Robert Downey Jr. thinks he will win an Oscar when he doesn't deserve to.

The 'Iron Man' star - who lost out on a Best Actor accolade in 1992 for his role in 'Chaplin', despite being favourite to win - insists awards ceremonies don't necessarily recognise people for their talents or achievements, but decide when is the right "time" to give out an honour.

He said: "As long as I stick around, I'm going to end up with a bunch of them anyway as they're going to run out of people to give them to.

"And I'm probably going to win it one year when someone else deserves to win it. Why? Because it's my time. And that's the way s**t works around here. I'm just an uptight mutt at the top of his game."

Despite his prediction, the 45-year-old star insists he doesn't care about winning awards anymore.

He told Britain's GQ magazine: "I want to qualify that there is no physical pain in not winning something. There is psychological turmoil and lack of understanding, but what is really going on here? I can lie, and pretend I worry but I don't care. Honestly.

"There was a time when I thought the only way out of hell was to win a certain type of award. And then I thought, 'What a pitiful existence.' "