Hollywood veteran Tom Hanks has weighed in on the long-running debate surrounding the recognition of voice acting at the Academy Awards, asserting that a separate category for such performances is unnecessary. The acclaimed actor, a two-time Oscar winner himself, suggests that voice actors should instead be considered for nominations in the existing Best Actor or Best Actress categories, arguing that the true measure of a performance lies in its ability to move an audience.
Speaking to Gold Derby, Hanks contended that the current structure of the Academy Awards is sufficient. He emphasised that the criterion for judgment should simply be "any performance that moved you," irrespective of whether the actor appears on screen physically. To illustrate his point, Hanks cited the pioneering work of British actor Andy Serkis, renowned for bringing complex digital characters like Gollum in The Lord of the Rings and Caesar in the Planet of the Apes reboot series to life through motion-capture technology. Hanks noted that Serkis's performances carry substantial acting weight, even if he doesn't appear as himself.
Despite the significant impact of voice and motion-capture performances in cinema, no performer has ever received an Oscar nomination solely for a voice-only role in any of the four acting categories. Scarlett Johansson came close with her critically acclaimed voice performance as an AI operating system in Spike Jonze's Her, earning a Best Actress award at the Rome Film Festival, but not an Oscar nod. This lack of recognition has led to frustration among some in the industry, with actors like Zoe Saldaña, known for her role as Neytiri in the Avatar films, previously criticising the Academy's reluctance to acknowledge motion-capture acting as a legitimate form.
Hanks's stance contrasts with the approach taken by other major awards bodies. The Primetime Emmy Awards, for instance, include dedicated categories for both character voice-over performances and narration. Similarly, the Annie Awards, widely regarded as the most prestigious accolades in animation, have long recognised excellence in voice acting for both film and television. Hanks himself received an Emmy nomination for outstanding narrator in 2025 for NBC's The Americas, though he ultimately lost to Barack Obama.
The debate highlights a broader conversation within the film industry about evolving definitions of acting in an era of increasingly sophisticated digital effects and animation. While the Academy introduced a Best Animated Feature category in 2002, the integration of voice and motion-capture performances into the traditional acting categories remains a contentious issue for many within the film community.
Hanks is set to reprise his iconic voice role as Woody in the upcoming Toy Story 5, reuniting with Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear. The film, directed by Andrew Stanton, is scheduled for release in cinemas on 19 June 2026, and will explore the toys' reaction to a new digital device, reflecting a "Toy meets Tech" theme.
Source: Gold Derby