Special Report

Most and Least Popular Golden Globe Nominees

Charles Stockdale, John Harrington, Steven Peters

Published: December 13, 2017 3:29 pm

Last Updated: January 12, 2020 5:28 am

The Golden Globe Awards, whose nominations were just announced, are an excellent indicator of which actors are currently among the most popular. The event, which will take place on Jan. 7, 2018 at the Beverly Hills Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, is the first major awards event of the season and the Golden Globe nominations are often regarded as a precursor to the prestigious Academy Awards. The Golden Globe Awards ceremony is a chance for audiences to see which performances and which actors will dominate the awards season.

One difference between the Academy Awards and Golden Globes is that the latter recognizes work in both film and television. These days, many actors work in both mediums, and TV shows can carry the same distinction as film. The Golden Globe Awards highlights a range of talent at the height of their craft – in both mediums.

24/7 Wall St. has created an index based on several metrics – including each actor’s IMDb ranking, internet popularity, and appeal of their work – in order to determine which of this year’s nominated actors are the most popular among the fans.

Click here to see the most and least popular Golden Globe nominated actors.
Click here to see our detailed findings and methodology.

Source: Joe Scarnici / Getty Images

70. Issa Rae
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy
> Movie/TV show: Insecure
> Previous wins and nominations: 1
> Age: 32

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Source: Michael Loccisano / Getty Images

69. Hong Chau
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
> Movie/TV show: Downsizing
> Previous wins and nominations: N/A
> Age: 37

Source: Michael Kovac / Getty Images

68. Mary J. Blige
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
> Movie/TV show: Mudbound
> Previous wins and nominations: N/A
> Age: 46

Source: Vivien Killilea / Getty Images

67. Eric McCormack
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy
> Movie/TV show: Will & Grace
> Previous wins and nominations: 5
> Age: 54

Source: Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images

66. Ann Dowd
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series
> Movie/TV show: The Handmaid’s Tale
> Previous wins and nominations: N/A
> Age: 61

Source: Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images

65. Frankie Shaw
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy
> Movie/TV show: Smilf
> Previous wins and nominations: N/A
> Age: 36

Source: Ben Gabbe / Getty Images

64. Aziz Ansari
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy
> Movie/TV show: Master Of None
> Previous wins and nominations: 1
> Age: 34

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Source: Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

63. Pamela Adlon
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy
> Movie/TV show: Better Things
> Previous wins and nominations: N/A
> Age: 51

Source: Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images

62. Sterling K. Brown
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama
> Movie/TV show: This Is Us
> Previous wins and nominations: 1
> Age: 41

Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images

61. Bob Odenkirk
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama
> Movie/TV show: Better Call Saul
> Previous wins and nominations: 2
> Age: 55

Source: Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images

60. Rachel Brosnahan
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy
> Movie/TV show: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
> Previous wins and nominations: N/A
> Age: 26

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Source: Dia Dipasupil / Getty Images

59. Anthony Anderson
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy
> Movie/TV show: Black-ish
> Previous wins and nominations: 1
> Age: 47

Source: Emma McIntyre / Getty Images

58. Chrissy Metz
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series
> Movie/TV show: This Is Us
> Previous wins and nominations: 1
> Age: 37

Source: Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images

57. Kyle MacLachlan
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television
> Movie/TV show: Twin Peaks
> Previous wins and nominations: 1
> Age: 58

Source: Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images

56. Claire Foy
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama
> Movie/TV show: The Crown
> Previous wins and nominations: 1
> Age: 33

Source: Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images

55. Timothée Chalamet
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama
> Movie/TV show: Call Me By Your Name
> Previous wins and nominations: N/A
> Age: 21

Source: Mike Coppola / Getty Images

54. Caitriona Balfe
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama
> Movie/TV show: Outlander
> Previous wins and nominations: 2
> Age: 38

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Source: Craig Barritt / Getty Images

53. Daniel Kaluuya
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
> Movie/TV show: Get Out
> Previous wins and nominations: N/A
> Age: 28

Source: Michael Kovac / Getty Images

52. Alfred Molina
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series
> Movie/TV show: Feud: Bette And Joan
> Previous wins and nominations: N/A
> Age: 64

Source: Joe Scarnici / Getty Images

51. Sally Hawkins
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama
> Movie/TV show: The Shape of Water
> Previous wins and nominations: 2
> Age: 41

Source: Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

50. Jessica Lange
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television
> Movie/TV show: Feud: Bette And Joan
> Previous wins and nominations: 15
> Age: 68

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Source: Emma McIntyre / Getty Images

49. Katherine Langford
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama
> Movie/TV show: 13 Reasons Why
> Previous wins and nominations: N/A
> Age: 21

Source: Carlos Alvarez / Getty Images

48. Christian Slater
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series
> Movie/TV show: Mr. Robot
> Previous wins and nominations: 2
> Age: 48

Source: Rich Fury / Getty Images

47. Armie Hammer
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture
> Movie/TV show: Call Me By Your Name
> Previous wins and nominations: N/A
> Age: 31

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46. Elisabeth Moss
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama
> Movie/TV show: The Handmaid’s Tale
> Previous wins and nominations: 2
> Age: 35

Source: Dia Dipasupil / Getty Images

45. Ansel Elgort
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
> Movie/TV show: Baby Driver
> Previous wins and nominations: N/A
> Age: 23

Source: Lars Niki / Getty Images

44. Richard Jenkins
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture
> Movie/TV show: The Shape of Water
> Previous wins and nominations: N/A
> Age: 70

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Source: John Phillips / Getty Images

43. Frances McDormand
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama
> Movie/TV show: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
> Previous wins and nominations: 5
> Age: 60

Source: Theo Wargo / Getty Images

42. Laurie Metcalf
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
> Movie/TV show: Lady Bird
> Previous wins and nominations: 2
> Age: 62

Source: taniavolobueva / Shutterstock.com

41. Helen Mirren
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
> Movie/TV show: The Leisure Seeker
> Previous wins and nominations: 14
> Age: 72

Source: Stuart C. Wilson / Getty Images

40. Laura Dern
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series
> Movie/TV show: Big Little Lies
> Previous wins and nominations: 5
> Age: 50

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Source: Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images

39. Alison Brie
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy
> Movie/TV show: GLOW
> Previous wins and nominations: N/A
> Age: 34

Source: Andrea Raffin / Shutterstock.com

38. Susan Sarandon
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television
> Movie/TV show: Feud: Bette And Joan
> Previous wins and nominations: 8
> Age: 71

Source: Cindy Ord / Getty Images

37. Saoirse Ronan
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
> Movie/TV show: Lady Bird
> Previous wins and nominations: 2
> Age: 23

Source: Joshua Blanchard / Getty Images

36. Freddie Highmore
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama
> Movie/TV show: The Good Doctor
> Previous wins and nominations: N/A
> Age: 25

Source: Joe Scarnici / Getty Images

35. Octavia Spencer
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
> Movie/TV show: The Shape of Water
> Previous wins and nominations: 2
> Age: 47

Source: Neilson Barnard / Getty Images

34. Liev Schreiber
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama
> Movie/TV show: Ray Donovan
> Previous wins and nominations: 5
> Age: 50

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Source: Andreas Rentz / Getty Images

33. Michelle Williams
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama
> Movie/TV show: All The Money In The World
> Previous wins and nominations: 4
> Age: 37

Source: Roy Rochlin / Getty Images

32. Maggie Gyllenhaal
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama
> Movie/TV show: The Deuce
> Previous wins and nominations: 3
> Age: 40

Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images

31. David Harbour
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series
> Movie/TV show: Stranger Things
> Previous wins and nominations: N/A
> Age: 42

Source: Emma McIntyre / Getty Images

30. Jessica Biel
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television
> Movie/TV show: The Sinner
> Previous wins and nominations: N/A
> Age: 35

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Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images

29. Shailene Woodley
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series
> Movie/TV show: Big Little Lies
> Previous wins and nominations: 1
> Age: 26

Source: Kris Connor / Getty Images

28. Sam Rockwell
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture
> Movie/TV show: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
> Previous wins and nominations: N/A
> Age: 49

Source: Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images

27. Daniel Day-Lewis
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama
> Movie/TV show: Phantom Thread
> Previous wins and nominations: 7
> Age: 60

Source: Tim P. Whitby / Getty Images

26. Michelle Pfeiffer
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series
> Movie/TV show: The Wizard of Lies
> Previous wins and nominations: 6
> Age: 59

Source: Andreas Rentz / Getty Images

25. Alexander Skarsgård
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series
> Movie/TV show: Big Little Lies
> Previous wins and nominations: N/A
> Age: 41

Source: Dia Dipasupil / Getty Images

24. William H. Macy
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy
> Movie/TV show: Shameless
> Previous wins and nominations: 4
> Age: 67

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Source: Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images

23. Kevin Bacon
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy
> Movie/TV show: I Love Dick
> Previous wins and nominations: 2
> Age: 59

Source: Vivien Killilea / Getty Images

22. Allison Janney
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
> Movie/TV show: I, Tonya
> Previous wins and nominations: 5
> Age: 58

Source: Dia Dipasupil / Getty Images

21. Christopher Plummer
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture
> Movie/TV show: All The Money In The World
> Previous wins and nominations: 3
> Age: 87

Source: Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images

20. Judi Dench
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
> Movie/TV show: Victoria & Abdul
> Previous wins and nominations: 11
> Age: 83

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Source: Rich Fury / Getty Images

19. Geoffrey Rush
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television
> Movie/TV show: Genius
> Previous wins and nominations: 5
> Age: 66

Source: Ethan Miller / Getty Images

18. David Thewlis
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series
> Movie/TV show: Fargo (TV show)
> Previous wins and nominations: N/A
> Age: 54

Source: Jeff Spicer / Getty Images

17. Jessica Chastain
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama
> Movie/TV show: Molly’s Game
> Previous wins and nominations: 4
> Age: 40

Source: Vivien Killilea / Getty Images

16. Margot Robbie
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
> Movie/TV show: I, Tonya
> Previous wins and nominations: N/A
> Age: 27

Source: Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images

15. Reese Witherspoon
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television
> Movie/TV show: Big Little Lies
> Previous wins and nominations: 4
> Age: 41

Source: Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images

14. Jude Law
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television
> Movie/TV show: The Young Pope
> Previous wins and nominations: 3
> Age: 44

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Source: Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images

13. Jason Bateman
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama
> Movie/TV show: Ozark
> Previous wins and nominations: 2
> Age: 48

Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images

12. Meryl Streep
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama
> Movie/TV show: The Post
> Previous wins and nominations: 31
> Age: 68

Source: John Phillips / Getty Images

11. Willem Dafoe
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture
> Movie/TV show: The Florida Project
> Previous wins and nominations: 1
> Age: 62

Source: Bennett Raglin / Getty Images

10. Nicole Kidman
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television
> Movie/TV show: Big Little Lies
> Previous wins and nominations: 11
> Age: 50

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Source: Emma McIntyre / Getty Images

9. Steve Carell
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
> Movie/TV show: Battle of the Sexes
> Previous wins and nominations: 8
> Age: 55

Source: Ben Gabbe / Getty Images

8. Ewan McGregor
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television
> Movie/TV show: Fargo (TV show)
> Previous wins and nominations: 2
> Age: 46

Source: Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images

7. James Franco
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
> Movie/TV show: The Disaster Artist
> Previous wins and nominations: 3
> Age: 39

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6. Emma Stone
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
> Movie/TV show: Battle of the Sexes
> Previous wins and nominations: 3
> Age: 29

Source: Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images

5. Denzel Washington
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama
> Movie/TV show: Roman J. Israel, Esq.
> Previous wins and nominations: 9
> Age: 62

Source: Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images

4. Gary Oldman
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama
> Movie/TV show: Darkest Hour
> Previous wins and nominations: N/A
> Age: 59

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Source: Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images

3. Hugh Jackman
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
> Movie/TV show: The Greatest Showman
> Previous wins and nominations: 2
> Age: 49

Source: Monica Schipper / Getty Images

2. Robert De Niro
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television
> Movie/TV show: Wizard of Lies
> Previous wins and nominations: 9
> Age: 74

Source: Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

1. Tom Hanks
> Nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama
> Movie/TV show: The Post
> Previous wins and nominations: 8
> Age: 61

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association nominated a mixed slate of actors, including both those with rich, historied legacies and more recent successes. Twenty-two of the 70 actors have never won nor even been nominated for a Golden Globe. Conversely, Meryl Streep, who is nominated for her role in Steven Spielberg’s “The Post,” holds the record for the most Golden Globe wins with eight. Streep also holds the record for most combined nominations, wins, and special awards with 31.

While the better-established actors are generally more popular with the general public than the lesser-known newcomers, Golden Globe nominations do not necessarily translate directly to popularity. For instance, the most popular female actor is the 29-year-old Emma Stone, who has only won one Golden Globe and has been nominated twice, not including this year. Meryl Streep ranks as 12th most popular – despite her many awards.

To identify the most popular actors nominated for a 2018 Golden Globe, 24/7 Wall St. created an index based on three metrics of popularity: the popularity of the films and television shows each actor has appeared in, the popularity of the actor’s Wikipedia page based on average daily pageviews over the past year, and the actor’s current STARmeter ranking – a weekly measure of popularity based on user behavior on IMDb.com.

The number of user votes a film or television episode received on IMDb.com was used as a proxy for a given actor’s popularity. An actor’s total popularity was determined by the sum of the votes received for all the films and television episodes for which the actor is credited. Actors were only given credit for episodes of television series in which they appeared. IMDb vote counts for actors in starring roles were given full weight in the index; IMDb vote counts for actors in non-starring roles were given half weight in the index. All Golden Globe data is from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.