Actress Kirsten Dunst expressed frustration after her husband, Jesse Plemons, was not nominated for an Oscar for his lead role in Bugonia during this year’s Academy Awards. Dunst’s reaction to the snub highlighted her admiration for Plemons’ acclaimed performance and her disappointment with the Academy’s choices.
Support and Praise for Jesse Plemons’ Role in Bugonia
Dunst publicly shared posts praising her husband’s work, including one from comedian and Plemons’ Bugonia co-star Stavros Halkias. Halkias’ Instagram Story showed him with a pointed finger and an intense expression, captioned with a clear message of dissatisfaction:
Me to everyone who didn’t nominate Jesse Plemmons [sic] for Best Actor tho.
Kirsten Dunst/Instagram
Additionally, Dunst reposted a clip from the Bluff Council podcast, where cohost Ev Durán lavished praise on Plemons’ acting, even comparing it to performances by legendary actors. Durán stated,
Jesse Plemons gives one of the greatest performances of all time,
and continued,
Jesse Plemons in this film gives [a] Daniel Day-Lewis–, Sidney Poitier–level transcendent performance that I worry is being completely overlooked for f—in’ Chalamet’s Marty Supreme, which was a very good performance, but wasn’t — what Plemons does in this movie is beyond.
Context of Jesse Plemons’ Work in Bugonia and His Awards Circuit Success
Before the nominations were announced, Dunst posted a still image of Plemons’ character from Bugonia, praising it as “Some top-level s—.” In the film, Plemons plays a deeply cynical conspiracy theorist who abducts a CEO, portrayed by Emma Stone, suspecting her of being an alien invader. This film represents his second project with director Yorgos Lanthimos, following their collaboration on the 2024 film Kinds of Kindness.
Plemons has been praised widely for his role, earning Best Actor nods from the Screen Actors Guild, Golden Globes, and Astra Awards. His strong run through the early 2026 awards season led experts at Entertainment Weekly to anticipate a potential Oscar nomination.
Oscar Outcomes and Other Recognitions for Bugonia
Despite this acclaim, Jesse Plemons was ultimately excluded from the Academy’s final list of Best Actor nominees. This year’s Oscar contenders in this category include Timothée Chalamet for Marty Supreme, Leonardo DiCaprio for One Battle After Another, Ethan Hawke for Blue Moon, Michael B. Jordan for Sinners, and Wagner Moura for The Secret Agent.
Although Plemons was overlooked, Bugonia itself received key nominations, such as Best Picture. Emma Stone was also recognized with her third Best Actress nomination, while writer Will Tracy was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay and composer Jerskin Fendrix earned a nod for Best Original Score.
Previous Oscar Recognition for Plemons and Dunst
Jesse Plemons’ only prior Oscar nomination came in 2022 for Best Supporting Actor thanks to his role in Jane Campion’s film The Power of the Dog. Kirsten Dunst also appeared in that film, receiving her first and only Oscar nomination to date for Best Supporting Actress.
Implications of the Snub and Future Prospects
Kirsten Dunst’s public support underlines the emotional toll and competitive nature of major award seasons, particularly when widely praised performances like Plemons’ are left out. The snub has sparked conversations about the Academy’s nomination process and recognition standards, while anticipation builds for how both Dunst and Plemons will continue their acclaimed careers amid evolving industry recognition.
