Tom Hanks has stated that the Oscars do not need a separate category for voice acting. Instead, he believes performers should be eligible for the existing Best Actor and Best Actress awards. The comments came while promoting the upcoming film Toy Story 5.
Speaking to Gold Derby, Hanks said he thinks the awards have enough categories already. “The truth is, truly, a voice actor can win Best Actor,” he explained. “The judgment is ‘any performance that moved you.’”
He cited examples like Andy Serkis and noted that some actors have come close to nominations without appearing on camera. “If they are moved, that means they are moved by a human being’s performance,” Hanks added. “That’s all the requirement.”
Hanks has previously won two Oscars for Best Actor, for Philadelphia in 1993 and Forrest Gump in 1994. He received an Annie Award nomination in 1995 for voicing Woody in the original Toy Story. No voice-only performance has yet been nominated in the acting categories.
Toy Story 5 is scheduled to open in theaters on June 19.