British Academy Film Award / Best Actor

In the early years, Marlon Brando won the award for the best foreign actor three times in a row (1953–1955) .

Winners and nominees in the category Best Actor ( Leading Actor ) at the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA Awards) , which honors the outstanding acting performance in the previous calendar year. First time acting awards for film actors were given in 1953, each for the best British and best foreign actors. As with the two film categories, the aim was to forestall a possible predominance of the foreign and especially the US film industry.

In 1968 the award ceremony was restructured. In order to prevent irritation, only one actor's prize is awarded. The annual number of nominations, which was limited to four until 2000 and now to five, has not varied since then. While Curd Jürgens , Maximilian Schell and Oskar Werner received a handful of nominations in the 1950s and 1960s, after Werner's performance in The Spy Who Came from the Cold (1967), no German-speaking actor was able to join the Include the list of nominees. It wasn't until 2008 that Ulrich Mühe received a posthumous nomination for the Oscar- winning German-language film The Lives of Others . The American Spencer Tracy (1969), the British Peter Finch (1978) and the Italian Massimo Troisi (1996) received further posthumous honors and nominations .

The winner agreed 29 times with the eventual Oscar winner , most recently in 2020 with the victory of Joaquin Phoenix ( Joker ).

statistics	Surname	number	year
Most frequent awards	Peter Finch	5	1957, 1961, 1962, 1972, 1978
Most frequent nominations (* = victory)	Jack Lemmon	8th	1956, 1960 , 1961 , 1964, 1966, 1966, 1980 *, 1983
Most frequent nominations without a win	Albert Finney	6th	1961, 1964, 1972, 1975, 1983, 1985

The films listed below are given with their German distribution title (if this can be determined), followed by the foreign-language original title in brackets in italics. The original title is not mentioned if the German and foreign-language film titles are identical. The winners are highlighted first.

1950s

year	Best British Actor	Best Foreign Actor
1953	Ralph Richardson - The unknown enemy ( The Sound Barrier ) nominated: Jack Hawkins - Mandy James Hayter - Mr. Pickwick ( Pickwick Papers ) Laurence Olivier - Carrie Nigel Patrick - The unknown enemy ( The Sound Barrier ) Alastair Sym - Folly to Be Wise	Marlon Brando - Viva Zapata! nominated: Humphrey Bogart - African Queen ( The African Queen ) Pierre Fresnay - God needs people ( Dieu a besoin des hommes ) Francesco Golisano - The miracle of Milan ( Miracolo a Milano ) Fredric March - The death of a traveling salesman ( Death of a Salesman )
1954	John Gielgud - Julius Caesar nominated: Jack Hawkins - The great Atlantic ( The Cruel Sea ) Trevor Howard - The heart of all things ( The Heart of the Matter ) Duncan Macrae - Defeated hatred ( The Kidnappers ) Kenneth More - Die fierige Isabella ( Genevieve )	Marlon Brando - Julius Caesar nominated: Eddie Albert - A heart and a crown ( Roman Holiday ) Van Heflin - My great friend Shane ( Shane ) Claude Laydu - Diary of a country pastor ( Journal d'un curé de campagne ) Marcel Mouloudji - We are all Murderer ( Nous sommes tous des assassins ) Gregory Peck - A heart and a crown ( Roman Holiday ) Spencer Tracy - Theaterfieber ( The Actress )
1955	Kenneth More - But, Herr Doktor… ( Doctor in the House ) nominated: Maurice Denham - Flames over the Far East ( The Purple Rain ) Robert Donat - Lease of Life David Niven - Major Carrington ( Carrington VC ) John Mills - Lord of the house I am ( Hobson's Choice ) Donald Wolfit - Svengali	Marlon Brando - Die fist im Nacken ( On the Waterfront ) nominated: Neville Brand - Terror in Block 11 ( Riot in Cell Block 11 ) José Ferrer - The Caine was her fate ( The Caine Mutiny ) Fredric March - The Intrigants ( Executive Suite ) James Stewart - The Glenn Miller Story ( The Glenn Miller Story )
1956	Laurence Olivier - Richard III. ( Richard III ) nominated: Alfie Bass - The Bespoke Overcoat Alec Guinness - Der Gefangene ( The Prisoner ) Jack Hawkins - The Prisoner ( The Prisoner ) David Kossoff - Life is full of miracles ( A Kid for Two Farthings ) Kenneth More - Alluring Depth ( The Deep Blue Sea ) Michael Redgrave - You Were 13 ( The Night My Number Came Up )	Ernest Borgnine - Marty nominated: James Dean - Beyond Eden ( East of Eden ) Jack Lemmon - No time for heroism ( Mister Roberts ) Toshirō Mifune - The seven Samurai (七人の侍 ) Takashi Shimura - The seven Samurai (七人の侍 ) Frank Sinatra - … and not as a stranger
1957	Peter Finch - March through Hell ( A Town Like Alice ) nominated: Jack Hawkins - The Long Arm ( The Long Arm ) Kenneth More - In spite of all violence ( Reach for the Sky )	François Périer - Gervaise nominated: Gunnar Björnstrand - The smile of a summer night ( Sommarnattens leende ) James Dean - ... because they don't know what they are doing ( Rebel Without a Cause ) Pierre Fresnay - The Renegade ( Le Défroqué ) William Holden - Picnic ( Picnic ) Karl Malden - Baby Doll - Do not desire the other woman ( Baby Doll ) Frank Sinatra - The Man with the Golden Arm ( The Man with the Golden Arm ) Spencer Tracy - The Mountain of Temptation ( The Mountain )
1958	Alec Guinness - The Bridge on the River Kwai ( The Bridge on the River Kwai ) nominated: Peter Finch - man in the fire ( Windom's Way ) Trevor Howard - Manuela Laurence Olivier - The Prince and the Showgirl ( The Prince and the Showgirl ) Michael Redgrave - In last hour ( Time Without Pity )	Henry Fonda - The Twelve Jurors ( 12 Angry Men ) nominated: Richard Basehart - When Men Break ( Time Limit ) Pierre Brasseur - The Mousetrap ( Porte des Lilas ) Tony Curtis - Your Fate in My Hand ( Sweet Smell of Success ) Jean Gabin - Two men, a pig and the night of Paris ( La Traversée de Paris ) Sidney Poitier - A man conquers fear ( Edge of the City ) Robert Mitchum - The sailor and the nun ( Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison ) Ed Wynn - The Great man
1959	Trevor Howard - The Key ( The Key ) nominated: Michael Craig - The Black Devils of El Alamein ( Sea of Sand ) Laurence Harvey - The Way Up ( Room at the Top ) IS Johar - The Paw of the Tiger ( Harry Black ) Anthony Quayle - Eiskalt in Alexandria - Firestorm over Africa ( Ice-Cold in Alex ) Terry-Thomas - Der kleine Däumling ( Tom Thumb ) Donald Wolfit - The way up ( Room at the Top )	Sidney Poitier - Escape in Chains ( The Defiant Ones ) nominated: Marlon Brando - The Young Lions ( The Young Lions ) Tony Curtis - Escape in Chains ( The Defiant Ones ) Glenn Ford - In Colorado the devil is loose ( The Sheepman ) Curd Jürgens - the Enemy Below ( the Enemy Below ) Curd Jürgens - the Inn of the sixth happiness ( the Inn of the Sixth happiness ) Charles Laughton - witness for the prosecution ( witness for the prosecution ) Paul Newman - cat on a hot Tin roof ( cat on a Hot Tin Roof ) Victor Sjöström - Wilde Erdbeeren ( Smultronstället ) Spencer Tracy - The Last Hurray ( The Last Hurray )

1960s

year	Best British Actor	Best Foreign Actor
1960	Peter Sellers - Young man from a good family ( I'm All Right Jack ) nominated: Stanley Baker - enemies of yesterday ( Yesterday's Enemy ) Richard Burton - Look Back in Anger ( Look Back in Anger ) Peter Finch - Nun's Story ( The Nun's Story ) Laurence Harvey - Expresso Bongo Gordon Jackson - enemies of yesterday ( yesterday's enemy ) Laurence Olivier - The devil's disciple ( The devil's disciple )	Jack Lemmon - Some Like It Hot ( Some Like It Hot ) nominated: Zbigniew Cybulski - Ashes and Diamonds ( Popiól i diament ) Jean Desailly - Maigret sets a trap ( Maigret tend un piège ) Jean Gabin - Maigret sets a trap ( Maigret tend un piège ) Takashi Shimura - Once really live (生きる ) Stewart James - Anatomy of a murder ( Anatomy of a murder )
1961	Peter Finch - The Trials of Oscar Wilde ( The Trials of Oscar Wilde ) nominated: Richard Attenborough - Wrath silence ( The Angry Silence ) Albert Finney - Saturday Night and Sunday Morning ( Saturday Night and Sunday Morning ) John Fraser - The Trials of Oscar Wilde ( The Trials of Oscar Wilde ) Alec Guinness - once a hero ( Tunes of Glory ) John Mills - once a hero ( Tunes of Glory ) Laurence Olivier - Der Komödiant ( The Entertainer )	Jack Lemmon - Appartement ( The Apartment ) nominated: George Hamilton - Crime & Punishment, USA Burt Lancaster - Elmer Gantry Fredric March - Inherit the Wind ( Inherit the Wind ) Yves Montand - Let's Make Love ( Let's Make Love ) Spencer Tracy - Who sows the wind ( Inherit the Wind )
1962	Peter Finch - And tomorrow everything ( No Love for Johnnie ) nominated: Dirk Bogarde - Der Teufelskreis ( Victim )	Paul Newman - Haie der Großstadt ( The Hustler ) nominated: Montgomery Clift - The Judgment of Nuremberg ( Judgment at Nuremberg ) Wladimir Iwaschow - The Ballad of the Soldier ( Ballada o soldatje ) Philippe Leroy - The Hole ( Le Trou ) Sidney Poitier - Ein Fleck in der Sonne ( A Raisin in the Sun ) Maximilian Schell - The Judgment of Nuremberg ( Judgment at Nuremberg ) Alberto Sordi - Lovable opponents ( The Best of Enemies )
1963	Peter O'Toole - Lawrence of Arabia ( Lawrence of Arabia ) nominated: Richard Attenborough - The big blockbuster ( The Dock Letter ) Alan Bates - Just A Kind of Loving ( A Kind of Loving ) James Mason - Lolita Laurence Olivier - play with fate ( Term of Trial ) Peter Sellers - You can only love as a couple ( Only Two Can Play )	Burt Lancaster - The Prisoner of Alcatraz ( Birdman of Alcatraz ) nominated: Jean-Paul Belmondo - Eva and the priest ( Léon Morin, prêtre ) Franco Citti - Accattone - Who never ate his bread with tears ( Accattone ) Kirk Douglas - They are lonely Brave ( Lonely Are the Brave ) George Hamilton - Light in the Piazza ( Light in the Piazza ) Charles Laughton - Storm over Washington ( Advise & Consent ) Anthony Quinn - Lawrence of Arabia ( Lawrence of Arabia ) Robert Ryan - The Damned of the Seas ( Billy Budd ) Georges Wilson - Even after a year and a day ( Une aussi longue absence )
1964	Dirk Bogarde - Der Diener ( The Servant ) nominated: Tom Courtenay - Beloved Spinner ( Billy Liar ) Albert Finney - Tom Jones - Between Bed and Gallows ( Tom Jones ) Hugh Griffith - Tom Jones - Between Bed and Gallows ( Tom Jones ) Richard Harris - Alluring Laurel ( This Sporting Life )	Marcello Mastroianni - Divorce in Italian ( Divorzio all'italiana ) nominated: Howard Da Silva - David and Lisa ( David and Lisa ) Jack Lemmon - The days of Wine and Roses ( Days of Wine and Roses ) Paul Newman - The wildest among a thousand ( Hud ) Gregory Peck - Who disturbs the nightingale ( To Kill a Mockingbird )
1965	Richard Attenborough - Shots in Batasi ( Guns at Batasi ) and On a cloudy afternoon ( Séance on a Wet Afternoon ) nominated: Tom Courtenay - King and Country ( King and Country ) Peter O'Toole - Becket Peter Sellers - Dr. Strangelove or: How I learned to love the bomb ( or Dr. Strangelove: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb ) Peter Sellers - The Pink Panther ( The Pink Panther )	Marcello Mastroianni - Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow ( Ieri, oggi, domani ) nominated: Cary Grant - Charade Sterling Hayden - Dr. Strangelove or: How I learned to love the bomb ( or Dr. Strangelove: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb ) Sidney Poitier - Lilies of the Field ( Lilies of the Field )
1966	Dirk Bogarde - Darling nominated: Harry Andrews - A Bunch of Great Dogs ( The Hill ) Michael Caine - Ipcress - Top Secret ( The Ipcress File ) Rex Harrison - My Fair Lady	Lee Marvin - Cat Ballou - You should hang in Wyoming ( Cat Ballou ) and death of a killer ( The Killers ) nominated: Jack Lemmon - Lend me your husband ( Good Neighbor Sam ) Jack Lemmon - How to kill your wife ( How to Murder Your Wife ) Anthony Quinn - Alexis Sorbas ( Zorba the Greek ) Innokenti Smoktunowski - Hamlet ( Gamlet ) Oskar Werner - Das Narrenschiff ( Ship of Fools )
1967	Richard Burton - The Spy Who Came in from the Cold ( The Spy Who Came in from the Cold ) nominated: Michael Caine - The abuser can be beautiful greeting ( Alfie ) Ralph Richardson - Last greetings from Uncle Joe ( The Wrong Box ) Ralph Richardson - Doctor Zhivago ( Doctor Zhivago ) Ralph Richardson - Khartoum David Warner - Protest ( Morgan: A Suitable Case for Treatment )	Rod Steiger - The Pawnbroker ( The Pawnbroker ) nominated: Jean-Paul Belmondo - Eleven o'clock at night ( Pierrot le fou ) Sidney Poitier - Dreaming lips ( A Patch of Blue ) Oskar Werner - The spy who came out of the cold ( The Spy Who Came in from the cold )
1968	Paul Scofield - A Man for All Seasons ( for All Seasons A Man ) nominated: Dirk Bogarde - Accident - incident in Oxford ( Accident ) Richard Burton - The Taming of the Shrew ( The Taming of the Shrew ) James Mason - Call for the Dead ( The Deadly affair )	Rod Steiger - In the Heat of the Night ( In the Heat of the Night ) nominated: Warren Beatty - Bonnie and Clyde ( Bonnie and Clyde ) Sidney Poitier - In the Heat of the Night ( In the Heat of the Night ) Orson Welles - Falstaff ( Campanadas a medianoche )

1969

Spencer Tracy - Guess Who's Coming to Dinner ( Guess Who's Coming to Dinner )

Trevor Howard - The Charge of the Light Brigade ( The Charge of the Light Brigade )

Ron Moody - Oliver ( Oliver! )

Nicol Williamson - Events While Guarding the Bofors Gun ( The Bofors Gun )

1970s

1970

Dustin Hoffman - Asphalt Cowboy ( Midnight Cowboy ) and John and Mary ( John and Mary )

Alan Bates - Women in Love ( Women in Love )

Walter Matthau - The Secret Life of an American Wife

Nicol Williamson - Inadmissible Evidence

1971

Robert Redford - Two Bandits ( Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid ), Bloody Trail ( Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here ) and Schußfahrt ( Downhill Racer ) -