It looks like Robert Downey Jr. has a great shot of walking away with the Best Supporting Actor prize for Oppenheimer at the Oscars. And going by his heartfelt speech at the SAG Awards, it is clear that he is hell-bent on not forgetting his roots. Downey Jr.’s journey reads like a story of redemption, resilience, and never giving up. Being a Marvel poster boy for decades, Oppenheimer truly gave the actor a nice break from the usual big-budget films, allowing him to stretch his acting muscles in a different way.

Downey Jr, however, has been around the block in the acting world for quite a while. And with the Oscars coming up, here is a recap of the extraordinary ride he has been on.

Robert Downey Jr.’s journey over the years

Less than Zero was the moment Robert Downey Jr. proved he was more than just a pretty face in Hollywood. He had tried his hand at a few movies in the 80s and had his fair share of supporting roles, but it was this film where he really showed his depth as an actor, who can play complex and deeply flawed characters. Then along came Chaplin in 1992: a performance that dripped with emotion, making it one of those biopics that could easily fool anyone into thinking the actor was not acting, but actually living the part.

With a little help from his wife, Susan Downey, the actor landed another one of his legendary roles as Sherlock Holmes, where he brought his eccentric intelligence to the most famous detective of all time. Yet, if there is a quintessential blockbuster performance of the 21st century, it is Robert Downey Jr.’s witty portrayal of Iron Man. Despite the acclaim and popularity, one thing that has remained out of his reach is an Oscar. However, there is a whole slew of reasons why Oppenheimer might just change that for him.

This Oscar campaign for him is not just riding on the coattails of Oppenheimer‘s success. To get to his character, Robert Downey Jr. underwent some surprising transformations and put in serious elbow grease for that acclaim.

Why Robert Downey Jr.’s Oscar campaign is fair

Robert Downey Jr.’s Lewis Strauss skillfully balanced between being nice and charming one minute, and then totally ticked off and ready for revenge the next. The actor really brought out Strauss’ whiny side but still managed to keep him somewhat sympathetic. Easily, it became an exceptional performance by the Tropic Thunder actor, and once again, his finest work by a significant margin. The Sherlock star also employed method acting to get a feel for what it is like to walk in Strauss’ shoes for the Cillian Murphy-led movie.

In an interview with Vanity Fair, director Christopher Nolan shared how the 58-year-old was all in when it came to diving into his character’s world and getting lost in it. Nolan also pointed out how the actor could evoke different emotions just by his movements on screen. And now, if he wins that Oscar, Robert Downey Jr. would finally join the elite group of artists alongside Cillian Murphy and Christopher Nolan.

What do you think about Robert Downey Jr.’s journey? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!