Samuel L. Jackson Says “My Yardstick Of Success Is My Happiness,” As He Speaks On His Honorary Oscar & Not Having Received One For His Acting Performances

June 16, 2022 by Ariel Whitely in Film with 0 Comments

Samuel L. Jackson

Samuel L. Jackson Says “My Yardstick Of Success Is My Happiness,” As He Speaks On His Honorary Oscar & Not Having Received One For His Acting Performances

Despite never being awarded an Academy Award, widely known actor Samuel L. Jackson is seemingly happy with the way his career turned out.

Samuel L. Jackson’s acting in his over 150 films has reportedly grossed more than $27 billion worldwide, making him the highest-grossing actor of all time. However, Samuel L. Jackson has not been awarded an Oscar for his acting performances in his decades-long career.

Samuel L. Jackson

As previously reported, last year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that they will be presenting Jackson with the honorary Oscar at the 2022 Governors Awards, although he has yet to win an Academy Award.

The Honorary Oscar Award was awarded to Jackson to celebrate extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional contributions to motion picture arts and sciences, or for outstanding service to the Academy. Jackson was presented with the award by longtime friend and fellow actor Denzel Washington, 67, on March 25, 2022.

Denzel Washington

The 73-year-old actor/producer recently did an interview and spoke about receiving an honorary Oscar at the Governors Awards during the untelevised ceremony. Jackson broke down what it was like not being awarded for one of his performances throughout his lifetime. He explained,

“As jaded as I wanted to be about it, you know thinking, ‘Well, I should have won an Oscar for this or should have won for that and it didn’t happen,’ once I got over it many years ago, it wasn’t a big deal for me. I always have fun going to the Oscars. I always look forward to getting a gift basket for being a presenter. [Laughs] I give stuff to my relatives; my daughter and my wife would take stuff out. It’s cool.”

According to reports, Jackson has “decided to measure his career — and its successes — in other ways that have nothing to do with the award.” While discussing never winning an Oscar, Jackson made it clear that his success wasn’t based upon an award. He continued,

“I was never going to let the Oscars be a measure of my success or failure as an actor. 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.”

While the Honorary Oscar Award marked Jackson’s first Academy Award, he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 1995 Academy Awards for his role in ‘Pulp Fiction.’ Jackson previously spoke on the nomination and said,

“I should have won that one.”

Reportedly, Jackson also revealed that he believes his performance in Spike Lee’s 1991 film ‘Jungle Fever’ was worthy of an Oscar nomination as well. He shared,

“So maybe I should have won one. But Oscars don’t move the comma on your cheque — it’s about getting a**es in seats and I’ve done a good job of doing that.”

Jackson added,

“They should have an Oscar for the most popular movie. Because that’s what the business is about.”

“All movies are valid. Some go to the cinema to be moved dearly. Some like superheroes. If somebody has more butts on seats it just means your audience is not as broad. There are people who have had successful careers but nobody can recite one line of their parts. I’m the guy who says sh*t that’s on a T-shirt.”