying ‘oh well done’ and that never gets old,” he added.
Although Freeman lost out to Jeff Bridges for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama at the Golden Globes on Sunday evening, he has garnered a great deal of critical acclaim for his portrayal of Nelson Mandela in Clint Eastwood’s “Invictus.” And while his co-star Matt Damon believes Mandela is the greatest political leader of his lifetime, Freeman said the work of Indian activist Gandhi should not be forgotten.
“There was also Mohandas K Gandhi, he was in my time also,” the 72-year-old added. “So Madiba (Mandela’s honorary title in South Africa) is part of that pantheon of really great leaders, people who have done something we will never forget."
But back to awards season, if getting these nominations really does “nothing” for one’s career as Freeman suggested why is he still bothering to go and “campaign”?
“It’s one of the musts you do if you’re pleased with your work and you want to sell it,” he said.
Trending
Who's making headlines in television, music, movies and more from Hollywood to the Heartland.