FILE PHOTO: Biopic Roles Traditionally Lead As Oscar Nominations Are Announced

(FILE PHOTO) In this composite image a comparison has been made between (L) Charles Chaplin and actor Robert Downey Jr. Oscar hype continues this week with the announcement of the nominations for the 84th Academy Awards. Luise Rainer became the first actress to receive an Academy Award for her role in the 1936 biopic 'The Great Ziegfeld,' playing stage performer Anna Held. Over half of the last ten Oscars for best actor or actress have been for performances in a biopic. ***LEFT IMAGE***circa 1925: British comic actor and film director Charles Chaplin (1889 - 1977) in character as the Little Tramp around 1925. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)***RIGHT IMAGE***BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 16: Actor Robert Downey Jr. arrives at the 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards held at The Beverly Hilton hotel on January 16, 2011 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)