Since 1984 is our Year of the Month I was prepping a "vintage" list of the people, places, and things birthed that year and was alarmed to realize that I could find ZERO Oscar nominees born that year. Not a one. And I've spent all too much time scouring the web for it.
Actors born in 1984 are 31 or 32 years of age which is plenty of time to secure an Oscar nomination, at least for women. For comparison sake consider that a very quick glance at 1983, no more than one minute of research, turns up at least 5 nominees one of whom won (Lupita N'yongo). The same speedy glance at 1985 reveals 4 nominees instantly. Even 1986 has one that immediately pops out (Lady Gaga for Original Song) though the more recent years naturally have less as the field of contenders gets younger and younger. Unless I'm missing some fast-rising sound editor or makeup artist or some such, Oscar has yet to love any 1984 babies. Poor Millenial babies. If you were born in 1984 does this make you grumpy?
So who do you think will be first? Some options after the jump as well as the saving grace of Tony, Emmy, and Grammy nominees from that 1984 crop.
Tony Nominees / Winners Born in '84
Patina Miller & Nina Arianda
- Nina Arianda (2 noms | 1 win - she's done a lot of tiny supporting roles in film but the roles haven't been big and meaty enough considering what she can do)
- Patina Miller (2 noms | 1 win, both for musicals. Currently on Madame Secretary... but hasn't yet had film or tv roles that do her justice)
- John Gallagher Jr (1 nom | 1 win - best known for television roles but he is one of several stars to emerge from the original cast of Spring Awakening on Broadway)
- Scarlett Johansson (1 nom | 1 win - superstar)
- Robin De Jesús (2 nominations - you may remember him as the genderqueer star of that movie Camp in 2003 that Glee ripped off so hard)
- Joshua Henry (2 nominations, both for musicals. He hasn't made too many inroads into tv or film yet. Next up for Henry is the Aaron Burr role in the Chicago production of Hamilton, the role that just won Leslie Odom Jr the Tony)
- Jeremy Jordan (1 nomination - best known from TV's Smash)
- Sarah Greene (1 nomination - best known as Hecate from Showtime's Penny Dreadful)
Emmy Nominees / Winners Born in '84
- America Ferrara (2 noms/1 win, Ugly Betty)
- Kate McKinnon (4 nominations, SNL)
- Taylor Schilling (1 nomination, OITNB)
- Finn Wittrock (1 nomination, AHS: Freakshow)
- Katy Perry (1 nomination, Superbowl Halftime Show starring Katy Perry)
Grammy Nominees / Winners Born in '84
- Katy Perry
- Avril Lavigne
- Trey Songz
- Sam Hunt
So who will be Oscar nominated first?
At the moment we're assuming/hoping (?) it'll be one of these people...
Dastmalchian. Photograph by Braden Moran
When will casting directors realize that they need Melonie Diaz in their movies?
- Scarlett Johansson
- Mary Elizabeth Winstead
- David Dastmalchian
- Olivia Wilde
- Paul Dano
- Nina Arianda
- Melonie Diaz
- Jena Malone
...but you never know. New possibilities pop up all the time. All it takes is the right role and good timing to suddenly be on the showbiz map in a major way.