Today at 13:30 (GMT) the nominations for the 82nd Academy Awards were released and once again, our man Michael Sheen has been passed over.

Lots of websites and news groups have been listing Michael Sheen as a potential nominee for Best Actor for his performance in The Damned United.

The film Damned United and Michael’s performance have been receiving a lot of award attention.

Michael has already won GQ’s Actor of the Year, and Best Film Actor at the Variety Club Awards. Michael was nominated for Best Actor by International Press Academy, but sadly the award went to Jeremy Renner.

The Damned United received a nomination by the South Bank Show awards, but lost to Fish Tank. Both the Damned United and Michael were Long Listed by the BAFTAs, but despite favourable media opinion were sadly not short listed.

Sadly neither Michael nor The Damned United were nominated for a Golden Globe.

The Academy Awards, or Oscars, represent the pinnacle of the award season. It is a prestigious award, despite being one voted for by Academy members, and not the viewing public.

It appears to be that awards based on the vote of  the ticket-buying theatre goers then Michael, and indeed The Damned United, are receiving the nominations and awards this performance deserves. On the other hand, those awards like the Golden Globes, BAFTAs and The Academy Awards that are voted by a committee of board members fail to represent the opinion of the viewing public, and repeatedly discount those films and performances that are watched, loved and appreciated by the people that matter… the audience.

The Academy Awards presentation will take place on Sunday March 7th. You can view the full list of nominees here.

You may be interested in these related posts:

1. BAFTA’s 2010 Long Lists released.
2. The Damned United nominated in South Bank Show awards
3. Press Highlights for 13th & 14th October
4. EPL Podcast interview
5. CBC News Q&A