Tom Hanks Opposes Separate Oscar Category for Voice Acting

In a recent interview, actor Tom Hanks expressed his opposition to creating a separate Oscar category for voice acting, arguing that such performances should be eligible for recognition within the Academy's existing acting awards. The two-time Oscar winner made his comments while promoting the upcoming film "Toy Story 5," in which he reprises his role as Woody.

Hanks stated that he believes the Oscars already have enough categories and that a voice performance can win a Best Actor or Best Supporting Actor award if it moves voters. He pointed to the work of actor Andy Serkis, known for his motion-capture roles in franchises like "The Lord of the Rings" and "Planet of the Apes," as an example of a performance that provides all the raw material of an actor's craft, even if the performer does not appear on screen in their own likeness. Hanks noted that performers who do not appear on camera have come close to nominations before, and he sees no reason why that could not happen for a purely vocal performance.

The actor's position contrasts with awards bodies like the Primetime Emmy Awards, which have established dedicated categories for voiceover work. Hanks himself received an Emmy...