‘Project Hail Mary’ puppeteer James Ortiz eligible for Best Supporting Actor at Oscars

James Ortiz, the stage performer and puppeteer behind one of the year’s most cherished non-human characters, Rocky from Project Hail Mary, is eligible for the Supporting Actor categories when the film competes at the upcoming Academy Awards. According to Variety, Ortiz’s work is eligible under the acting categories as per the current rules.

Further, the puppeteer will also be eligible under the acting categories at the SAG Awards since puppeteers come under the SAG-AFTRA jurisdiction. “However, under the Golden Globes’ existing rules, his work will not be eligible. The Critics Choice Awards have no explicit guidelines that would exclude him, suggesting he will be eligible for consideration. At the BAFTAs he would also be eligible given they are the only voting body to ever nominate an animated voice-acting performance: Eddie Murphy in Shrek (2001) for best supporting actor,” read a report by Variety.