Samuel L. Jackson Doesn't Think It's 'an Honor' to Just Receive an Oscar Nomination: 'It's an Honor to Win'

Mar. 15, 2025

Samuel L. Jackson on Oct. 23, 2024.Photo:Arturo Holmes/Getty

Arturo Holmes/Getty

ForSamuel L. Jackson, there is no honor in losing.Jackson, 75, stated that he thinksAcademy Awardnominations do not mean much in Hollywood, while recently speaking with TheAssociated Press.“We’ve been in the business long enough to know that folks who go, ‘Well, it’s just an honor to be nominated,’ no it ain’t. It’s an honor to win,” Jackson said in a video the AP shared on X, causing hisThe Piano Lessoncostar Michael Potts, 62, to laugh. “You know, you get nominated, folks go ‘Yeah, I remember that,’ or most people forget.““They only remember the winner,” Potts added.Despite Jackson’s status as one of the film industry’s most prolific and beloved actors over the last 40 years, the actor has only received one competitive Oscar nomination. In 1995, he wasnominatedfor Best Actor in a Supporting Role for playing the hitman Jules in 1994’sPulp Fiction. Martin Landau ultimately won that year’s award for his performance inEd Wood.John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson at the 1995 Academy Awards.Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic"And generally it’s a contest you didn’t volunteer to be in, you know,” Jackson told the AP of awards races. “I didn’t go in there so I could flex like, ‘Wait a minute, let me do my scene then! Hold up! Make sure you remember who I was!’ “Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“They nominate you and folks go, ‘What is that movie they nominated for? What is the name of that thing?’ And then after it’s over, people have a hard time remembering who even won,” he added.Samuel L. Jackson and Denzel Washington on March 25, 2022.ANGELA WEISS/AFP via GettyWhile Jackson has not been nominated for an Oscar since, he did receive anhonorary Academy Awardfor lifetime achievement at the 2022 Governors Awards, which his longtime friendDenzel Washingtonpresented to him at that ceremony.“I got out there to entertain audiences the way Hollywood entertained me. Make them forget their lives for a few hours and be thrilled, awed, or excited at the big room where make believe lives,” he said in an acceptance speech at the time. “Thanks to every person who has ever bought a ticket to any movie I was in. It’s truly been an honor and a pleasure to entertain you.“The Piano Lesson, in which Jackson collaborated with Denzel, 69, and his sonsJohn David WashingtonandMalcolm Washington, is streaming on Netflix now.

ForSamuel L. Jackson, there is no honor in losing.

Jackson, 75, stated that he thinksAcademy Awardnominations do not mean much in Hollywood, while recently speaking with TheAssociated Press.

“We’ve been in the business long enough to know that folks who go, ‘Well, it’s just an honor to be nominated,’ no it ain’t. It’s an honor to win,” Jackson said in a video the AP shared on X, causing hisThe Piano Lessoncostar Michael Potts, 62, to laugh. “You know, you get nominated, folks go ‘Yeah, I remember that,’ or most people forget.”

“They only remember the winner,” Potts added.

Despite Jackson’s status as one of the film industry’s most prolific and beloved actors over the last 40 years, the actor has only received one competitive Oscar nomination. In 1995, he wasnominatedfor Best Actor in a Supporting Role for playing the hitman Jules in 1994’sPulp Fiction. Martin Landau ultimately won that year’s award for his performance inEd Wood.

John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson at the 1995 Academy Awards.Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

“And generally it’s a contest you didn’t volunteer to be in, you know,” Jackson told the AP of awards races. “I didn’t go in there so I could flex like, ‘Wait a minute, let me do my scene then! Hold up! Make sure you remember who I was!’ "

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“They nominate you and folks go, ‘What is that movie they nominated for? What is the name of that thing?’ And then after it’s over, people have a hard time remembering who even won,” he added.

Samuel L. Jackson and Denzel Washington on March 25, 2022.ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty

ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty

While Jackson has not been nominated for an Oscar since, he did receive anhonorary Academy Awardfor lifetime achievement at the 2022 Governors Awards, which his longtime friendDenzel Washingtonpresented to him at that ceremony.

“I got out there to entertain audiences the way Hollywood entertained me. Make them forget their lives for a few hours and be thrilled, awed, or excited at the big room where make believe lives,” he said in an acceptance speech at the time. “Thanks to every person who has ever bought a ticket to any movie I was in. It’s truly been an honor and a pleasure to entertain you.”

The Piano Lesson, in which Jackson collaborated with Denzel, 69, and his sonsJohn David WashingtonandMalcolm Washington, is streaming on Netflix now.

source: people.com