Russian nominee Yura Borisov missedย his chance to make history at the 97th Academy Awards on Sunday, losing out on the Oscar in the best supporting actor category for his performance in the movie โAnoraโ. The film won five other awards, however, including for best picture.
Borisov, 32, was the first Russian-born performer to be nominated in the category. He was recognized for his portrayal of Igor, a ruthless yet layered henchman in โAnoraโ, a film exploring class divides and power struggles. Hisย โscene-stealingโย performance earned critical acclaim and established him as a breakout star.
However, it was Kieran Culkinโs turn in โA Real Painโ that ultimately secured the Academy Award. His portrayal of Benji Kaplan โ a sharp-witted yet troubled man traveling through Poland with his cousin to reconnect with their Jewish heritage โ earned widespread praise. Balancing humor and emotional depth, his performance was a standout in the film, leading to wins at the Golden Globes, BAFTA, and Screen Actors Guild Awards.
The Best Supporting Actor category also featured Edward Norton (A Complete Unknown), Guy Pearce (The Brutalist), and Jeremy Strong (The Apprentice), making it one of the most competitive races of the night.
Born in December 1992 in Reutov, a suburb of Moscow, Borisov had no family ties to the acting world. He began his journey in a school theater group before earning a place at the prestigious Shchepkin Higher Theater School at just 16. He showed promise early, winningย the Golden Leaf Theater Award at 20, but he spent years in minor roles before breaking through with The Road to Berlin in 2015.
Despite the loss, Borisovโs nomination adds to Russiaโs long historyย at the Academy Awards, where the country has received over 160 nominations and 30 wins across various categories.
The Soviet Unionโs first Oscar came in 1943 when โMoscow Strikes Backโ won Best Documentary Feature. In the Best International Feature Film category, four Russian movies have secured victory, including โWar and Peaceโ (1969), โMoscow Does Not Believe in Tearsโ (1981), and โBurnt by the Sunโ (1994). Nikita Mikhalkov, one of Russiaโs most celebrated filmmakers, won Best Foreign Language Film for Burnt by the Sun and was previously nominated for โ12โ (2007).
โAnoraโ premiered at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in May 2024 to critical acclaim and was released theatrically by Neon in October. It grossed $41 million worldwide on a $6 million budget, making it Bakerโs highest-grossing film.
The movie received six nominations and took home five Oscars, including for Best Picture, Best Editing, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for Baker, as well as Best Actress for Mikey Madison.
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