Andrew Scott looks set to be the first actor for almost a century to compete with himself for an Oscar

He's won rave reviews for two of the year's blockbuster movies – and now Andrew Scott looks set to be the first actor for almost a century to compete with himself for an Oscar.

Scott is seen as a near certainty for a Best Actor nomination for his performance in the yet-to-be-released Elsinore, and has also impressed critics with his role in the Second World War blockbuster, Pressure.

A rule change for the 2027 Academy Awards makes a double nomination in the same category possible for the first time since 1930 – and gives the 49-year-old Irishman a double shot at glory.

In Pressure, currently in cinemas, Scott plays Scottish meteorologist James Stagg, whose expertise and bravery in standing up to General Eisenhower helped ensure the D-Day landings were a success.

In Elsinore, due for release in January, he plays the late Chariots Of Fire actor Ian Charleson, who spent his last months playing Hamlet at the National Theatre.

Charleson stepped in at short notice when Daniel Day-Lewis famously walked off stage in September 1989 with exhaustion, never to return. Charleson delivered breathtaking performances but died from Aids in January 1990, only eight weeks after his final stage appearance.

Critics raved about Scott's performance in Elsinore following its Toronto Film Festival premiere last month, with The Guardian saying the Irish actor 'seems a dead cert' to win Best Actor in March.

And the Hollywood Reporter described his portrayal in Pressure as 'award-worthy'.

Movie review aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes describes it as a 'brainy war film that derives most of its thrills from Andrew Scott's simmering performance'.

Entertainment journalist Olivia Fahy, who posts across social media as Press Play With Olivia, told The Mail on Sunday: 'All of the talk has been with Elsinore, and that's the one that everyone's saying is going to be his big Oscar push. But I definitely feel we cannot discount Pressure, because it is such a powerful performance.

'Andrew Scott could definitely do a double in the same category next year.'

Scott – who shot to fame ten years ago as the hot priest in Phoebe Waller-Bridge's Fleabag – would be the third Irish actor in a row to win the top award after Cillian Murphy for Oppenheimer in 2025 and Jessie Buckley in Hamnet this year.

The rule change for next year's event allows actors and actresses to be nominated for more than one film in both the lead and supporting categories for the first time since the 3rd Academy Awards 96 years ago.

In 1930, British actor George Arliss was nominated for Best Actor for Disraeli (which he won) and The Green Goddess. Norma Shearer won Best Actress for The Divorcee and was shortlisted for Their Own Desire.