Samuel L. Jackson wants to dispel a myth about the Academy Awards — namely the humility of creatives who say they are honored just by the reception of a nod.
In a recent interview with the Associated Press promoting Netflix’s August Wilson adaptation The Piano Lesson, the MCU actor joked that he’s been in the business long enough to de-center the Oscars race, and any potential buzz or hype about a project or role, from his work.
“Folks will go, ‘Well it’s just an honor to be nominated.’ No it ain’t,” Jackson said, eliciting chuckles from co-star Michael Potts and the interviewer off-screen. “It’s an honor to win.”
He continued, “You get nominated, folks will go, ‘Yeah yeah, I remember that’ or most people forget.”
Ironically enough, Jackson was bestowed an honorary Oscar by longtime friend Denzel Washington at the 2022 Governors Awards. He has also been nominated for best supporting actor for his work in Quentin Tarantino’s seminal Pulp Fiction.
“Generally it’s a contest you didn’t volunteer to be in,” Jackson continued. “I didn’t go in there so I could flex, ‘Well wait a minute, let me do my scene here. Hold up, let me just, make sure you remember who I was.’ No, they nominate you and folks go, ‘What is that movie they nominated him for? What’s the name of that thing?’ And then after it’s over, people have a hard time remembering who even won.”
The multi-hyphenate has before spoken about the complex relationship he previously had with Hollywood’s biggest night, telling the Los Angeles Times in 2022 that he has since moved on from using accolades as a measure of success.
“I was never going to let the Oscars be a measure of my success or failure as an actor,” he said at the time. “My yardstick of success is my happiness: Am I satisfied with what I’m doing? I’m not doing statue-chasing movies. You know [whispers], ‘If you do this movie, you’ll win an Oscar.’ No, thanks. I’d rather be Nick Fury. Or having fun being Mace Windu with a lightsaber in my hand.”
The Piano Lesson is adapted from Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name as part of his Century Cycle — 10 entries covering a differing decade of the Black experience in the 20th century. Directed by Malcolm Washington, the film follows siblings Boy Willie (John David Washington) and Berniece (Danielle Deadwyler), who must grapple with difficult decisions when they end up on opposing sides of whether to sell an inherited heirloom piano that documents their family’s legacy. In addition to the feature, the streamer has adapted Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.
As for Jackson, the veteran is booked and busy, with a slate that includes forthcoming titles: The Honest Liar, a mysterious J.J. Abrams movie and The Beast, currently shooting abroad.