First awarded 1972 Instituted 1972 | ||
Winners & Nominees Andrew GarfieldHacksaw Ridge, Andrew Garfield, Winner, Damian HillPawno, Damian Hill, Nominee, Ewen LeslieThe Daughter, Ewen Leslie, Nominee, John BrumptonPawno, John Brumpton, Nominee, Michael CatonLast Cab to Darwin, Michael Caton, Winner, Sullivan StapletonCut Snake, Sullivan Stapleton, Nominee, Patrick BrammallRuben Guthrie, Patrick Brammall, Nominee, Ryan CorrHolding the Man, Ryan Corr, Nominee, David GulpililCharlie's Country, David Gulpilil, Winner, Russell CroweThe Water Diviner, Russell Crowe, Nominee, Guy PearceThe Rover, Guy Pearce, Nominee, Damon HerrimanThe Little Death, Damon Herriman, Nominee, Leonardo DiCaprioThe Great Gatsby, Leonardo DiCaprio, Winner, Sitthiphon DisamoeThe Rocket, Sitthiphon Disamoe, Nominee, Hugo WeavingThe Turning, Hugo Weaving, Nominee, Ewen LeslieDead Europe, Ewen Leslie, Nominee, Chris O'DowdThe Sapphires, Chris O'Dowd, Winner, Guy Pearce33 Postcards, Guy Pearce, Nominee, David WenhamOranges and Sunshine, David Wenham, Nominee, Joel EdgertonWish You Were Here, Joel Edgerton, Nominee, Willem DafoeThe Hunter, Willem Dafoe, Nominee, Daniel HenshallSnowtown, Daniel Henshall, Nominee, Geoffrey RushThe Eye of the Storm, Geoffrey Rush, Nominee, Matthew GoodeBurning Man, Matthew Goode, Nominee | ||
The AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role is an award presented by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA), a non-profit organisation whose aim is to "identify, award, promote and celebrate Australia's greatest achievements in film and television." The award is presented at the annual AACTA Awards, which hand out accolades for achievements in feature film, television, documentaries and short films. From 1971–2010, the category was presented by the Australian Film Institute (AFI), the Academy's parent organisation, at the annual Australian Film Institute Awards (known as the AFI Awards). When the AFI launched the Academy in 2011, it changed the annual ceremony to the AACTA Awards, with the current award being a continuum of the AFI Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.
From 1971 up until 1975, the awards for Best Actor and Best Actress were awarded in a single category for Best Performance. In 1971 the prize was given to Monica Maughan over fellow nominee Peter Cummins, who received a special mention for his performances in the films Some Regrets, The Hot Centre of the World (1971 short film), Bonjour Balwyn and Carson's Watermelons. From 1972-1975, the single award was handed out to the best actor and actress of the respective award giving years, with honourable mentions made to supporting casts. From 1976 to the present, the accolade has been handed out as a separate award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.
Candidates for this award must be human and male, and cannot be nominated for the same role in the supporting actor category.