Kirsten Dunst has voiced her support for husband Jesse Plemons following his omission from the 2026 Oscar nominations for his role in Bugonia. The actress shared a meme highlighting the snub, amid Hollywood's reactions to the Academy's choices. Plemons' performance as a conspiracy theorist earned praise but no nod from voters.
As Hollywood digests the 2026 Oscar nominations announced on Thursday, Kirsten Dunst expressed frustration over her husband Jesse Plemons' exclusion in the Best Actor category for his work in Bugonia. The film, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, features Plemons as Teddy, a conspiracy theorist who teams up with his cousin Don, played by Aidan Delbis, to kidnap a powerful CEO portrayed by Emma Stone. Teddy believes the CEO is an alien plotting world domination.
Dunst, who is married to Plemons, shared a meme posted by his Bugonia co-star Stavros Halkias. The meme included a selfie with a sticker of a hand holding a gun at the camera, captioned: “Me to everyone who didn’t nominate Jesse Plemons for best actor tho.” This lighthearted yet pointed gesture underscores the disappointment felt by many over overlooked performances this awards season.
Plemons had better luck earlier in January at the 83rd Golden Globe Awards, where he earned a nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy for Bugonia. However, the award went to Timothée Chalamet for his role in Marty Supreme. This marks a recent highlight for Plemons, who previously received his first Oscar nomination in 2022 for Best Supporting Actor in The Power of the Dog, a Netflix Western directed by Jane Campion. That same film also garnered Dunst her first Academy nod in the Best Supporting Actress category.
The nominations have sparked broader discussions on snubs and surprises, including omissions for Ariana Grande in Wicked: For Good and Paul Mescal in Hamnet. Meanwhile, Sinners leads with a record 16 nominations, followed by One Battle After Another. Plemons' Bugonia role highlights his versatility in quirky, high-concept projects, and Dunst's public support reflects the personal stakes in Hollywood's competitive awards landscape.
