Play a real person; for example, Gary Busey in The Buddy Holly Story (1978), Jamie Foxx in Ray (2004), Robert Downey Jr. in Chaplin (1992), Reese Witherspoon and Joaquin Phoenix in Walk the Line (2005), Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth (1998)

Major physical transformation; for example, Charlize Theron in Monster (2003), Ben Kingsley in Gandhi (1982), Robert De Niro in Raging Bull (1980), Christian Bale in The Fighter (2010), Nicole Kidman in The Hours (2002)

Comic actor turns serious; for example, Jim Carrey in The Truman Show (1998), Bill Murray in Lost in Translation (2003), Robin Williams in Good Will Hunting (1997), Will Forte in Nebraska (2013), Whoopi Goldberg in The Color Purple (1985)

Play an outsider who inspires a group of young people; for example, Robin Williams in Dead Poets Society (1989), Edward James Olmos in Stand and Deliver (1988), Maggie Smith in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969), Bing Crosby in Going My Way (1944), Alec Guinness in Star Wars (1977)

Play a mentally or physically challenged character; for example, Billy Bob Thornton in Sling Blade (1996), Leonardo DiCaprio in What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), Tom Cruise in Born on the Fourth of July (1989), Daniel Day-Lewis in My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown (1989), Marlee Matlin in Children of a Lesser God (1986)

Play gay; for example, Hilary Swank in Boys Don't Cry (1999), Sean Penn in Milk (2008), Tom Hanks in Philadelphia (1993), Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain (2005), Philip Seymour Hoffman in Capote (2005)