Which stars of True Detective’s four seasons have won an Oscar?

Since it first hit the small screen in 2014, True Detective has established itself as one of HBO’s most acclaimed crime dramas.

So far, there have been four seasons of the series, each with a different story revolving around a new set of characters. What every season does share, however, is a stellar cast - as is evidenced by the recognition the show’s actors have earned at the Academy Awards.

Who has starred in True Detective?

Season one

First aired 10 years ago, True Detective’s opening instalment starred Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Michelle Monaghan, Michael Potts and Tory Kittles. The season focuses on two Louisiana detectives (McConaughey and Harrelson) as they revisit their 1995 investigation into a murder that has links to a number of present-day killings and missing-persons cases.

Season two

Released in 2015, the second season of True Detective starred Colin Farrell, Rachel McAdams, Taylor Kitsch, Kelly Reilly and Vince Vaughn. It’s set in California, where a career criminal (Vaughn) and law-enforcement officers from three different jurisdictions (Farrell, McAdams and Kitsch) are brought together by the murder of a corrupt city manager.

Season three

Mahershala Ali, Carmen Ejogo and Stephen Dorff were the leads in 2019′s third instalment of True Detective. Set across three different time periods, the season is centred around two Arkansas detectives (Ali and Dorff) who investigate the disappearance of two children in the Ozarks.

Season four

In True Detective’s most recent season, released this year, the action takes place in Alaska, where two detectives - played by Jodie Foster and Kali Reis - lead the investigation into the disappearance of eight men from a research station. Alongside Foster and Reis, the season also stars John Hawkes and Fiona Shaw.

Which True Detective stars have won an Oscar?

Each of True Detective’s four seasons has boasted actors that have received some form of Oscars recognition. The three Academy Award winners that have appeared on the show are:

Although Harrelson has never won a golden statuette, he has been nominated on three occasions in his career: for Best Actor in 1997 (The People vs Larry Flynt), and for Best Supporting Actor in 2010 (The Messenger) and 2018 (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri).

Farrell, McAdams and Hawkes have each received one Oscars nod, meanwhile: for Best Actor in 2023 (The Banshees of Inisherin), Best Supporting Actress in 2015 (Spotlight) and Best Supporting Actor in 2011 (Winter’s Bone), respectively.

Another Oscar for Foster?

Foster has the opportunity to win her third Academy Award at the 2024 Oscars, as the 61-year-old is among the nominees for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the biographical sports drama Nyad.

2024 Oscars: date, start time, TV channel

Held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California, the 2024 Academy Awards take place on Sunday 10 March 2024. The gala, which is to be hosted by the comedian Jimmy Kimmel, is scheduled to begin at 4pm PT/7pm ET. Viewers in the US will be able to watch the 96th Oscars on ABC.